By Brandon Case
Pratt contributor
Special to the Tribune
Despite chilly New Year’s Day temperatures but on a mostly sunny afternoon, 308 participants, plus 17 dogs on leashes, showed up for the First Day Hike at the Green Recreational Trail, a 20% increase over last year’s total.
Pratt has had a First Day Hike since January 2013, according to Kansas State Parks Director Linda Lanterman.
For Pratt resident Andie Dean, the walk continued a journey that began with gastric bypass surgery in 2023, following which she lost 88 pounds. In 2024, she said, “I lost over 100 pounds. Moving my body is now a regular part of my life.” Andie was joined by her friends Kelsey and Hank Williams, their daughter, Brynlie, and her friend, Ava Hoffman.
Roger and Leslie Stotts of Greensburg hiked the event for the first time. They were invited by Whitney Kregar (also a Greensburg resident) to join her and her family.
“We found out about it through our home school coop,” Whitney said. Her children Ember, Haven, Jade, and Ridge all enjoyed the outing.
Pratt native Tammy Coleman, who moved back to Pratt last June after having lived in Chicago for over 30 years, also completed her first-ever First Day Hike, joining her brother, Dan McAnarney, nephew, Anakin, and niece, Oakland. She was motivated to do the hike by a fellow participant in an exercise class at Blythe Family Fitness, who showed her various First Day Hike T-shirts he had acquired over years.
Allen White has participated in the First Day Hike annually since moving to Pratt 3 1/2 years ago. In 2025, he said he hopes to publish a book, which will be a memoir about his personal experience of living with dyspraxia.
Scott and Marilyn Alberg enjoyed spending the first day of 2025 together on the trail. “Last year was a good year for us,” Scott said, adding that his family was doing well.
The Dean family enjoyed hiking together with friends. BJ Dean’s mother, Brenda, works at wildlife and parks and, subsequently, he has been doing the hike for many years.
Diana Arensdorf hiked with her daughter, Olivia, a student at PCC, who will be graduating soon. Also trailing with the Arensdorf’s were Sara Wallace, her son Griffin. and his girlfriend, Randi Hoffman. Over the past year, Griffin opted to drop football at Emporia State and just focus on his academics. “It was a lot on the body,” he said. He and his girlfriend, Randi, who lives in Wichita, both attended Skyline, where they met. Diana’s son, AJ, his wife, Karolina, and their dog, Cowboy, showed up for the hike a little later. Cowboy became part of AJ and Karolina’s family in 2024.
Chris and Jamie Battin of Pratt walked their Golden Retriever, Ahtzee (add a Y for explanation).
“We just love to be outdoors. It’s great for the kids to be fresh for the New Year. Let them run,” Jamie said.
Jason and Taryn Conkle completed another first day hike this year, but only with their dog, Zoey, this time, as the boys were at grandma’s house. The Conkle’s were joined by Taryn’s longtime friend, Lindsay Bodamar, who lives in Kansas City, KS, and her father, Mike Forshee, who lives in Pratt.
Kaitlain Hartman and her children came a long way, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to participate in this year’s First Day Hike. However, she had a good reason to do so: her mother, Leslie May, lives in Pratt. Also joining her on the hike were her brothers, Lewis and Callum May, who both live in Wichita, where the family has roots.
Sisters Kelby Foley of Cheney and Tara Pagenkopf of Pratt hiked the woods with Kelby’s daughter, Kendall, and their aunt, Nancy Killion at the Green Trails.
“I talked them into it,” Tara said.
Daniel and Bethany Martin brought their children, Harrison, Hudson, Macklynn, and Maddox (plus their sons’ friend, Jordan) to the First Day Hike.
Daniel described 2024 as especially “stressful” because of their infant son’s health issues. “He’s doing better now,” Daniel noted.
Tucker and Lexie Litke moved back to Pratt from Council Grove to be closer to Lexie’s parents, Ralph and Linda Lanterman. Since last year, the Litke’s have welcomed a daughter, Elsie, into their family.
Lexie said, at the end of the hike, “it put [Elsie] right to sleep.”
Kenton and Diane Ladenburger hiked the first day with their dog, Lucy.
“One highlight for us this past year was that our youngest daughter and her family moved to Wichita. So now all of our kids are in Kansas,” said Diane.
Brandon and Hallie Riffey hiked with a large group, including their children, Hayden, Cara, and Eva; Brandon’s sister, Cherie (who is Trail Grant Coordinator at KDWP), and family friend, Sarah Eubank.
Hayden described 2024 as “fabulous and full of memories.”
Eubank, who completed her initial First Day Hike, said, “it was a great way to bring in the New Year.”
Two participants at this year’s event had already completed a First Day Hike before they arrived at the Green Trails.
Friends Pam Graham and Pam Paulsen of Hutchinson began the New Year’s morning with a First Day Hike at Sandhills State Park before driving down K-61 to complete the afternoon hike in Pratt.
This year, the event included an interpretive hike led by Pratt Education Center and Museum director Mackenzie Reh, who said that next year there may be an informational booth instead.
Retiree Rick Davis was present at the event again this year. As a seasonal employee of KDWP, he maintains the trails year-round and mows the grass throughout the summer. He estimates that there are 4-5 total miles of trail at the site.
Riston Landwehr, who oversaw this year’s hike, was pleased with the turnout and noted that all of the T-shirts sized large and under were gone before the 1 p.m. start time.
Riston said that there are 24 Kansas state parks (besides the Green Recreational Trail) that offer First Day Hikes and some of those see, besides humans, goats out on the first day, as well as horses.
