LGBT Community Building Hike #5 Little Devils Stairs (Moderate 5.2 miles, 1500')

Hiya!

Hike Leader Sarah is out of town, so I am stealing this hike from her (shhhh don't let her know) because 1) I love scrambly bits, 2) I love creek crossings, and 3) this hike does them at the same time!

This hike is a Moderate 5.2 miles with 1500 ft of elevation gain in the area of Little Devil’s Stairs in Shenandoah NP. The hike begins at the Little Devils Stairs Loop Trailhead parking lot (located here: 38°43'50.1"N 78°15'29.4"W, also search for just “Little Devils Stairs Loop Trailhead” in Google Maps to find it) and ascends the Little Devils Stairs Trail for 2 miles. This is the fun part! Little Devils Stairs is a very scrambly couple of miles with frequent rock outcrops and stream crossings. Honestly, the trail itself is the stream in wetter weather.

But the rest of the hike thereafter is still fun too! From there, the hike slides down Keyser Run Road, passing the cemetery at about 4.0 miles and finishing the hike out at about 5.2 total. We’ll take plenty of breaks for rest and water and snacks along the way, as well as a lunch break about halfway through the hike. We plan to move at a moderate pace around 2 mph. After the hike is done, we hope you join us for a beer at 4 J’s Farm and Brewery: https://www.4jsfarmbrewery.com/ It’s in Warrenton on the way back to DC and we’ve never been there before! So hopefully it will be good!

We hope to see you on the trail!

HIKE AND WEATHER INFO:

For hike directions, see here: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/little-devils-stairs-trail

Dont forget that it's still summer! We are currently in the phase of summer I think of as “Hell’s front porch” so please bring LOTS of water (minimum two liters). This hike reasonably well shaded but please bring sunblock anyways.

We hope to see you on the trail!

COMMUNITY BUILDING HIKE 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 8:15 AM).

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 intitiating 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 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.

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 (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pQ0dedcqlyjc_Aib3TEbTX4gQRQt4C7FeCmsAPyTxd4/edit?tab=t.0)