Item Photo By BRIDGET TURCOTTE
Park Ranger Bruce Helter, left, and Paul DeFrey, superintendent of national park service, iron works and Salem maritime, speak at Breakheart Reservation on Friday.
By BRIDGET TURCOTTE
SAUGUS — Hikers gathered at Breakheart Reservation at noon Friday for the annual First Day Hike, a nationwide event that originated 25 years ago.
The New Year’s Day hike started in Massachusetts at the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton, said Visitor Services Supervisor Gillian Badwan. The event is put on by The Department of Conservation and Recreation. This year marks five years since the hike became a nationwide event, she said.
“The whole idea started off as a New Year’s outdoor activity,” said Badwan. “It’s a nice way to start off the new year, around friendly people in a beautiful park.”
Four different trails were originally planned for the event but the hikes were modified because of icy conditions. Instead, a family hike, which was just over a mile long, and two group hikes, each just over two miles, were offered.
“I started coming to this hike four years ago,” said Debby Brems of Saugus. “I love it. It’s a wonderful way to start the new year.
“I love the way they introduce people to nature,” she said. “There’s a lot of history here, beautiful trails, the rangers are awesome.
The first year Brems participated in the hike, she met new people who she still calls her friends today.
“This is our tradition. We hike here, we hike the Lynn Woods,” Brems said. “You meet people this way who are of like-mind.
“This is my first time,” said Michael Zero of Peabody, who decided last minute to attend. “(I) like to walk to do something and to take advantage of the resources that the state has to offer.”
“It just sounded like something fun to do,” said Gary Shapiro. “It’s a nice day today. The weather is not perfect but it’s not bad.”
“My family and I come every year,” said Debra Panetta, chair of the Saugus Board of Selectmen. “It’s a family tradition. The crowd this year is probably one of the biggest I’ve ever seen.
“We’re very fortunate to have Breakheart as part of the community,” she said. “You don’t have to go on vacation, you can just go up to Breakheart.”
While Breakheart Reservation has much to offer, it is oftentimes overlooked, said Friends of Breakheart Chair Peter Rossetti.
“People call it the hidden gem,” said Rossetti. “I’d like for it to be not so hidden.”
“It brings people together,” said State Rep. Donald Wong. “It brings people back to nature.
“It’s an area for family activities and it’s free,” Wong said. “Nowadays going to a Red Sox game or a Patriots game is hard to afford. You don’t need to spend any money (to go to Breakheart) and you still have fun.”
Wong said he is in the process of planning a Tai Chi and Qigong day at Breakheart to help promote the reservation.
“I’ll donate my time for it and if people want to donate money, it will go to the Friends of Breakheart,” Wong said. “It’s also about getting people from Saugus and surrounding communities to use Breakheart.”
Wong will hold a similar event Jan. 14 at Essence of Healing in Salem.
Also in the works are plans to improve the bathrooms near the beach at Lower Pond, said Rossetti.
“We’re trying to put in better operating bathrooms with a bathhouse,” he said. “We’re in hopes it will happen this summer.”
When hikers returned to the Christopher P. Dunne Visitor Center after their journey, they were given clam chowder, donated by Kelly’s Roast Beef.
“Kelly’s Roast Beef has been wonderful to us for years,” said Pat Jozsa, vice-chair of The Friends of Breakheart, who also cooked the chowder.
Hot chocolate and cookies were also served.
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected].
