What we’re about
Want to go hiking near DC and not wake up at the crack of dawn? This is the hiking group for you!
LMH is a group of friends and volunteer organizers that enjoy hiking at some of the best spots and exploring some of the best breweries and wineries in the region. We are a group that:
-Sees the journey as the destination (BUT the destination is pretty great too).
-Prefers the company of other people more than pumping out the miles (BUT we still
enjoy the challenge of a tough hike).
-Chooses to stay up late rather than wake up at 5 am (BUT we're "late morning" for
hikers...not "late morning" for normal people).
-Thinks enjoying a drink and some food at one of the DMV's great breweries or wineries following a hike
is a fun idea. No "BUT" here. We think that's most people.
Disclaimer
Late Morning Hikers is an informal group initiating trips under the common adventurer model. While (many) of our events are not ultra strenuous hikes, we do expect our members to be familiar with the best practices of hiking – this is not a group for first time hikers and is NOT a group for those seeking hiking instruction.
Our volunteer organizers are not experts or professionals, nor are we trained hike leaders, nor do we scout out hikes. We plan hikes for fun. You are responsible for your own welfare and safety at all LMH events. Be sure to choose to attend hikes only within your own physical abilities and hiking knowledge; take maps, suitable clothing, provisions (at least two liters of water plus any food or medical supplies you might require) and equipment, and act responsibly and safely at all times. Acting responsibly and safely includes always making sure that you stay with a group (we advise using the buddy system) and staying on, or within sight of (if you need to answer the call of nature or avoid an obstacle on the trail), marked trails at all times. If you ever believe you may be lost, follow the advice of the US Forest Service.
LMH organizers and members shall not be liable for any injuries, loss or damage to persons or property, direct or consequential, arising out of any aspect of LMH activities. Just in case you haven’t memorized it yet, our waiver of liability is here.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Sulfur Springs Gap/White Rocks (Very Diff 7 mi, 1570 ft Gain) and Vibrissa BeerNeeds location
For this hike, we’ll be heading out to the far end of Northern Virginia and do one of the least-hiked parts of the great North Mountain trail system.
The hike features several small waterfalls along a stream and (without the leaves) a view filled hike along the spine of the mountain, with overlooks showing Massanutten Mountain and Shenandoah beyond.
Afterwards we’ll stop at Vibrissa Beer & Kitchen in Front Royal–offering good beer and heavy brewpub fare.
Meeting Location: Trailhead (coords for the parking area are below). Encourage carpooling as this is a smaller parking area.
Coords of Meeting Location: 38.97539, -78.56764Hike: https://www.hikingupward.com/GWNF/SulphurSpringsGapWhiteRockCliff/
Brewery: https://vibrissabeer.com/front-royal/We hope to see you on the trail!
CARPOOLING:
We encourage those with cars to be willing to drive - you're the ones who make LMH great!
If you're a driver that is willing to drive, please post a comment on the event page with the following information:
(1) Number of seats
(2) Meeting location
(3) Meeting timeAs a rider, please comment on the driver's post to take a seat or post in the comments that you need a ride so a driver can find you. Riders are encouraged to help their driver out with the cost of gas.
We look forward to hiking with you!
BACKGROUNG INFO ABOUT LMH: Please remember that this group is an informal group of friends and volunteers initiating trips under the common adventurer model (http://www.ronwatters.com/CADefine.html). We do expect our members to be familiar with the best practices of hiking. This is not a group for first time hikers and is NOT a group for those seeking hiking instruction.
We are also not professionals, nor are we trained hike leaders, nor do we scout out hikes. We plan hikes for fun. You are responsible for your own welfare and safety at all LMH events. Be sure to choose to attend hikes only within your own physical abilities and and hiking knowledge; take maps, suitable clothing, provisions (at least two liters of water plus any food or medical supplies you might require) and equipment, and act responsibly and safely at all times.
Act responsibly and safely: if you ever believe you may be lost, follow the advice of the US Forest Service (https://www.fs.fed.us/visit/know-before-you-go/if-you-get-lost)
LMH organizers and members shall not be liable for any injuries, loss or damage to persons or property, direct or consequential, arising out of any aspect of LMH activities. By attending this event, you represent that you have read, understand, and agree to the contents of our waiver of liability in the following link (Waiver of Liability - Google Docs)
- LGBT Community Building Hike #3: Bull Run Mtns! (Moderate 5.5 miles, 700' Gain)Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve, Broad Run, VA
Hiya!
We are building community and we are building our knowledge of parks other than Shenandoah!
This hike is a moderate 5.5-mile traipse with about 700’ of elevation gain in the Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve. The hike will begin at the parking lot on Beverly Mill Road (Found here: 38°49'30.5"N 77°42'14.9"W, or search "Bull Run Mountains Conservancy" in Google Maps, or use the address 17502 Beverley Mill Drive, Broad Run, VA 20137 to get there. Parking lot is ~700’ from the trailhead on the left side of the road) and will essentially cover three trail loops in the park: the Fern Hollow Loop, Dawson’s Trail, and Beech Ridge Loops. This is a relatively small park with short trails, but it is the only place you can publicly access the Bull Run Mountains. We plan to move at a pace between 1.5 and 2 mph and we’ll break for lunch around 2.5 miles into the hike. We’ll also take breaks for rest and water along the way. Lastly, when the hike is done, we hope you join us for a beer at The Farm Brewery at Broad Run (https://www.thefarmbreweryatbroadrun.com/).
We hope to see you on the trail!
HIKE INFO:
This park is the only publicly accessible area of the Bull Run Mountains, which are those little hillocks you first see while driving west on I-66. More information about the Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve and the folks who maintain it can be found here: https://www.vof.org/protect/reserves/bull-run-mountains/
FAQ:
1. Is this hike only open to LGBT people?
No way! This hike is open to anyone and everyone regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. LMH hikes are open to everyone and will always be open to everyone.
2. What is the purpose of this event?
This event is intended to build community among LGBT people in general and make sure queer hikers know they are welcome in LMH. This will build community in LMH at large.
3. Can I join this event if I do not identify as LGBT?
Yes! Of course! We would love for you to come out and enjoy the woods with us, regardless of how you identify.4. Will there be beer?
There WILL be beer!
5. Are we only going to talk about queer topics on the hike?
Nope! We might talk more about queer topics, but we’ll probably cover all our old standbys just the same: all the ways to roll an ankle, what we brought for lunch today, and wildly misidentifying bird calls/animal tracks/wildflowers/tree species/cloud formations.
6. I’m not out yet and I’m concerned about leaving a digital trail for people acting in bad faith. Can I still join this event?
Yes, absolutely. Please contact Evan via Meetup messages and we can discuss how to get you on the hike in a way that preserves our membership policies and your privacy.
7. LMH? More like LGBTQMH, am I right?
You know it! It’s just like we say to homophobes; every time you complain about a letter, we add three more!
CARPOOLING:
We encourage those with cars to carpool others to the trailhead - you're the ones who make LMH great!
If you're a driver that is willing to drive, please post a comment on the event page with the following information:
(1) Number of seats
(2) Meeting location
(3) Meeting time (recommended departure time from DC is 9:00 AM) (Isn’t that nice? A truly late morning hike!)As a rider, please comment on the driver's post to take a seat or post in the comments that you need a ride so a driver can find you. Riders are encouraged to help their driver out with the cost of gas.
BACKGROUNG INFO ABOUT LMH:
Please remember that this group is an informal group of friends and volunteers. We expect our members to be familiar with the best practices of hiking. This is not a group for first time hikers and is NOT a group for those seeking hiking instruction.
We are also not professionals, nor are we trained hike leaders, nor do we scout out hikes. We plan hikes for fun. You are responsible for your own welfare and safety at all LMH events. Be careful to choose hikes only within your own physical abilities and hiking knowledge; take maps, suitable clothing, provisions (at least two liters of water plus any food or medical supplies you might require) and equipment, and act responsibly and safely at all times. Always act safely and responsibly.
LMH organizers and members shall not be liable for any injuries, loss or damage to persons or property, direct or consequential, arising out of any aspect of LMH activities. By attending this event, you represent that you have read, understand, and agree to the contents of our waiver of liability in the following link: (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pQ0dedcqlyjc_Aib3TEbTX4gQRQt4C7FeCmsAPyTxd4/edit?tab=t.0)
- Shenandoah River Kayak Trip (24 miles, 2 days, STRENUOUS)Needs location
Come be part of LMH’s first-ever overnight kayaking trip down Virginia’s scenic Shenandoah River! This trip will cover 24 miles over two days (about 9 hours total paddling time) with a night of car camping in between. The water should be flat and relatively easy to navigate (class I/II), but this trip is nonetheless rated strenuous because of the length of time on the water. You must have previously attended an LMH kayak event or have other kayak experience to sign up (you will have to provide this when you register).
We will be using Downriver Canoe Company as our outfitter. They will provide kayaks (optional – you can bring your own), a shuttle, and we’ll camp at Golden Rock Campground, which they own. You must provide your own camping equipment, but this is car camping so you don’t need anything ultralight.
Here’s a rough itinerary:
*7:15am: leave the DC area (carpooling encouraged!)
*9am: group meets at Downriver (884 Indian Hollow Rd, Bentonville VA) to check in. When done, drive 10 minutes south down Highway 340 to Golden Rock Campground (in Rileyville, 38.783585, -78.370482).
*10am-10:30am: group sets up camp for the night.
*10:30am: Shuttle arrives to transport group to starting point of trip.
*11:30am: Group heads out on the water.
*1pm: Stop for lunch (depending on places to stop, group hunger/fatigue level).
*2pm: Back on the water, with stops as needed.
*6pm: Arrive at Golden Rock Campground and settle in for the night. This is where our cars will be.On day 2 we will pack up camp and aim to be on the water by a time determined by the group. We will finish up our voyage to Downriver and they will shuttle us back to the campground to collect our cars and head home. We will likely get back to DC in the evening.
PRICE: $119 for a single kayak, $179 for a tandem, and $110 if you bring your own kayak. This includes the shuttle and campsite.
PAYMENT: To secure your place in the trip you must submit a 50% deposit of the cost of the trip to me via Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, or other mutually agreed-upon means. Please do this within five days of registering, otherwise you'll be moved to the "not attending" list. You'll then be required to pay me the balance by May 29. (I will handle payment to the outfitter but I am not making money off this.)
DISCLAIMERS: 1) I have never done this before and I expect there will be hiccups along the way. Please come with a good attitude and be ready to roll with the punches. It’s going to be memorable and fun! 2) Some online reviews complain about a train in the night near the campground, so we may be woken up once in the night.
CANCELLATION: The outfitter will cancel in the event of severe weather or unsafe conditions. They don't otherwise offer refunds.
TO BRING: lunch for day 1, lunch for day 2 (this shouldn’t be perishable unless you’re bringing a cooler in your car), dinner you can cook or eat at the campsite, breakfast. Camp stuff (tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, supplies to cook your own dinner/breakfast), sandals or shoes that can go in the water (no flip flops – this is a Downriver rule), sunscreen/bugspray, a dry bag or ziplocs for valuables you’ll bring on the boat, a day pack for the boat, water bottles that’ll accommodate however much water you need on the boat.
You may be able to borrow or share camp supplies with other members of the group (I for example have three tents, for some reason). Please leave a comment if this applies to you.
Outfitter: https://www.downriver.com/river-trips/kayak-trips/
CARPOOLING:
We encourage those with cars to be willing to drive - you're the ones who make LMH great!
If you're a driver that is willing to drive, please post a comment on the event page with the following information:
(1) Number of seats
(2) Meeting location
(3) Meeting time
As a rider, please comment on the driver's post to take a seat or post in the comments that you need a ride so a driver can find you. Riders are encouraged to help their driver out with the cost of gas.
We look forward to hiking with you!BACKGROUND INFO ABOUT LMH: Please remember that this group is an informal group of friends and volunteers initiating trips under the common adventurer model (http://www.ronwatters.com/CADefine.html). We do expect our members to be familiar with the best practices of hiking and kayaking. This is not a group for first time hikers and is NOT a group for those seeking hiking or kayaking instruction.
We are also not professionals, nor are we trained hike or kayak trip leaders, nor do we scout out hikes or paddles. We plan hikes and paddles for fun. You are responsible for your own welfare and safety at all LMH events. Be sure to choose to attend events only within your own physical abilities and and hiking knowledge; take maps, suitable clothing, provisions (adequate water plus any food or medical supplies you might require) and equipment, and act responsibly and safely at all times.
Act responsibly and safely: if you ever believe you may be lost, follow the advice of the US Forest Service (https://www.fs.fed.us/visit/know-before-you-go/if-you-get-lost)
LMH organizers and members shall not be liable for any injuries, loss or damage to persons or property, direct or consequential, arising out of any aspect of LMH activities. By attending this event, you represent that you have read, understand, and agree to the contents of our waiver of liability in the following link (Waiver of Liability - Google Docs)
