Temps may be low, but spirits are high as residents brave the cold

Dartmouth may have been spared from more snowfall Sunday, but the town still faced the bitter cold as temperatures never rose above 21 degrees and the windchill made it feel colder.

But despite the cold, residents braved the outdoors.

Cars pulled in and out of the parking lot near the entrance to Destruction Brook Woods as people donned winter gear and even cross country skis.

Matthew Carroll of Westport was out cross country skiing Sunday afternoon, completing a four-mile route through the Destruction Brook Woods trails.

"There's nothing like this," he said. "It's almost one of the best exercises you can do, and you're not going to get lost in here because you'll hit another road on the other side."

Carroll said he was "shocked" by the number of cars in the parking lot, not only because of the cold but because on days that he's gone mountain biking the lot is often empty.

With the help of cross country skiers like Carroll packing down the snow with their skis, walkers like Susan Borges could hike the trails despite the foot of snow on the ground.

Borges, who had been out walking her dog and who has friends who walk their dogs on the trails, said the past few days have been "tough" because of the cold.

"We don't do as much as we normally do because it's so cold, but at least it's a nice place to come," Borges said. "A lot of people come here."

Borges offered some cold weather tips, like wearing warm gloves and warm boots when out on a walk or hike.

Meghan and Steve Rapoza of New Bedford, who both consider themselves summer people, also bundled up and took to Destruction Brook Woods.

"I would say I particularly have found that I really struggle in the winter time, so in order to try to make the best of it I like to be active, like getting outdoors is the best thing for me," Meghan said. "Like, 'It's cold out, but let's bundle up. Let's get outside and try to make the best of it."

Steve and Meghan were both born and raised in New England, and while they're both used to the cold weather, Steve noted that "we haven't really had snow in like four years like this."

He said, "It actually feels pretty good to be outside, and the trails, considering that we got a massive snow storm on Sunday into Monday, the path was perfect to walk in."