The new year dawned bright and bitter cold, with wind chills below zero and temperatures barely rising out of the single digits. The holiday meant that many people had nowhere in particular to be. Rather than stay cooped up at home, some ventured out in search of amusement.

Colorful parkas and snowsuits stood out sharply against a glaring white hill near the Dartmouth Outing Clubhouse in Hanover yesterday afternoon. Sleds ripped down the steep grade on a dusting of fine powder over solid ice.

“There's nothing better than sunshine and 10 degrees,” said a warmly dressed Vali Stuntz of East Barnard, standing atop a hill with more than a dozen other adults and kids. She had come out with her two brothers and their children, “for a refreshing day in the snow after wild festivities last night,” she said.

The icy hill made for an exhilarating, but jarring run.

“Ow! That hurt,” said Taylor Keramis, 12, of Milford, Conn., as she trudged up with her sled. But the pain didn't keep her from going again.

Stuntz, however, appeared content just to watch. “I got a headache and a bruised butt from one ride down,” she said.

In White River Junction, bowling and video arcades at Upper Valley Lanes and Games attracted some of those who opted out of outdoor activities.

“We were going to go sledding, but it's too chilly,” said Sharon Reed of West Lebanon, who was bowling with her husband and children, together with a neighbor's family yesterday afternoon. “It’s a good way to pass the time,” she said, sitting on a bench beside a pile of winter boots and coats.

Monique Fong of Berlin, Mass., also chose the lanes over the slopes yesterday. “I'll probably wait till tomorrow to go skiing,” said Fong, who has a vacation home at Eastman. She was joined by her husband and another couple, with seven children between them.

Jason George of Reading, and Damion Leonard of South Barnard, were whiling away the afternoon at a pool table in a corner. The two friends graduated from Woodstock High School in 2008, and both volunteer for the Reading Fire Department.

“We're not working right now -- just enjoying life while we still can,” said Leonard.

He said he had been working for Willey Earth Moving Corp., but that he had been laid off until April. Leonard said he'd had a seasonal job at Spring Brook Farm in Reading.

Fred McCoy of Cornish, a home heating serviceman with Simple Energy, unexpectedly found himself with time to kill at the counter of Fort Lou's diner in Lebanon.

“I started on call Christmas Day, and I get off at 6 o'clock tomorrow morning,” he said.

He said he had been working around the clock, 13 to 16 hours a day, and catching a few hours of sleep between service calls to homes with broken boilers and frozen oil lines.

“Right now, the ground is bare enough that the wind is going right through people's foundations,” he said.

After tucking away a generous portion of chili, he wrapped his work-blackened hands around a mug of hot coffee.

“This is the longest stretch I've gone without a call in eight days,” he said.

Asked what he hoped the new year would bring, he said, “Me? Warm weather.” He paused and added, “My boss would disagree.”

Martin Downs can be reached at mdowns@vnews.com or (603) 727-3210.