KC Area Backpacking Meet & Greet: 2026 edition

KC Backpackers Peer Meetup - 2026 Kickoff

Thursday, January 22, 2026 6:00–8:00 PM The Other Place, Mission, KS

Before permit competitions open on recreation.gov and before everyone settles into their next round of plans, we meet. This early‑season session brings together backpackers who already have their own experience, systems, and might already have their own trip ideas in motion — whether for 2026 or seasons beyond. It’s a straightforward meetup for people who spend real time on trail and enjoy comparing approaches, talking through what they’re considering, and getting a sense of the season(s) ahead.

The conversation moves because people contribute — it’s a room of peers, not an audience. There is no presentation. If you’re an active backpacker shaping your upcoming seasons, you’ll fit right in and find the exchange genuinely useful.

This meetup aligns with the broader outdoor community supported by the KC Area Sierra Club and the long‑running National Outings program, which continue to encourage responsible, well‑prepared backcountry travel, and you're encouraged to consider those opportunities.

This isn't what Sierra Club calls an "outing" or trip. The meeting begins and ends at the indicated place and time. It does not include carpooling, transportation, or transit to & from the meeting; each participant is personally responsible for all risks associated with this travel. Account for travel time when planning, we just show together time.