Adventuring LGBTQ+ Outdoors Club

disclaimer: the text above must have come from AI; I had nothing to do with it, although I can't quibble with any of it-- RH

Indian Summer in Canyon Country

RSVP Prerequisites
(1) At the time of RSVP, participants must have already completed at least four Adventuring events (hikes and/or social gatherings) in the past year

(2) Must be fit enough for moderately strenuous hiking (our hikes could range up to 8-10 miles, with up to 2,000 feet of elevation gain)

(3) A $200 deposit will be required to secure your spot on the trip

Trip Details

We'll spend the week in Moab, UT-- with six days of hiking in Arches, Canyonlands, and the surrounding "canyon country". We'll spend a day up in the nearby La Sal Mountains. Optional activities if anyone wants a break from hiking include mountain biking, riding ATV’s, or float trips on the Colorado River.

The landscape here is multi-colored, multi-layered sandstone, sculpted by wind and water into astonishing forms-- mesas and buttes, towers and fins, arches and domes. We'll hike through scenic canyons and look out on vast vistas.

The hiking will not involve major elevation change but will require some scrambling over sandstone domes, ledges, and cracks. We’ll have a variety of short, medium and long hikes, mostly in the sun, but the temperatures at this time of year should be pleasant.

Vegetation is sparse, but our timing should be good to see the bright yellow of the cottonwoods in the canyon bottoms and the aspen up in the mountains. This area was inhabited until the 1200's by the Pre-Puebloan people (formerly known as the "Anasazi"); we'll see some of their petroglyph panels and ruins.

We’ll all stay in a big house together, sharing the cooking and kitchen duty, and riding to our hikes each day in the group cars. Couples will have their own rooms. Singles will have their own beds, probably in a shared bunk room.

Participants will share equally in the cost of the lodging, the rental cars and gas, the shared groceries and beverages, and any other group costs. Estimated at $1,200-1,600 each, all-in, for the week, plus participants will be responsible for their own travel costs to Moab, UT and back.

Limited to 7-10 participants (depends on how many couples sign up).

*******VERY IMPORTANT NOTE*********
For this hike, we will gather at GROSVENOR-STRATHMORE METRO STATION to form carpools due to planned WMATA construction.
*************************************

We're Shenandoah-bound to peep some of the fall colors in the miles of smiles of Harmony Hollow, located just outside of Front Royal, Virginia.

Starting near the top of the Blue Ridge at Chester Gap, we'll climb briefly into Shenandoah, admire the westward vista from Possums Rest overlook, and promptly leave the Park on the Appalachian Trail to descend the mountain. After passing the Tom Floyd Wayside, we'll soon enter into the wide-open spaces of bucolic Harmony Hollow. A couple of miles of strolling on little-used country roads will steer us back into Shenandoah, where we'll climb the Blue Ridge towards Compton Gap and eventually back to our cars. Total length of this moderate-to-strenuous circuit hike should not exceed 8.5 miles, with 1800 feet of elevation gain. Moderately Strenuous hikes will generally be challenging for an unconditioned person. The terrain will involve a steady and often steep incline.

Bring beverages, lunch, sturdy footwear, and about $15 for transportation and trip fees. We'll make our usual Sheetz pitstop for last-minute goodies while enroute to the trailhead. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro Station. RSVPs will open 2 weeks before the hike and close at 7pm the day before the event. Parking is limited at this location and carpooling is highly encouraged. Please make sure to check Meetup for any last-minute trip changes.

This is a demanding hike in the beautiful southern reaches of Shenandoah National Park. We stand a good chance of seeing a magnificent fall color display.

We’ll avoid the Parking Lot sometimes known as Skyline Drive entirely and start this trek at the western foot of the Blue Ridge. First we'll ascend Trayfoot Mountain, a long incline including an almost pure stand of witch-hazel and punctuated by some outstanding scenic overlooks. At the top we’ll reach the spectacular rock outcrop known as Blackrock Pinnacle, where we’ll Lollygag Dynamically™ no little time while inhaling vast panoramas. The top of Blackrock provides a breathtaking 360 degree view of the surrounding mountains and is reached with a short scramble.

After lunch at Blackrock, and a brief stroll down the Appalachian Trail, most of our descent will be on the Paine Run Trail, which will allow us to ford more than one of its various slippery stream crossings. (Wardrobe hint: Leave a pair of dry socks and street shoes in the car.)

Total length of this strenuous circuit hike is 9.5 miles, with 2200 feet of elevation gain. Bring beverages, lunch, sturdy boots, and bug spray. There will be a brief Sheetz stop about halfway to the trailhead for last minute supplies. Also, we plan to stop for a meal on the way back; expect a late return, possibly 9 p.m. or later. (Please contact the trip leader if you plan to meet at the trailhead.)

NOTE: Attendance on this trip must be limited to 12 because of limited trail head parking. Please be experienced and aerobically fit because of the elevation gain. If you RSVP, please be sure to reverse your RSVP status if you have to back out. Costs will include a transportation fee of about $20 for your driver if you carpool, a $5 trip fee for Adventuring, and your food bill.

Join me in volunteering with the Anacostia Watershed Society on this project to continue working towards a cleaner Anacostia River.