LM: Splashing Around Otter Creek (20ish miles)

Otter Creek is the place to be this summer for DC UL. This will be a low-mileage outing for Labor Day weekend--pack your swimsuits since we're planning to enjoy some swimming holes.

Saturday, we'll head from Vienna to the Condon Run Trailhead and follow Otter Creek Trail for roughly four to five miles. We'll set up camp early and then enjoy the rest of the afternoon at a swimming hole in Otter Creek.

Sunday, we'll continue along Otter Creek to Big Springs Gap Trail. We'll have a short road walk to connect with Turkey Run Trail, then follow that to Moore Run and McGowan Mountain, eventually meeting up with Yellow Creek Trail. We'll camp in that area, and ideally have another opportunity to enjoy a second swimming hole. Maybe 12 to 13 miles for the day.

Monday should be a very short hike out, giving us an opportunity to get ahead of the traffic.

All in all, this should be a nice opportunity to get out for the weekend and enjoy some of what I consider to be the best swimming holes in the area.

I'll hold five spots for applicants and will prioritize them on the waitlist. Applicants, please send a gear list to be approved for the trip--if you have any questions about what to send, reach out to me or Michael.

DCULers have maps! Purple Lizard's Otter Creek/Elkins map is a good option for this area.

The fine print:

• By RSVPing to this trip or any other DC UL trip, you agree to DC UL's liability waiver terms. (https://dculbackpacking.com/about/liability-waiver)
• If you are a member, don't forget to pay your annual $10 dues. You can check to see 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 with the group. To pay your dues via PayPal, use this link: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JenniferAdach/15
• Total driving distance is around 360 miles, so all non-drivers should expect to pay $0.10 per mile or $36 to their driver, in accordance with the DC UL carpool policy.