What we’re about
Hello! Jackie here.
My goal and hope for this group are to bring the LGBTQIA community together with folx who want to enjoy our beautiful outdoors here in Western CT and to meet and build fun connections. This will be a safe space where folx from all walks of life, shapes and sizes, and fitness levels come together to explore the amazing trails right in our back yards. The pace of these hikes will be set by the slowest hiker (and that will probably be me) with a group that is supportive and encouraging. This group will offer opportunities for folx who want to get in better physical shape, build confidence and do so amongst an inclusive community.
I moved to CT having lived in the Boston area for over 30+ years in November 2019 and landed in Litchfield in October 2020. I have been able to explore this amazing trail-filled area a bit but need more motivation. I know if I coordinate and organize regular trips it will force me to get out there and do what I love to do. I will strive and commit to setting up regular trips. In full transparency, I have lost my previous fitness level and want to spend 2022 building and strengthening it back. So, these hikes will start out easy and move to more moderate level hikes. The hikes will be within a 3–4-hour time frame and longer over time.
If you are an advanced and fast hiker this may not be the group for you. At the same time, if you want to spend time with good company and can go at the set pace, absolutely, please join us.
Meetup has recently increased its rates for running groups. Leading and organizing are things I’m truly passionate about and love doing. While I won’t require a membership fee, I kindly ask for a $3.00 contribution per person for each hike. This will help offset my costs for managing the group, and your support would mean a lot to me. You’re welcome to contribute at each hike you attend, or if it’s more convenient, you can Venmo me at @Jacqueline-Ross-39. Thank you so much for your consideration and support!
Upcoming events (1)
See all- Join Us for HAIRY SITUATION : A Comedy Show by Alok: Dinner and A ShowCollege Street Music Hall, New Haven, CT
Dinner & ALOK in New Haven – Sunday, October 12th
Join us for an inspiring and joy-filled evening in New Haven! We’ll gather for dinner (restaurant TBD) around 4:45–5:00 PM, then head over to see ALOK—an internationally acclaimed poet, comedian, public speaker, and actor whose work challenges norms and celebrates authenticity.
About ALOK (they/them):
ALOK is the author of Beyond the Gender Binary, Femme in Public, and Your Wound, My Garden, with a global following and performances in over 40 countries. They’ve sold out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Netflix is a Joke Festival. Their first comedy special BIOLOGY! was executive produced by Christopher Guest, and they are the subject of the Sundance-premiered docu-short ALOK, executive produced by Jodie Foster.
On screen, you may have seen them in Complicated Order, The Trans List, Absolute Dominion (forthcoming), HBO's Sex Lives of College Girls, Sort Of, Random Acts of Flyness, Hulu’s Planet Sex with Cara Delevingne, and Netflix’s Gender Agenda Comedy Special and Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness.
Their accolades include the ACLU of Southern California Bill of Rights Award, the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment Trailblazer Award, and selection as the inaugural LGBTQ Scholar in Residence at the University of Pennsylvania.
Details:
📅 Date: Sunday, October 12, 2025
📍 Location: New Haven, CT
🍽 Dinner: 4:45–5:00 PM at a restaurant (TBD)
🎭 Show: ALOK (time per ticket) – Purchase your own ticket here: Buy Tickets
Note: You’ll need to purchase your own ticket for the show. We’ll coordinate dinner details as the date gets closer.
If you’re in the mood for delicious food, great company, and a powerful, unforgettable performance—come join us!
