About us
We're a friendly, inclusive hiking group. Most of our hikes are in Central Maryland, within 20 minutes of I-695. We have hikes for beginners, which are around 4 miles, and easy terrain. We also have weekly hikes that are moderate or strenuous for more experienced hikers. The hikes will be labeled as "easy" (mainly flat, walking), "moderate" (a mix of some hills and flat trail) or "strenuous/difficult" (steep hills or rock scrambling).
Other activities might be camping, kayaking, sailing, climbing, and winter activities like bowling, dancing...any suggestions??
To request membership, in your primary Meetup profile you will need to use your actual name including last name or initial, and post a recognizable headshot photo. Please make needed changes to your Meetup profile before applying! Thanks, Tim
Upcoming events
4
National Arboretum (dogs welcome)
National Arboretum, 3501 New York Avenue, NE, Washington, DC, USIt is Azalea season at the National Arboretum! (see link for info about the park). U.S. National Arboretum
Join me for a visit to one of my favorite, dog-friendly, beautiful, and FREE(!!!) parks in the area. Despite the forecast for a chillier Monday (About 50 degrees), we will walk through the gorgeous hilly trails and marvel at the beautiful display.The park ecompasses about 450 acres and has about 9 miles of roadways, plus lots of walking paths through the various areas and displays. There is SO much to see that it is easy to spend a whole day there, but usually a few hours is plenty. Please make sure you have sturdy and comfortable walking/hiking shoes and water, even though it will be cool out.
There is plenty of parking. You can grab a map at the Adminstration Building, use the restrooms, and meet me out front by the benches (no dogs allowed in the building, but there are other restrooms elsewhere, or I can hold your dog for you) :-). We will head right over to the Azaleas. After that, feel free to explore the park on your own, by foot or by car (or even bike!), or stick with me (and my pups) and check out more of the park as we put on some mileage walking to various parts of the park. The park is a good mix of flat grade and some pretty decent hills (especially in the Japanese & Chinese Gardens - they go all the way down to the Anacostia River). I am not listing any particular "mileage" or "speed" for this visit, as you can do as much or as little with me as you would like. I have been there many times and have my favorite places, but always love to explore.
LEASHED dogs are welcome in the park, except in the Bonsai Museum (which is absolutely INCREDIBLE if you have never seen it) and Penjing Museum. Again, happy to hold your dog for you if you want to check those out. It will likely not warm enough for a picnic, but please bring food/snacks/water/as there is no food sold in the Arboretum except vending machines.
Any questions - feel free to call or text me at 410-487-5095.
2 attendees
Pole Steeple Hike - Michaux State Forest PA - 7+ mi/1000 ft - Moderate+
Big Hill Ciderworks, 338 Georgetown Rd, Gardners, PA, USThis is a fun one! 90 mins from Towson/North Baltimore.
Pole Steeple, a white- and maroon-colored quartzite rock outcropping in Michaux State Forest, PA, offers panoramic, breathtaking views of Laurel Lake and the surrounding valley from nearly 500 feet above. This summit is part of South Mountain, the northernmost reach of the Blue Ridge Mountains shaped by the collision of North America and Africa that assembled the supercontinent Pangaea, roughly 300 million years ago.
We'll meet at Big Hill Ciderworks (top lawn area) at 9:15 am and carpool to the trailhead, about 3/4 mile away. On this out-and-back 7 to 7.5-mile hike, we'll follow the Chestnut Ridge Trail to Pole Steeple overlook through a beautiful forest setting. About 1,000 ft of elevation gain and an average pace of 2.7 mph.
This hike is on the strenuous side of moderate. Please note that this is not a beginner hike due to distance, elevation gain, and pace. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Optional drinks/lunch afterwards at Big Hill Ciderworks (338 Georgetown Rd, Gardners, PA 17324). They have wood-fired pizza, and say, “Every weekend, we pour 10 rotating ciders on tap, along with a couple of local Pennsylvania beers.”
DETAILS (please read carefully)
- Time: 9:15 am at the top lawn (exact GPS coordinates TBC) of Big Hill Ciderworks. Please arrive a few minutes early - we'll leave for the trailhead no later than 9:25 am. (Please note that the restrooms at Big Hill Ciderworks will only be available from 12 pm onwards.)
- Very important: Please bring at least 2.5 liters (85 oz) of water, and a snack for energy.
- We will hike 7.1 to 7.5 miles with about 1,000 ft of total elevation gain and an average pace of 2.7 mph.
- Dogs: If you'd like to bring a dog, please mention it in the comments. Only one dog/dog family per hike, please. Dogs are welcome outdoors at Big Hill Ciderworks, provided they are on a leash and properly supervised at all times.
- If bad weather or trail conditions require canceling or rescheduling, I’ll post an update the evening before.
IMPORTANT
Please remember that you are responsible for your own safety. Hiking is an inherently risky outdoor activity, and while every reasonable precaution is taken to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, each participant is ultimately responsible for their own well-being. Please come prepared with adequate water, appropriate footwear, and any necessary medications. If you have any questions or concerns about whether this outing is right for you, please don't hesitate to reach out beforehand. Please note that your hike leaders are volunteers and are not professionally trained guides.8 attendees
Past events
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