Last Day Hike 2025
At Pocahontas and Twin Lakes State Parks, Virginia
My morning’s solo hike. There was ice on the lake inlet that I am facing. See the fern, moss, grass, and mushroom behind me? Winter is full of plant life, if you take the time to notice it.
CEFR Level B1-B2
I was in Virginia for New Year’s 2026. The state parks there often host a First Day Hike on January 1. Even if there isn’t an organized event, you can usually get a free First Day Hike sticker if you go to a state park on the first day of the year. A Master Naturalist friend and I wanted to go to an organized event, but it didn’t work for both of us. We decided to do a Last Day Hike on December 31 instead.
We arranged a meeting place and to bring a picnic lunch with an agreement to change lunch plans if it was too cold. On December 30, I checked the weather and texted her to cancel the picnic lunch. I didn’t see a reason to go through the work of packing anything when it was predicted to barely top 40℉ (4.4 C). She asked if we could reschedule the entire hike for a warmer day. I agreed.
I then decided to go on a solo hike at Pocahontas State Park, which is a little over an hour from where I was staying. Since I planned to finish around noon, I decided to wait until I got back to the house to eat. I wasn’t going deep-woods hiking, so I didn’t pack emergency food and liquid, either.
Just as I pulled away from the house, my friend texted to ask if I wanted to go hiking in the afternoon, since the weather was warmer. I really wanted to hike with my friend, but I also was emotionally committed to the solo hike. I did a quick calculation and arranged to meet her in the afternoon Twin Lakes State Park since I would pass it on my way home.
I went on my solo hike, but it was a bit rushed since I wanted to be sure I had enough time to run an errand before meeting my friend. I know the logical thing is to reschedule the errand, but this particular errand is a bit out of my way normally, but would be on my travel path this day. I still enjoyed my hike, even though the wind was very cold in some places. I had to wear a neck gaiter up to my eyeballs at times. I saw birds that I could identify, thanks to hanging out with Master Naturalists who are also birders. The sky was blue and the lake glimmered. When I got back to my vehicle after two hours, my brain was clear and my soul was calm.
I bought lunch to eat while I drove, I completed my errand, and I arrived at Twin Lakes in time to meet my friend.
Unfortunately, the clouds had moved in, but we decided to take our chances and headed around Goodwin Lake on - wait for it - Goodwin Lake Trail. We decided to have a relaxed walk that was as much birding as it was hiking. We walked and talked and saw many bird species.
We walked the Between the Lakes Trail to the overlook of Prince Edward Lake. We hoped to see ducks or a heron. We saw neither, but we did see a hawk that we were unable to identify. As we returned to our vehicles, we made plans for another hike in another park, then drove our separate ways, grateful that the rain had not decided we needed more excitement in our afternoon.
Two hikes in one day! What an excellent way to end the year!