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- 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.)Not open - ONLINE (self-paced) Wilderness First Aid available ALL DAYS NOW until June 30thLink visible for attendees
In your own home, at your own leisure (anytime -- not just the date of this event): now you can learn a ton in the online portion of Disaster + Travel + Wilderness First Aid! COURSE TOPICS VIDEOS are almost exactly as MEDIC SOLO always presents them with the latest on disaster and wilderness medical science. Intermixed at several points we guide you to practice various skills.
Choose one of two ways to learn:
a) Take the self-guided course (no certification) $99.
b) Take the self-guided online course and attend a skills scenarios workshop (one day on-line) and get certified $249 (Early Bird).
Register here: https://solowfa.com/register-online-SOLO-disaster-wilderness-first-aid-course.html
In order to get certified, you will start watching our highly-rated, self-paced videos one month prior to your Skills Scenarios Workshop date and:- Practice skills at home before your Workshop date, send us photographs and our Instructors will provide you with kudos and constructive ideas.
- Pass the multiple-choice quiz and test is what verifies that you're ready for your workshop day with an instructor.
- Attend your online Skills Scenarios Workshop full day with a live instructor and a live human patient. Use a unique software which nearly replicates the in-person learning experience.
- Gain as much to more hands-on learning experience as compared to an in-person course.
- Instructors give individual live feedback to students while you perform hands-on skills in your own home.
- Graduates receive the internationally-renowned SOLO 2-year WFA Certification.
Upcoming online Skills Scenario Workshop dates:
May 3, 2025
May 31, 2025
and June 14 2025.Sneak peek at the course:
https://www.solowfa.com/online-sample.htm
