Backpacking
Meet other local people interested in Backpacking: share experiences, inspire and encourage each other! Join a Backpacking group.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Check out backpacking events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.
Discover all the backpacking events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
Absolutely! Find backpacking events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.
Backpacking Events Today
Join in-person Backpacking events happening right now
Journey: Hiking the Highlands in Scotland 2026
*We can only take 13 women on this trip.*
**The details...**
Immerse yourself in the wild splendor of Scotland on this exclusive **women’s 8-day hiking** adventure.
Misty moors, heather-clad hillsides, verdant glens, and ancient castles steeped in folklore will fill your camera roll by the end of this trip.
***Learn more about this all women journey here: [Highlands](https://www.boldspirittravel.com/journeys-1/hiking-highlands-scotland-2026)***
**A guided adventure:**
Guided by experienced locals, explore the untamed hills of Glencoe and the Cairngorms during invigorating day hikes. Each evening, unwind and reflect on the day’s experiences, forging friendships and savoring Highland hospitality.
This is more than a hiking trip.
It’s an opportunity to immerse yourself in Scotland’s rich history and traditions. Learn about women-led crofts and take a loch plunge while wild swimming (followed by a steamy sauna).
**What to expect...**
* Hike in Scotland’s rugged Highlands and experience green Glencoe.
* Visit a medieval castles and historic stone villages.
* Soak up the history of Edinburgh’s city center.
* Indulge in delicious and plentiful Scottish cuisine, including fresh seafood, local beer, and hearty breakfasts.
* Traverse heather-clad landscapes while giving your body a good workout. (You must train for this trip.)
* Enjoy restorative stays at beautiful hotels.
**Wait, there's more...**
* Bask in the beauty of the Cairngorms.
* Hike with other Bold Spirit women who love to travel as much as you do.
* Learn about rewilding and women-led crofting.
* Shop along the cobblestone streets of Edinburgh.
* Take the plunge into a loch for wild swimming and a shoreline sauna experience.
* Stretch both your mind and hamstrings on this special journey.
The best part? Our team **takes care of the logistics** so you can focus on enjoying a much needed vacation in beautiful Scotland.
Are you ready to meet other women who love to hike and travel, plus see Scotland with professional guides?
***Learn more about this all women tour here: [2026 Hiking the Highlands Journey](https://www.boldspirittravel.com/journeys-1/hiking-highlands-scotland-2026)***
* Ask us questions here: [Tell me more about this trip](https://www.boldspirittravel.com/contact)
* Learn about Bold Spirit Travel [here](https://www.boldspirittravel.com/about).
* Rates start at $6195
Early Dinner At O'Charley's
Enjoy a nice day out for early dinner. No over-the-top expensive Mother's day hoopla stuff. Just good eats.
New Route: Over the Bridge and Through the Roses
We'll meet at the flagpole in the **Ridgeview Middle School** parking lot (4241 Rudy Rd). Parking there is fine on Sundays.
From the school, we cross OH-315 and the Olentangy River via the **Olentangy Trail Pedestrian Bridge**, then walk past **Whetstone Pond** and through **Columbus Park of Roses**, turning back at the **Whetstone Branch of Columbus Metropolitan Library**. About 4 miles round trip, roughly 1.5 hours.
Click [this Google Maps link](https://maps.app.goo.gl/jPCyEUyA2st8uWks5?g_st=i) to view the route.
All paces welcome. See you there.
Backpacking Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
Cincinnati Virtual Speed Dating Authentic Locals
💌 **Online Speed Dating for Cincinnati Singles — Real Connections, Long-Term Thinking**
This is for singles who are done with apps that go nowhere. Done with casual. Ready for a genuine conversation with someone who might actually matter.
Live on Zoom. Personality matched. Built for people who want something that lasts.
**Choose your age group to register:**
- Ages 18-32: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Cincinnati&groupurlname=foster-meaningful-relationships-through-outdoor-exploration&ar=18-32&face_v=2.0)
- Ages 30-46: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Cincinnati&groupurlname=foster-meaningful-relationships-through-outdoor-exploration&ar=30-46&face_v=2.0)
- Ages 40-58: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Cincinnati&groupurlname=foster-meaningful-relationships-through-outdoor-exploration&ar=40-58&face_v=2.0)
- Ages 55+: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Cincinnati&groupurlname=foster-meaningful-relationships-through-outdoor-exploration&ar=55+&face_v=2.0)
🌿 RSVP here alone does not hold your place. Complete your registration through the link above and finish the short personality quiz.
---
**How it works:**
1. Register via your age group link and complete the personality quiz.
2. Join Zoom at the event time — works on any device, no downloads needed.
3. Meet Cincinnati singles in short one-on-one rounds matched by age and personality.
4. Mutual matches are shared after — take it forward at your own pace.
🤍 Spots are kept small to keep things personal. If you are serious about finding the right person, this is where it starts.
Cleveland Online Speed Dating Verified Locals
💌 **Online Speed Dating for Cleveland Singles — Real Connections, Long-Term Thinking**
This is for singles who are done with apps that go nowhere. Done with casual. Ready for a genuine conversation with someone who might actually matter.
Live on Zoom. Personality matched. Built for people who want something that lasts.
**Choose your age group to register:**
- Ages 18-32: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Cleveland&groupurlname=foster-meaningful-relationships-through-outdoor-exploration&ar=18-32&face_v=2.0)
- Ages 30-46: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Cleveland&groupurlname=foster-meaningful-relationships-through-outdoor-exploration&ar=30-46&face_v=2.0)
- Ages 40-58: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Cleveland&groupurlname=foster-meaningful-relationships-through-outdoor-exploration&ar=40-58&face_v=2.0)
- Ages 55+: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Cleveland&groupurlname=foster-meaningful-relationships-through-outdoor-exploration&ar=55+&face_v=2.0)
🌿 RSVP here alone does not hold your place. Complete your registration through the link above and finish the short personality quiz.
---
**How it works:**
1. Register via your age group link and complete the personality quiz.
2. Join Zoom at the event time — works on any device, no downloads needed.
3. Meet Cleveland singles in short one-on-one rounds matched by age and personality.
4. Mutual matches are shared after — take it forward at your own pace.
🤍 Spots are kept small to keep things personal. If you are serious about finding the right person, this is where it starts.
COLUMBUS SPIRITUALITY MEETUP
We are excited to host Guided Meditations on Sundays at 6 pm in our Ashram/Gallery/Home! !! !!
Everyone wants to know what kind of God we worship and what kind of meditation we do. We worship the GOD that LOVES US! We understand that god is an energy and it lives in us as us. Our meditations guide others to actually experience that energy! xoxo We don't just talk about peace, love and affection, we experience it :)
Also we are a home not a business, so we enjoy building community one friend at a time. We always build in time for people to mingle & develop friendships! xoxo Much Love, Frank Tennyson
Namaste, Frank Tennyson
http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/f/9/9/600_447824953.jpeg
Detroit Interactive Virtual Speed Dating Locals
💌 **Online Speed Dating for Detroit Singles — Real Connections, Long-Term Thinking**
This is for singles who are done with apps that go nowhere. Done with casual. Ready for a genuine conversation with someone who might actually matter.
Live on Zoom. Personality matched. Built for people who want something that lasts.
**Choose your age group to register:**
- Ages 18-32: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Detroit&groupurlname=foster-meaningful-relationships-through-outdoor-exploration&ar=18-32&face_v=2.0)
- Ages 30-46: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Detroit&groupurlname=foster-meaningful-relationships-through-outdoor-exploration&ar=30-46&face_v=2.0)
- Ages 40-58: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Detroit&groupurlname=foster-meaningful-relationships-through-outdoor-exploration&ar=40-58&face_v=2.0)
- Ages 55+: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Detroit&groupurlname=foster-meaningful-relationships-through-outdoor-exploration&ar=55+&face_v=2.0)
🌿 RSVP here alone does not hold your place. Complete your registration through the link above and finish the short personality quiz.
---
**How it works:**
1. Register via your age group link and complete the personality quiz.
2. Join Zoom at the event time — works on any device, no downloads needed.
3. Meet Detroit singles in short one-on-one rounds matched by age and personality.
4. Mutual matches are shared after — take it forward at your own pace.
🤍 Spots are kept small to keep things personal. If you are serious about finding the right person, this is where it starts.
Indianapolis Verified Singles Speed Dating Home
💌 **Online Speed Dating for Indianapolis Singles — Real Connections, Long-Term Thinking**
This is for singles who are done with apps that go nowhere. Done with casual. Ready for a genuine conversation with someone who might actually matter.
Live on Zoom. Personality matched. Built for people who want something that lasts.
**Choose your age group to register:**
- Ages 18-32: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Indianapolis&groupurlname=foster-meaningful-relationships-through-outdoor-exploration&ar=18-32&face_v=2.0)
- Ages 30-46: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Indianapolis&groupurlname=foster-meaningful-relationships-through-outdoor-exploration&ar=30-46&face_v=2.0)
- Ages 40-58: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Indianapolis&groupurlname=foster-meaningful-relationships-through-outdoor-exploration&ar=40-58&face_v=2.0)
- Ages 55+: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Indianapolis&groupurlname=foster-meaningful-relationships-through-outdoor-exploration&ar=55+&face_v=2.0)
🌿 RSVP here alone does not hold your place. Complete your registration through the link above and finish the short personality quiz.
---
**How it works:**
1. Register via your age group link and complete the personality quiz.
2. Join Zoom at the event time — works on any device, no downloads needed.
3. Meet Indianapolis singles in short one-on-one rounds matched by age and personality.
4. Mutual matches are shared after — take it forward at your own pace.
🤍 Spots are kept small to keep things personal. If you are serious about finding the right person, this is where it starts.
Backpacking Events Near You
Connect with your local Backpacking community
CMG Gives Back: Serve Brunch at FAITH MISSION GRANT KITCHEN!
Join us as we get together to get together to help those in need at this CMG Gives Back event! We have a great little community of Movie Group friends so rather than see a movie this time, we’ll help “create a better world” by helping serve those in need. Here are complete details and our plan for this event:
FAITH MISSION – GRANT KITCHEN: The Faith Mission kitchen and dining room serves residents 3 meals a day, every day of the year. For this event, our group will help prepare food, serve meals, assist residents in the dining room, wash dishes, and clean surfaces.
PLAN: We will be preparing / serving / cleaning for BRUNCH from 10:30am to 12:30pm and have space for a total of 7 volunteers. Please arrive at 10:20am and wear closed-toe shoes and long pants.
LOCATION: Faith Mission – Grant Kitchen is located at 245 N. Grant Ave. Enter the kitchen at Dock 1 (in the back of the building), indicated in the attached map. On-site parking in the adjacent lot and street parking is available in the surrounding area. Below are some links / attachments with additional info/details:
IMPORTANT REMINDER: Our group will be providing all of the volunteers on this day so a firm RSVP count is essential. Please only sign up if you are certain you’ll be able to attend. If something unavoidable comes up, please try to update your RSVP no later than one week prior to the event. With few exceptions, no shows or cancelations within 1
week of the event will not be eligible for future CMG Gives Back events. I appreciate your understanding as we try to ensure the agencies have the volunteers needed to provide the essential services they provide to the vulnerable population they serve. Our Partner Agency for this event is Lutheran Social Services! A huge THANK YOU to all of YOU for volunteering at this (and any of our previous) CMG Gives Back events!
Should be another good/fun/meaningful time together, Dan
Hike Blendon Woods Metro Park
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.
Sharon Woods HIKE
Hi ladies. Let's hike the Edward Thomas, Spring Creek, and a little multi-purpose trail - approximately 4 miles.
Please bring a water bottle as needed and appropriate shoes. Meet in the Maple Grove Picnic area.
Trails & Ales! Blendon Woods Metro Park / Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery
**History**
The history of [Blendon Woods Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/blendon-woods/) began long before its 1951 opening, rooted in a landscape of rugged ridges and deep ravines that made the land unsuitable for traditional farming. In 1945, a report proposing a metropolitan park system for Franklin County specifically highlighted these cliffs of Bedford Shale as some of the "wildest land in the vicinity". Following this recommendation, the recently formed park district purchased the first 229 acres in early 1949. Because the terrain was so uneven, developers had to cut a mile-and-a-half-long roadway through dense woods just to bring in heavy equipment. This initial preservation effort ensured that the mature second-growth hardwood forests remained largely untouched by the urban expansion spreading toward Westerville.
Opening day arrived on Labor Day, September 3, 1951, marking Blendon Woods as the second park in the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks system. The final push to open was a frantic race; the State Highway Department only finished the primary gravel access road four days before the gates opened. Early staff members, consisting of just four full-time employees, had to hand-dig pit toilets and learn construction skills on the fly to build the first picnic shelters. Despite the dusty conditions and limited facilities, the park was an immediate success, drawing massive crowds from across Central Ohio. By the end of the 1950s, annual visitation had already climbed to over 190,000 people.
As the surrounding suburbs grew in the 1960s, the park faced severe overcrowding that threatened its natural habitats. In response, Franklin County voters passed the first Metro Parks levy in 1960, providing the funds necessary for a decade of steady expansion. During this era, the park nearly doubled in size, growing from 264 acres to over 570 acres by 1968. Planners also addressed a critical water shortage by collaborating with the U.S. Soil and Conservation Service to build a lake in 1964. This body of water originally served as a temporary reservoir before its role shifted toward conservation and wildlife support.
The 1970s marked a transition toward the specialized wildlife and educational focus for which the park is known today. In 1971, the Walden Waterfowl Refuge was established around the 11-acre Thoreau Lake, creating a sanctuary that remains restricted to provide a quiet habitat for migratory birds. A formal nature center was also developed during this period, expanding on the guided Sunday walks that had been a park staple since the early 1950s. The park’s famous "Monarch Mansion" also became a prominent fixture, starting a long tradition of raising and releasing thousands of monarch butterflies each September. These initiatives cemented the park’s reputation as a premier destination for birders and nature enthusiasts.
In more recent decades, Blendon Woods has continued to modernize while maintaining its wilderness character. The 10-acre Natural Play Area was added in 2017, encouraging kids to explore the ravines and woods off-trail. This was followed by the opening of a $1.5 million inclusive playground in April 2025, designed to accommodate children of all physical abilities. The nature center also underwent major renovations to include immersive, three-dimensional exhibits and a new butterfly house. Today, the park encompasses 653 acres, preserving a unique geologic and biological corridor amidst the bustling Westerville and Northeast Columbus area.
**Map of the Park**
Here is a map of [Blendon Woods](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BLN_map_Inclusive-Playground-and-Butterfly-Trail_May-2025_1980px.png).
**Summary**
For this event, we will hike the Lake View, Hickory Ridge, Ripple Rock, Overlook, Brookside, and Sugarbush Trails. This sounds like a lot, but it will really be only a little over five miles. Blendon Woods has a few hills here and there, but it's not one of the more strenuous metro parks.
**Where We'll Meet**
We'll meet just in front of the Nature Center. This is about a mile into the park from the main entrance. You have to go past the Ranger Station and the Shadblow Reservable Area to get to it, so don't stop too early at the Ranger Station and get it confused with the Nature Center.
**After the Hike**
Afterward, we will head over to [Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/) at Easton for [drinks](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/#dinner-menu) and [food](https://forbiddenroot.com/wp-content/uploads/Cbus-Food.pdf). We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks.
The brewery's actual address is [4080 Worth Ave, Columbus, OH 43219](https://www.google.com/maps/place/4080+Worth+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43219/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x88388a86d10b6619:0x4d42b470a5cf11d3?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111); however, I recommend pointing your GPS to the [Worth Garage](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Worth+Garage/@40.0542293,-82.9137962,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x88388b4df6082825:0x17582f0eccd9dda1!8m2!3d40.0542293!4d-82.9137962!16s%2Fg%2F11rzfvvv8b?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQxNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) across the street. Parking in this garage is free as long as you're not on the first floor, and it is literally right next to the brewery.

























