Sierra Club Potomac Region Outings (SCPRO)

Indian Head Rail Trail, MD (ODH Training Hike #5)

Sat, Feb 7 · 10:00 AM EST

Charlie Wright Park, 101 Dr. Mitchell Lane, Indian Head, MD, US

This is a 12-mile out-and-back, go-at-your-own pace, hike on a paved trail through mostly forest and wetlands along scenic Mattawoman Creek.
The hike will start in the town of Indian Head (trailhead-27 Mattingly Avenue). Hike east on the trail to Milepost 6, just beyond Bumpy Oak Road, turn around and come back. We may modify the hike or cancel if trail conditions are treacherous; we'll check conditions several days before the event.
Directions to meeting location: From the Beltway, go south on Rt. 210 19 miles to Indian Head. Turn right on Lackey Drive, left on Doctor Mitchell Lane, and park in gravel parking lot on right (Charlie Wright Park).
Porta-john is in the parking lot and there are two along the trail.

Dress appropriately for the weather (in layers) and bring water, lunch/snack. Head and hand coverings are recommended.

Execution of a Sierra Club liability waiver is required at the start.
A $2/person voluntary donation is requested. Your donation funds SCPRO leader training and related costs for our all-volunteer program.

Well-mannered dogs on leash are permitted, but please notify a leader in advance.

You need not be a Sierra Club member to participate, but if you'd like to join, go to: http://www.sierraclub.org/virginia .

Leaders: Gary Kosciusko, (703) 946-8111, and Vicky Hsu.

Trail information: https://www.charlescountyparks.com/parks/trails.

Although open to all, this hike is part of a series of Saturday training hikes leading up to the One Day Hike (ODH)—a 100 or 50 km hike along the C&O Canal—on May. 2, 2026. See SCPRO’s Meetup page for other training hikes as they are posted. If you would like to support the ODH, see volunteering opportunities and/or contact Mike Darzi (mike.darzi@gmail.com). For official updates regarding training hikes, registration, and other information, join the ODH discussion group by sending a blank email to onedayhike+subscribe@groups.io.

SCPRO Winter Potluck Party

Sun, Feb 8 · 5:30 PM EST

11800 Old Georgetown Rd, Rockville, MD, US

Help us celebrate the Sierra Club’s Potomac Region Outings (SCPRO) and usher in a new year of outdoor activities by joining us at this (indoor) winter potluck party. The party is open to all—outings participants (past, current, or future) and leaders (past, current, or future), as well family, friends, and curious onlookers—so feel free to invite others.

Special guests are our long-term leaders whom we recognize with sincere appreciation for their volunteer service to the Club. They have helped introduce thousands of people to the outdoors and then helped them enjoy it for many more years!

Photo albums of other SCPRO socials.

FOOD & DRINKS
You are invited to bring food (prepared or bought by you) to share—a main dish, side dish or salad, or appetizer. The food you bring should reflect your family's heritage so that we end up with international fare. (Don't forget serving utensils.) Please DO NOT bring desserts, chips, nuts, dips, and other snacks. If you can’t, don’t want to, or forget to make a dish, don’t let that stop you from coming as there is sure to be more than enough food!

We will provide fruit snacks, dessert, water/soft drinks, and plastic/paper ware. To save a little bit of the world, please bring your own washable plates, cups, and eating utensils. A $5 cash voluntary donation per person to cover the cost of the event is welcomed, but not required.

WHEN & WHERE
Sunday, January 25, 2026, 5:30-8 pm, Bethesda Club Room, White Flint Station Condos, 11800 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda, MD (GoogleMaps). The entrance is at the NE corner of the Chapman Avenue and Old Georgetown Road "T" junction (see photos below), and the room is on your right just after entering.

Metro: The location is one block north of, or 0.4 miles from, the Red Line’s North Bethesda Metro station, 5679 Marinelli Rd (GoogleMaps).

Parking: Street meter parking is free on weekends (see photo below). There is a Metro parking garage (5627 Marinelli Rd, but entrance on Citadel Ave.; GoogleMaps) that is also free on weekends, and a commercial garage at Pike & Rose (11580 Old Georgetown Rd; GoogleMaps). Each garage is about 0.3 miles away.

SIERRA CLUB
You may join the Sierra Club by clicking the "JOIN" button at the top of the Virginia Chapter’s website. Membership is not required for participation.

INFO?
If you have questions about the event, contact Mike (Mike.Darzi@Gmail.com).

Ski Dance Weekend

Fri, Feb 13 · 5:00 PM EST

Location not specified yet

Enjoy the outdoors? Like having fun and meeting new people of all ages? Then come to the annual Ski Dance weekend held in the Laurel Highlands region of western Pennsylvania. SkiDance is a volunteer-led activity sponsored by Sierra Club Potomac Region Outings (SCPRO).

Not sure how to cross country ski - no worries, free ski instruction is provided for beginners! Do you have two left feet and are not sure how to folk dance? Not a problem - we have two fabulous callers Janine Smith (contras) and Tom Spilsbury (English) leading our dances and they will have you moving to the music provided by the incredible Dave Wiesler and Mat Clark. Lots of fun and prices range from approximately $150 to $575 depending on your accommodations. For more information and registration forms go to https://www.skidance.org or contact the trip leader, Bob Mathis at 240-858-9341 or email rjmathis62@gmail.com or Jody Blatt, the registrar at jodyblatt@hotmail.com

For more information and registration forms go to https://www.skidance.org or contact the trip leader, Bob Mathis at 240-858-9341 or email rjmathis62@gmail.com or Jody Blatt, the registrar at jodyblatt@hotmail.com

You must complete an application in order to confirm attendance at Ski Dance. Applications can be downloaded from www.skidance.org.