Big Crowd Braves Cold Weather To Take "First Walk" At Hammo

While some along the shoreline spent New Year's Day sleeping off the excesses of the night before, a large crowd of nature lovers braved the cold temperatures to show up for the Hammonasset Beach State Park's "First Walk." 

The hike at Hammonasset was one of 657 nationwide.

Attendees were treated a guided tour and talk that featured both the geology and history of the park lands. Afterwards, they were treated to clam chowder from Lenny & Joe's, minestrone soup, donuts, hot drinks and the company of other like-minded people.

This is one of several events planned this month and next at Hammonasset, according to Michele Poulin Kiley from Friends of Hammonasset:

• The first Sunday of the month (Jan 6), Ranger Russ is coordinating a "round-up" of invasive plants and creating a bird habitat at the Park rotary. BYO: loppers or pruning saws, clippers and gloves. Reception to follow with hot coffee, cider, chili, chowder for volunteers, and light music at the Nature Center.

• The following Sunday (Jan 13), Ranger Russ is leading a Seal Watch walk.

• On Sunday the 27th, join us for a Workshop on Afocal digiscoping. In this workshop you participants will learn how to combine the use of a simple point-and-shoot digital camera with a telescope/spotting scope for wildlife photography.

To find out more, follow the Friends of Hammonasset Facebook page at Check http://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Hammonasset/ . Or follow them on Twitter: @FoHammonasset. You can also visit their website at Hammonasset.org.

Want to become a member? You can do that online, here.