What we’re about
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 outdoors men 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 (4+)
See all- LM: AT Trail Magic (21 mi)Vienna Metro Station, Fairfax, VA
The NOBO AT thru-hikers should be passing through our neck of the woods next month, and it is a DCUL tradition to run a trip where we head out to the AT to do trail magic, DCUL-style, by packing out treats to hand out to the thru-hikers we meet along the way. No thru-hiker expects magic in the middle of the woods, which makes it all the better. The trail provides.
In the past, solid choices for (optional, but strongly encouraged) trail magic have included: beer, soda, fresh fruit, and any unhealthy snack foods you can find (basically anything made by Little Debbies/Hostess, oatmeal cream sandwiches, etc). Adam won bragging rights for the best trail magic on last year's trip when he nearly brought a thru-hiker to tears (of joy) because he packed out cucumbers.
The plan is to meet at the Vienna Metro Station to carpool on Saturday morning, drop cars at Gathland State Park and then have a couple of drivers shuttle us up to Wolfsville Rd. to start our hike. From Wolfsville Rd., we will head SOBO around 14 miles to Dahlgren Backpacker Campground (or, potentially, Rocky Run Shelter), and then roughly 7 miles back to Gathland on Sunday.
Besides making a thru-hiker's day (we might get some 4-Staters!), this trip should have some nice views at Annapolis Rocks and Black Rock Cliffs, as well as the *other* Washington Monument, and we may decide to partake in the (hiker trash) spa-like experience that is the Dahlgren Backpacker Campground.
Splits are a cruisy 14/7 for a total of 21 miles for the weekend - so fill up your packs with trail magic, since any true ultralighter knows that the real point of spending thousands of dollars on ultralight gear is so that you have more room for snacks.
If you are new to DCUL and looking for an LM trip to get started, come join us - I'll set aside a few spots for applicants.
Applicants:
Please send me a gear list when you sign up. Don't worry about needing to have expensive ultralight gear - I just want to make sure that you are bringing the essentials and that you feel comfortable carrying what you are bringing. If you have any questions feel free to send me a message!
DCULers have maps!
1. This section of the AT is covered by PATC Map 5/6
2. If you have the AT guide downloaded on Farout/Guthook that is also acceptable
3. Caltopo: https://caltopo.com/m/T0ABVThe Fine Print
1. As per our carpool policy, riders should plan to pay drivers $0.10/mile.
2. Dues -- Members and above, don't forget to pay your annual dues if you haven't yet. If you don't see the current year listed next to your name in your DC UL profile, please pay via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/JenniferAdach/15 ($10 annual dues plus a $5 suggested donation to City Kids Wilderness Project.) Applicants do not need to pay dues.
3. More information on the club's COVID-19 policy: https://dculbackpacking.com/about/covid-19-guidelines/.
4. By participating in this or any DCUL activity, you agree and abide by our Liability Waiver (https://dculbackpacking.wordpress.com/about/liability-waiver/) and Terms of Use (https://dculbackpacking.wordpress.com/about/terms-of-use/).
- MO: Tour du Mont Blanc - Refuge OptionLes Houches, Les Houches
This is a companion trip to David O's camping-focused Tour Du Mont Blanc. This trip starts at the same time but is only 6 days/5 nights long and has primarily refuge (mountain hut/hostel) stays instead of camping.
I am posting the itinerary that I already booked. If you opt for this version, you need to do your own booking and you need to do it now because the refuges book up very quickly.I used this website to book most of my refuges: Refuges autour du Mont-Blanc - réservez en ligne votre tour du Mont-Blanc, it has a handy itinerary planning feature and a map: Tour du Mont-Blanc - CCPMB - - uMap. Translation into English works a little weird, but you can figure out a lot of it in French :-).
Here is the itinerary:
Night 0, June 19: Ibis styles Les Houches, also lots of campground options in Chamonix and Les Houches
Night 1, June 20: Refuge de La Balme, camping is allowed next to the refuge
Night 2, June 21: Rifugio Cabane Combal, it no longer had availability, but Rifugio Elisabetta or Rifugio Maison Vieille nearby may be still available, and camping may be an option
Night 3, June 22: Refugio Elena, they still had availability, need to email them directly info@rifugioelena.it
Night 4, June 23: Refugio Relais d’Arpette, other refuges in the area
Night 5, June 24: Gite Le Moulin, other options nearby
Night 6 (optional), June 25: Ibis styles Les HouchesThe hike will begin around 7 am on June 20th from Ibis Styles Les Houches. Splits are 15-20 miles. Couple of things to keep in mind:
You have to arrive at a refuge at a certain time, normally by 6 pm, or they may give your bed away (unless you let them know that you are late).
When you book "half-board" at a refuge, you get dinner and breakfast the next day. However, breakfast is normally at 7 am, so on longer days, we may not have time to enjoy a nice leisurely meal or may skip it all together. Dinner is between 6:30 and 7 pm. Accommodations are shared, hostel-style. If we get enough participants, we can probably arrange with refuges to have us all in the same room.
6-day itinerary is very demanding, and we will not have time to get off the trail to explore the surroundings and little towns along the way. If you want to have a more leisurely hike, you need to look at 8-11 day itineraries.Last, I will give preference to the folks that already signed up for David O's trip.
---------------THE IMPORTANT WARNINGS-------------------
I’m just a co-participant on this trip, not a guide or an expert.
You are officially on the trip if you both RSVP on Meetup, we engage by email or messaging, and you meet me in Les Houches NLT afternoon of June 19th. Otherwise, you are doing your own trip. 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/)
COVID-19 policy: https://dculbackpacking.com/about/covid-19-guidelines/
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.) - LM: Duncan/Strickler Knob Mini Version (10 Miles)Vienna North Metro Parking Lot, Vienna, VA
Come join me on an evening hanging out on Strickler Knob. We'll hike 3 miles to our campsite and enjoy the sunset, then wake up early and enjoy the sunrise. After that we'll have a 6 mile leg stretcher back to our cars. Along the way we can do the rock scramble up to Duncan Knob. We'll drive out Friday evening at 4pm and should be done Saturday no later than 1pm.
June is new members Month, so I'm reserving at least 3 spots for applicants. This will be a small group due to personal preference and the smallish campsites along strickler knob, but I may change my mind if there is a lot of interest. Join the waitlist if you're interested!
Applicants: Please send me a gear list when you sign up. Don't worry about needing to have expensive ultralight gear - I just want to make sure that you are bringing the essentials and that you feel comfortable carrying what you are bringing. If you have any questions feel free to send me a message!
DCUL'ers have maps!
- Caltopo: https://caltopo.com/m/0BBBLM8
- Trailhead: https://maps.app.goo.gl/MiL5UNqycrqQebQHA
- PATC Store link: https://potomactrailclub.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/potomactrailclub/product.jsp?product=20&catalogId=2&
----------------THE IMPORTANT WARNINGS-------------------
As per our carpool policy, riders should plan to pay drivers $0.10/mile.
Oh, and I’m just a co-participant on this trip, not a guide or an expert. I’ve never hiked this trail and this posting is all I know of it. I’ve been hiking with DC UL since 2022 but have no special training, such as organizational, medical, or navigational. If you sign up and can’t come, please let me know—don’t ghost. You are officially on the trip if you both RSVP on Meetup and meet me at the Metro.
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://www.meetup.com/DC-UL-Backpacking/pages/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. 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.)
