About us
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DC UL Backpacking hosts an average of 80 backpacking events each year, specializing in high-mileage, lightweight backpacking trips throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond. Our membership structure helps backpackers gain or enhance their outdoor skills. In general, our trips are quite challenging but you’ll find a wealth of experienced backpackers who are eager to share advice. Visit our website (www.dculbackpacking.com) to learn more about our group and our membership and trip ranks, and to read our FAQs.
Our goal: To cultivate a community of independent outdoorsmen and women who want nothing more than to have a fulfilling backcountry experience–to wake early, to walk far, and to travel light.
Join us. We look forward to meeting you!
When applying to join our group, make sure to fill out our questionnaire fully. We also require that your profile photo is of yourself.
*** Read our liability waiver (https://dculbackpacking.com/about/liability-waiver/) and COVID-19 guidelines here: https://dculbackpacking.com/about/covid-19-guidelines/. ***
Upcoming events
10
MO: Cranberry Wilderness, WV (19)
Vienna Metro North Lot, Oakton, VA 22181, Vienna Metro North Lot, Oakton, VA, USDetails:
Posting this as a Members Only (MO) Event due to the remoteness of the Cranberry Wilderness and the reported route finding challenges. This will be my first time leading a trip to this area, so expect some adventure!
We will depart the DC area early Friday morning and make the long drive to the Cranberry Wilderness. If time allows, we'll make side trips to see the Falls of Hills Creek and the Cranberry Glades.Friday, Aug 7 — The Descent (~3–4 miles)
We’ll head from the North Fork TH/Big Beechy TH down the North Fork and Middle Fork trails to find a riverside spot for the night.Saturday, Aug 8 — The River Crossings (~8–9 miles)
We’ll follow the Middle Fork downstream—expect river crossings and great swimming holes! We'll camp at the Beechy Run confluence near a beautiful waterfall.Sunday, Aug 9 — The Climb Out (~7.3 miles)
A steady, rocky climb out of the valley. If we start early, we can wrap up by lunchtime. Note that Big Beechy is a dry ridge, so we’ll just need to carry our Sunday water from camp.Map & Route:
You can check out the route here: https://caltopo.com/m/LG63716Area Maps: Cranberry Wilderness MyTopo Explorer Series Map
or call the USFS Office: 304-846-2695+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Waiver: By RSVPing for this trip, you agree to these guidelines and to DCUL's waiver liability terms: https://dculbackpacking.com/about/liability-waiver/
Dues: Members and above, don't forget to pay your annual dues. You can check if you need to pay dues by seeing if the current year is listed next to your name in your DC UL profile. Applicants do not need to pay dues for their first trip. To pay your dues via PayPal, use this link: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JenniferAdach/15 ($10 annual dues plus a $5 suggested donation to City Kids Wilderness Project.)
Carpool: As per our carpool policy, riders should pay drivers $0.10/mile.10 attendees
MO: Otter Creek Wilderness (31 miles)
Vienna Metro (North Parking Lot), 9490 Virginia Center Blvd, Vienna, VA, USI want to go backpacking this weekend! Stealing this trip description, will update when get closer.
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We will meet at the Vienna metro at 5pm for carpools, and head for the Lower Glady Dispersed Campground to spend Friday night and meet up with anyone driving separate. Saturday morning, we'll get an early start to beat the heat and head up the Mylius trail from the campground, gain the ridge and head clockwise around the Otter Creek wilderness area boundary. After reaching Otter Creek, we'll head south following the creek and camp along it.
Sunday we'll get back up on the plateau and follow the boundary south back to the cars. Finally, we'll grab some food in Davis on the way home. There will be marshes and creek crossings, so prepare to get wet. Splits are 0/21/10.
Resources*
- Monongahela NF Map: https://bit.ly/3FOs7wF
- Purple Lizard Map: https://bit.ly/46EUwRB
- CalTopo: https://caltopo.com/m/5BF0P
- Weather: https://bit.ly/490kwbH
- Driving Directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/QAdy2nh8TYt5TB3M9
Disclaimers
- Waiver: By RSVPing to this trip or any other DC UL trip, you agree to these guidelines and to DC UL's waiver liability terms (https://dculbackpacking.com/about/liability-waiver/)
- Dues: Members and above, don't forget to pay your annual dues. You can check if you need to pay dues by seeing if the current year is listed next to your name in your DC UL profile. Applicants do not need to pay dues for their first trip. To pay your dues via PayPal, use this link: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JenniferAdach/15 ($10 annual dues plus a $5 suggested donation to City Kids Wilderness Project.)
- Carpool: As per our carpool policy, riders should pay drivers $0.10/mile.
- I am a co-participant, not a guide or expert and have no formal training in navigation or first aid. I have been to this area before, but this is my first time on this route and on most of these trails
10 attendees
VMO: Cranberry Wilderness Mystery Tour WV (~35 Miles)
Vienna Metro (North Parking Lot), 9490 Virginia Center Blvd, Vienna, VA, USThere seems to be a huge demand for backpacking in West Virginia the second weekend in August. Austin’s MO trip to Otter Creek and Peter’s low mileage MO trip to Cranberry Wilderness are both oversubscribed. So, I’m posting a VMO trip to a different part of the Cranberry Wilderness. Let’s get everyone interested in backpacking that weekend out on the trails!
WB offered to draft our exact hiking route on CalTopo, which I will post when ready. But expect an adventure with a limited hike Friday night, 20ish miles Saturday, and 10ish miles Sunday. The official departure time will be Friday at 5:00, but I’m sure someone will drive a carpool out earlier.
If interested, join us on this mystery tour! You must be ranked VMO to backpack with us on this trip.
---------------THE IMPORTANT WARNINGS-------------------
I’m just a co-participant on this trip, not a guide or an expert. I’ve been hiking with DCUL since 2017 but have no special training, such as organizational, medical, or navigational. You are officially on the trip if you both RSVP on Meetup, we engage by email, text, or the app, and you meet me at the trailhead. Otherwise, you are doing your own trip until you make physical contact with me and I recognize you as a co-participant. I’m open to questions.
By RSVPing to this trip or any other DCUL trip, you agree to these guidelines and to DCUL's waiver liability terms (https://dculbackpacking.com/about/liability-waiver/)
Dues: Members and above, don't forget to pay your annual dues. You can check if you need to pay dues by seeing if the current year is listed next to your name in your DCUL profile. To pay your dues via PayPal, use this link: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JenniferAdach/15 ($10 annual dues plus a $5 suggested donation to City Kids Wilderness Project.)
3 attendees
IO/VMO: Isle Royale Loop (100+ miles)
Copper Harbor, Manganese Rd & 1st st, 49918, MI, US******CHANGE OF DATES*****Hi all, I need to change the dates for this trip. It is now August 10-17.
Let's explore the most remote and rugged, yet incredibly beautiful Isle Royale National Park! Isle Royale is the least visited National Park, located in the middle of Lake Superior. It is hard to get to and involves a 7-hr drive from Minneapolis or Milwaukee and a 3-hr ferry from Copper Harbor, MI to Rock Harbor. I spent 3-days there a few years ago and wanted to come back ever since. The island is about 42 miles long and the trail around it is around 100 miles, depending on side trips and shortcuts. Camping is plentiful, but can get crowded, especially campsites close to Rock Harbor. There is a large moose population on the island, and I had my closest encounter with a moose there (it was awesome!). There are also wolves, but no bears!
This is a VMO trip and you will need this status with DCUL to attend. The splits will be 15-22 miles, and navigation can get very challenging on less traveled trails, so you need to be able to cover the distance and navigate along largely unmarked trails.
Below is the itinerary:
8/10: Arrive to Copper Harbor, MI. Many lodging and camping options there.
8/11: Take Isle Royale Queen ferry to Rock Harbor at 8 am (3.5 hrs). Start hike.
8/11-17: Backpack around Isle Royale, splits are 15-22 miles, see Caltopo for splits and campsites.
8/17: Take Isle Royale Queen ferry to Copper Harbor at 2:45 pm.NPS page: Isle Royale National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Caltopo: Isle Royale Loop - CalTopo2 attendees
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