ASHEVILLE – Don't lament the 5 pounds of onion dip you consumed last night, or the one or two or three cocktails too many.

If there's any day to start fresh, look ahead and not look back, it's New Year's Day. And you can start really fresh by getting outdoors today. Luckily, we live in the outdoors wonderland of Western North Carolina, where there is no shortage of outdoor activities, including several organized ones happening today and through the weekend.

The area's largest hiking club, Carolina Mountain Club, has a New Year's Day hike in the Green River Game Lands area, one in the Montreat area on Saturday and another in DuPont State Forest on Saturday.

Club President Becky Smucker said people shouldn't be afraid of winter hiking, since it has so much to offer, especially on the first day of the year.

“People seem to see it as a time to start over,” Smucker said. “It's a great idea to get outdoors. People get depressed with so much darkness. Getting outdoors in winter and getting sunshine is really healthy. And there are no bugs, no spider webs, fewer people, and you can see forever. Just dress in layers.”

One New Year's Day tradition that has been growing each year since he started it in the late 1970s is the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club's Polar Bear Ride, led by Mike Nix.

“After eating your way through Christmas and New Year's, it's a way to kick off the new year right,” said Nix, co-owner of Liberty Bicycles in Asheville. “It's a good way to shake off the winter blues, and now the days are getting longer, so that's something to celebrate.”

The ride accommodates both road and mountain bikers, meeting at the N.C. Arboretum at 1 p.m. today, so there's plenty of time to sleep in before heading out there.

Put your holiday outdoor gear gifts to use, layer up, cover your head and hands, and head outside. Here are some suggestions to get you started:

Take a walk

The Asheville Amblers Walking Club hosts its annual Asheville City Walk today. Meet at 9:45 a.m. at the Asheville Visitors Center on Montford Avenue to sign in. No bathrooms or water will be available at the start point because of the holiday. The walk starts at 10 a.m.

You can choose which walk you'd like to do. There are 5K (3.1 miles), 10K (6.2 miles) or 13K (8 miles) options that go through Montford, North Asheville and downtown Asheville. According to walk organizer Klaus Jockwig, all the walk options are easy and go with a group, which has a leader and a person to sweep behind the last person. Everyone is welcome.

For more information, call the Jockwig at 628-1377 or e-mail kbjhighline@charter.net.

For more information on the Asheville Amblers, a club that features monthly noncompetitive walks in scenic and historic locales, visit www.amblers.homestead.com or call 687-2777.

Take a hike

The Asheville Hiking Meetup Group will hold a hike to Rattlesnake Lodge off the Blue Ridge Parkway just north of Asheville, starting at 2 p.m. today. Nonmembers are welcome. Meet at 1:30 p.m. at Atlanta Bread Co. on Merrimon Avenue to car-pool to the trailhead.

The hike is a moderate out-and-back along the Mountains-to-Sea Trail with some climbing along switchbacks. Once arriving at the ruins of Rattlesnake Lodge, one group will return to the trailhead, while the other might decide to continue on to the Craggy Gardens area.

If you want to meet at the trailhead on your own (parking is very limited), from Asheville, take the Blue Ridge Parkway north to Milepost 375 at Bull Gap and turn left. Turn right onto Elk Mountain Road and head to the small parking area on the right after 0.6 miles.

For more information or to join the Asheville Hiking Meetup Group, call Chris Neumann at 242-6883 or visit http://hiking.meetup.com/441.

For more information and a schedule of upcoming hikes with the Carolina Mountain Club, visit www.carolinamtnclub.org.

Take a bike ride

The Blue Ridge Bicycle Club hosts its annual Polar Bear Ride today for mountain bikers and road riders. Meet at 1 p.m. at the greenhouse at the N.C. Arboretum, off Brevard Road/N.C. 191, past the Biltmore Square Mall, and off the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 393.

Mountain bikers will ride in Bent Creek in groups based on riding ability; road riders can get on the parkway and go in either direction. Helmets are required, and riders younger than 18 must be accompanied by a riding parent or guardian. Riders should dress in layers for cold weather.

Club membership is not required, and the ride is free. Rides will be at least one hour, and not longer than 2 1/2 hours, said ride leader Mike Nix. Afterward, meet back at the greenhouse for hot cider, hot chocolate and cookies. For more information, e-mail mikenix@libertybikes.com.

For more information about the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club, its ongoing advocacy efforts or for a complete club calendar, visit www.blueridgebicycleclub.org.

Go for a run

If you've always wanted to try a 5K footrace, this is the perfect setting. Jackson County Recreation hosts its annual Run in 2009 5K run and walk, starting at 11 a.m. today. The race starts at the Jackson County Recreation Complex on Cullowhee Mountain Road and winds through the campus of Western Carolina University before heading back to the start line.

It is a very flat, easy course, almost unheard of among mountain 5Ks, so take advantage of this one. It is also a walk, a great way to get your feet wet before trying an actual run. The average person can walk a 5K, or 3.1-mile course, in less than 1 hour.

The entry fee is $25, payable before the start of the race. For more information, visit www.rec.jacksonnc.org or call 293-3053.

Take a dip

If you really want to shock your system into the new year, take the Polar Bear Plunge at 11 a.m. today with a jump into the Rocky Broad River near Chimney Rock. Plungers will be freezing for a reason — to support fire and rescue workers — and registrations are open for anyone who dares to join in and jump.

Those not feeling that brave are welcomed to watch the fun — there will be bonfires, and hot food and drink available at the Geneva Riverside Lodging and Tiki Bar and Grille.

Plungers are encouraged to be creative — prizes are awarded for the Best Plunger Costume and Best Plunge. All Polar Plungers will receive: An “I Took the Plunge” logo hoodie; 10 percent Plunger Discount Card good toward one year of Geneva's lodging and food; 10 percent discount on any New Year's package; and free coffee, hot chocolate and cider.

The cost is $25 per person, and early registration encouraged but not required. The plunge will benefit Lake Lure area Fire and Rescue.

To register, call 625-4121 or visit www.newyearspolarplunge.com.

Take a ski trip

Several WNC ski areas are open today, including Wolf Ridge in Mars Hill, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Go skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing or rent snowshoes for a winter hike in the woods. For rates and other information, call 800-817-4111 or visit www.skiwolfridgenc.com.

Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley is open for skiing and snowboarding 8:30 a.m-10 p.m. and snow tubing 10 a.m-10 p.m. For more information, call 800-768-0285 or visit www.cataloochee.com.

Looking to ice skate outdoors? Take a drive up to Banner Elk to Sugar Mountain Ski Area. The 10,000-square-foot outdoor ice skating rink opened last year and has been hugely popular, according to marketing director Kim Jochl. Sessions are offered Monday-Friday at noon, 2, 4, and 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m., noon, 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m. They last for 1 hour 45 minutes. The $15 cost includes skate rentals.

The resort, of course, also offers skiing, snowboarding, tubing and guided snowshoe hikes. It is open today 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Call ahead for updated scheduling information at 800-784-2768 or visit www.skisugar.com.