Hikers and Campers

**Park Map / Trailhead hike – NO BUS** *$5. Long hike: up to 8½ mi., 850 ft. ascent/descent. Moderate hike: up to 5½ mi., 450 ft. ascent/descent.* Here’s a festive way to close out the year: a brisk hike along the wildest, most scenic stretch of the Potomac River – yet only a short drive away. Starting at Riverbend Park, part of Fairfax County’s park system, we’ll follow the river trail eastbound to Great Falls. There, a choice of loops takes us along the rim of spectacular Mather Gorge and past ruins of Matildaville and George Washington’s Powtomack Canal before we return to Riverbend. RESERVATIONS Capital Hiking Club is a non-profit group, and the public is invited on all trips. Reservations are accepted as late as Friday, but reserving before Wednesday night helps ensure your spot and prevent cancellation of the hike due to low sign-ups. RSVP through Meetup and pay through PayPal. Please be sure your RSVP gives your full name and phone number. FIRST-TIME HIKERS If you're a first-time hiker with us, please notify the leaders in advance so they can make sure you have the info you need. Hikers must be able to keep at least a 2 mph pace. LIABILITY By RSVP'ing for a CHC hike, you acknowledge and accept that hikers are responsible for their own safety and must assume risks and liability for all outings. CHC leaders, officers, and representatives shall not be liable for any injuries, loss or damage to persons or property, direct or consequential, arising out of any trips or club activities. Participants will be asked to sign a waiver the day of the hike. CANCELLATION POLICY To cancel and receive a full refund less a $5 processing fee, you must change your RSVP to "No" on Meetup **before 12PM the Thursday** before the hike. If you change your RSVP after 12PM the Thursday before the hike, no refunds will be issued. MORE DETAILS -- **[SEE THE FAQS ON OUR WEBSITE](https://www.capitalhikingclub.org/hikes-faqs)**

Hello Hikers!! Welcome to our Saturday morning hike at 8:30 AM! Many - but not all - of our hikes originate at Great Falls Park, off Georgetown Pike. Unless you already have an appropriate pass, the park entrance fee is $20/car for a single visit or $35/car for a 12-month pass that is good for the Maryland side of the river too. Come twice and you'll save 5 bucks! For the record, all scheduled hikes will be held even when it rains, snows or is super hot or cold unless the weather is too extreme to be safe. Our standard hike is a relatively easy 1 hour plus loop hike at a moderate pace. Usually a hike-extension is offered for those wishing to add a few miles more, up to 7 miles or so total. In spite of our Meetup name, we also hike in nearby parks such as Riverbend, Scott's Run, Turkey Run, Seneca, and Billy Goat A or C on theMaryland side of the Potomac. We have also scheduled hikes in Shenandoah NP and at Sugarloaf in Maryland. Please note that phone connections can be iffy in the park so don't call you are running late, but texting may work. It's best for you to be on time as we set out pretty much on time. This 1+ hour of hiking (or more) is a great way to relax, turn off your cell phones, make new friends, and get some exercise. I hope to see you on the next hike!! Thanks Dick, Julie, and Katie P.S. We will meet at the lower parking lot. Once you pass the ranger's booth, make an immediate U-turn to the right and follow the road downhill to the parking lot. We meet by the big rock at the far end of the lot.

**CHILL N CHESS/CHECKERS** Come play!! Classic, clock, social. From novice to grandmaster. BYOBevarages and snacks. We play both chess and [American Pool Checkers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Pool_Checkers) (not your kindergarten checkers!). Come chill with us, get your mind in the game. We offer Blunder Support Groups ;) 🤦‍♂️ **How’s your week?** Did you hang a queen? Fork yourself? Promote to *rook* instead of queen? 😭 > **Don’t worry—we’ve all been there.** > (Literally. We meet weekly. Bring snacks.) **Parking/transit:** Street parking. Also there are private parking lots in Adams Morgan. For public transportation: We are five blocks away from Columbia Heights Metro stop. Two blocks away from Metro D60 and D6X buses on 16th St. A few blocks away from the C51 bus stop and one block from D72 bus stops.

*Please [click here](https://adventuringlgbtq.com/Adventuring_Release_Form.pdf) to review our release form. When you RSVP to an event, you affirm that you have read and agree to the terms of the release.* As the creator of the Great Cookie Hike I am back and this year we will have bigger and better cookies :-) One of Adventuring's cherished Holiday traditions is what we call The Great Cookie Hike, held between Christmas and New Year's, as we stroll down the Capital Crescent Trail (CCT) from Bethesda to the Georgetown waterfront. Everyone is asked to bring a batch of cookies (store-bought or home-made) that can be passed around to share at lunchtime. (In case you miss us at the metro station here is the link to walk from the metro to where the trail begins. Do the sign in sheet and collect the $5 fee at the metro cash or venmo. https://maps.app.goo.gl/HrzL1fXPApFzJ6st9) The total length of this easy one-way hike is about 8 miles, all of it level or downhill. We'll meet at 9 a.m. on Saturday the 27th, at the top of the stairs for the Bethesda Metro Station at Old Georgetown Road and Wisconsin Avenue. We'll lunch about an hour later at a convenient spot on the CCT that has plenty of seating. Soon after lunch we'll leave Maryland and enter the District of Columbia via a long downhill stretch towards the C&O Canal. Once we've leveled out on the Canal Towpath, we'll stop at Fletcher's Cove for a restroom break. Our final leg takes us down to the CCT terminus on the Georgetown Waterfront near Key Bridge. Optional refreshments follow at an eatery/watering hole TBD. Bring water, snacks, comfortable walking shoes, $5 for the Adventuring trip fee, and whatever you need if you want to get back to our Bethesda starting point by Metrobus or Metrorail. Optional meeting for drinks and food and Dupont Italian Kitchen at 1637 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 [https://maps.google.com/?cid=5533807431872345202 ](https://maps.google.com/?cid=5533807431872345202)

Spend your Sunday morning with us on a scenic hike along the C&O Canal Towpath. This is the perfect opportunity to **meet new friends**, reconnect with familiar faces, and enjoy the beauty of Great Falls from the Maryland side. We'll walk along the towpath, chat along the way, and take a well-deserved break at the **Great Falls Overlook** to soak in the stunning waterfall views. Whether you're here for the hike, the conversation, or both, this adventure is all about enjoying the journey together! This is an **easy and beginner-friendly hike** which is generally flat with a few gentle inclines and a manageable 180 feet of elevation gain. The towpath is well-maintained and ideal for all fitness levels, making it a great choice for those looking to ease into hiking or simply enjoy a relaxed outdoor experience. To learn more about the trail, click the link in the **Trail Map section below**. **Meeting Time & Location:** Join us at **9:30 AM at the Carderock Cliffs North Parking Lot**. We'll meet at the trailhead, located midway down the parking lot on the right side (as you enter). **Distance:** 7 miles **Elevation Gain:** 131 feet **Difficulty:** Easy This hike is accessible for all skill levels, taking place on the towpath and Berma road, which both feature mostly flat ground and wide paths. **Estimated Duration** This hike is expected to take approximately 3 hours. **Pace:** Moderate Pace We’ll maintain a steady, comfortable pace with regular but brief breaks for a balanced mix of exercise and enjoyment. **Parking** Free parking is available at the **Carderock Cliffs North Parking Lot**, which is also our meeting point. **Trail Maps (AllTrails)** [Take a Hike! @ Great Falls Overlook (Maryland, towpath)](https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-january-23-2025-7e6b20d?u=i&sh=ylk43q) **Restrooms** Restrooms are not available on this hike. **Dog Attendance** For everyone’s comfort and enjoyment, we kindly ask that you leave your dogs at home for this hike. Thank you for understanding! **Lunch After the Hike** Following the hike, we’ll head over to TBD for a casual lunch. It’s the perfect opportunity to continue conversations, spark new ones, and unwind with your fellow hikers. Whether you’re new to the group or a regular, we’d love for you to join us - and for many, this might just be the best part of the hike!

**(Trailhead hike)** We will meet on the east side/north bound side of Connecticut Avenue, near the Cleveland Park Metro entrance at 9:00 am. Alternately, hikers may park at the Pierce Mill parking area off of Shoemaker Street NW and meet us near the restrooms and picnic pavilion at 9:30. From Connecticut Avenue, we will hike down the Melvin Hazen trail to meet other hikers near the restrooms and picnic pavilion. All hikers will then take the Valley trail to Pulpit Rock and continue on the Valley trail. Moderate hikers will cross the creek at the Milkhouse Ford bridge. Long hikers will continue to Boundary Bridge. Both hikes will take the Western Ridge trail, past the Nature Center, and back to the Pierce Mill area. We will then climb the Melvin Hazen trail back up to Connecticut Avenue. Est.: 12.5 miles, 2000' elevation and 8 miles, 1400' elevation. PATC Map N. Hike Fee: $5. Hiking poles are recommended. In lieu of refreshments after the hike, hikers will optionally congregate at Laredo Mexican Restaurant, 3500 Connecticut Avenue. Hike Meeting place: Cleveland Park Metro, 3599 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington DC We will meet at the east side/north bound side of Connecticut Avenue Time: 9:00 AM FIRST-TIME HIKERS If you're a first-time hiker with us, please notify the leaders in advance so they can make sure you have the info you need. Hikers must be able to keep a 2-mph pace. New hikers are required to first complete a moderate hike. **Liability Waiver:** Many of our hikes take place in remote wilderness areas where cell phone service is not available. Any person participating in any Club activity is responsible for their own safety, health and welfare, and must assume all risks and liabilities related to all Club activities. The Club, its hike leaders, hike sweeps, officers, and other representatives are not liable for any injuries, losses, or damage to persons, children, pets, and/or property, arising from any trips or activities of the Club. You are responsible for bringing enough water, food, and first aid supplies, including those for your personal medical conditions. CANCELLATION POLICY To cancel and receive a full bus hike refund, less a $5 processing fee, you must change your RSVP to "No" on Meetup **before NOON on the Friday** before the hike. If you change your RSVP after noon on the Friday before the hike, no refunds will be issued. Cancellations to Metro/carpool/trailhead hikes will not issue a financial refund, but hiker must change their Meetup RSVP to NO so that leaders do not wait for them at the trailhead. COVID PRECAUTIONS Anyone experiencing symptoms of upper respiratory illness should not attend the event. MORE DETAILS -- [SEE THE FAQS ON OUR WEBSITE](http://www.wanderbirds.org/faq.html)

Let's take this traditional Adventuring winter hike (previously nicknamed The Ice Hike). Not just waterfalls and more waterfalls, these will be some of Shenandoah’s most iconic. This hike is part of the Hike All the Named Waterfalls in SNP series (number 4). If you’re into waterfalls, this is surely the best hike in all of Shenandoah National Park. If the falls are iced over, then this hike upgrades to transcendent. There will be nine waterfalls in all, ranging from a series of gorgeous cascades to the spectacular Upper and Lower Whiteoak Canyon Falls. For the water to fall so dramatically, the terrain must be steep; we will be ascending and descending next to where the water is falling. We'll take plenty of short stops to savor the views (to catch our breath and to take those all-important selfies). With its 8.5 miles length, and 2306 feet of elevation gain, this circuit route is very strenuous. Also, be prepared for two shallow stream crossings on the return leg along Cedar Run, so leaving a pair of dry sox and street shoes in the car is recommended. Bring lunch, 3 liters of water, and sunscreen, and be sure to wear waterproof hiking boots with good treads (the path is steep and rocky and those rocks can be slippery). Dressing in layers is essential. You will be peeling them off and adding them back on throughout the day. Packing a set of ice traction cleats or crampons is suggested, but not required. This ice gear must not be worn on wet rocks, where it becomes a hazard. If you carpool, transportation and trip fees will be $20, which includes the $5 Adventuring fee (paid by all) and $15 for your driver. Also factor in the cost of our restaurant stop on the return. This is a full day hike. We'll meet for forming our carpools at 8:30 a.m. at the East Falls Church Metro Kiss & Ride parking lot. We will make a convenience pit stop half way to the trailhead (Sheetz). We may return as late as 9 p.m. Please [click here](https://adventuringlgbtq.com/Adventuring_Release_Form.pdf) to review our release form. When you RSVP to an event, you affirm that you have read and agree to the terms of the release.

You must read the following NVHC Sign-in Sheet Statement/Liability Disclaimer,https://nvhc.com/signin.pdf and then answer the question that you will see when you RSVP with "**I Accept**" to be permitted on the hike. **7 mile loop with a 679 ft. elevation gain that makes the hike the equivalent to a bit over 8.5 miles.** (400ft gain = 1 mile) **Description**: **[Rock Creek Park](https://www.nps.gov/rocr/index.htm)** is truly a gem in our nation's capital. This 1,754 acre city park was officially authorized in 1890, making it the third national park. It offers visitors the opportunity to escape the bustle of the city and find a peaceful refuge, recreation, fresh air, majestic trees, wild animals. This hike starts from the **[Rock Creek Park Nature Center](https://www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/nature-center-and-planetarium.htm)**[ ](https://www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/nature-center-and-planetarium.htm)(Plenty of Free Parking; closed Mon/Tues), crosses Military Road heading north along the **[Western Ridge Trail,](https://www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/maps.htm)** over the **[Boundary bridge](https://www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/maps.htm)** and then south following the creek to the **[Valley Trail](https://www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/maps.htm)**, and then back to the **[Nature Center.](https://www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/nature-center-and-planetarium.htm)** **Pace:** pace is about 2 - 2.5 mph while moving. **Bring**: adequate water/hydration, also snack/lunch, and sturdy hiking shoes since there are rocky areas, tree roots and a stream crossing, **Dogs:** Dogs are **not** welcome on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. **Weather:** weather in this location is **[HERE](https://weather.com/weather/hourbyhour/l/NoMa+Washington+District+of+Columbia?canonicalCityId=5449cc9af33d6584872016be78d0340d)**[.](https://weather.com/weather/hourbyhour/l/NoMa+Washington+District+of+Columbia?canonicalCityId=5449cc9af33d6584872016be78d0340d) **Meetup Location:** we will meet in the parking lot of the Rock Creek Park Nature Center & Planetarium (Closed Monday and Tuesdays) at 5200 Glover Rd NW, Washington, DC 20015. **GPS Coordinates : 38°57'34.1"N 77°03'05.6"W** **Maps** **[Hiking in Rock Creek Park](https://www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/hiking.htm)** **[Rock Creek Park](https://www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/maps.htm)**

\*\*\* New Trial Process - No More Signing In \*\*\* **Step 1:** **Read the Liability Disclaimer:** [https://www.nvhc.com/signin.pdf](https://www.nvhc.com/signin.pdf) **Step 2:** When prompted, **type:** **"I Accept**/**Full Name/Contact Number/Emergency Contact Number"** Example: "I accept/Jane Doe/703-555-5555/301-666-6666" This is a trial process and is not available on all hikes. **Length**: 2 mi. Elevation: Negligible. Pace: 2.0 miles per hour \*\* Not suitable for fast paced hikers \*\* **DESCRIPTION** On this "hike" a leisurely stroll will be followed by dinner and drinks in downtown Bethesda, MD. We will meet in Bethesda at the junction of Woodmont and Elm streets in front of the restaurant, "The Matchbox" at 6 p.m. We will explore downtown Bethesda on foot for an hour and visit the Capital Crescent and the Bethesda Trolley Trail endpoints. All pavement. Dinner will be at Silver at 7 p.m. Menu includes appetizers, soups, salads, steak, chicken, fish, and plant based selections. Choice of beer, wine, and cocktails. Menu can be found on the restaurant website link below. Approximate cost is between $25 - $35 per head. Everyone pays for their meal, [Silver New American Brasserie - Unforgettable Dining Awaits: Award-Winning Cuisine at Silver Brasserie (Bethesda & DC)](https://www.eatatsilver.com/dinner) **WHERE TO MEET** Two options: **Option #1: WALKING: Meet at the junction of Woodmont and Elm streets (in front of the restaurant "The Matchbox") at 6:00 pm.** Coordinates: 38.982300, -77.095969 **Option #2: Dinner Only**: **Meet at the restaurant "Silver" (7150 Woodmont Ave) at 7:00 pm.** Coordinates: 38.980832, -77.095067 Garages nearby; streetside is an option. Parking is free on Sundays. The closest Metro station is Bethesda (Red line). We will limit attendance to 20. You can bring up to two guests. DOGS not permitted due to the nature of the event.

I will gladly admit stealing this idea from [Capital Hiking Club](https://www.meetup.com/capital-hiking-club/) and [DC Urban Walkers](https://www.meetup.com/dc-urban-walkers/). This trek will have us starting at the US Botanical Gardens and go see the five best Christmas Trees around downtown DC. We'll gather at a restaurant afterwards to warm up, though it should be unseasonable warm on Saturday anyway. We will get started at 5pm in front of the [US Botanical Garden](https://maps.app.goo.gl/TZiAYQk6FbXeupvA6), at the fountain with the giant silver Christmas balls. I STRONGLY encourage you to get there at least a half hour early to see the dinosaur-themed model train display outside, and the architectural models of all the monuments made out of plants in the atrium, just inside the gardens building. Both close at 5:00. From there we will head to the following: 1\. A quarter\-mile northeast to the Capitol Tree 2\. Half a mile northwest on Pennsylvania Ave\. to the Canadian Embassy's tree \(my personal favorite\) 3\. Up Pennsylvania\, then right on 8th NW to the Christmas Market\. We will stop here for 20 minutes in case anybody wants to shop or get some grub\. The Poblano Chicken Chili at the taco truck was a hit and had no line to wait in\. 4\. From there we will head north on 9th St\. and make a left down Palmer Alley to see the various bougie displays at City Center\. 5\. We'll head back south on 11th to Pershing Park\, then the final tree in the Ellipse\. 6\. I was thinking of heading to [Astro Beer Hall](https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZmqceDeQk1ibCKss5) afterwards, but I'm open to suggestions if someone has a better plan. Metro Center station is just another block east and can get you back to where you started from. Distance from Botanical Gardens to this point is 3.1 miles. **Getting there:** I know most of you are suburbanites, but the Metro IS your friend. The closest Orange/Blue/Silver/Green/Yellow station is L'Enfant Plaza, which connects to Metro Center (our end point) without transfer. Exit at Maryland Ave. - that is a ten minute walk. Closest Red Line station is Union or Judiciary, a 17-minute walk, though it also connects to our end point. Union Station also has an impressive tree, but a panhandler will likely demand payment if you stare at it for too long. If you are coming by car, C and D St SW are likely your best bets for parking. We will be starting just as all the museums close.

Hi ladies. We will meet in front of the Nature Center and head to the two Observation decks. We will then hike Hickory Ridge, Ripple Rock, Overlook and Sugarbush trails to get approximately four miles total distance. We will walk approximately a 18 minute mile pace. Please wear appropriate hiking shoes.

If you are interested in selecting investment choices for your 401(k) or other workplace savings plan, minimizing your income tax liability, or identifying the most effective investments for your brokerage account, we are the group for you. We are a local chapter of Bogleheads, whose investment strategy can be found here: https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Bogleheads%C2%AE_investment_philosophy Or you can peruse the Boglehead forum here: https://www.bogleheads.org/index.php I look forward to seeing you there. Mark Vonder Haar