02/12/2026
"The Hiking & Biking Club welcomed 2026 by participating in the New Hampshire State Parks sponsored 'First Day Hike' event at Silver Lake in Hollis, NH on a cold and windy January 1. Fifteen of us gathered under the clear blue sky to feast and hike. Diane Drescher volunteered to provide lunch for everyone, and she went all out. After checking in with the Park Rangers and picking up our 'First Day Hike Swag,' we scraped the snow and most of the ice off of a few picnic tables and benches and Diane produced table cloths and blankets for us to sit on as well as plates, utensils, and napkins. Then she laid out the spread, and what a spread it was - shrimp cocktail, crackers and cheese, cut-up vegetables and dip, Caesar salad with chicken, and absolutely delicious chicken soup. The soup was especially appreciated on such a cold day. After enjoying brownies for dessert, we packed everything up and set off to hike the 2-mile Dunklee Pond and Parker Pond Loop Trail. The cold weather and rough footing induced part of the group to turn back part-way, but 7 of us continued on and completed the trail. This trip was a marvelous way to start the New Year." - Hal Carter
