Anniversaries are always good to celebrate. Fifteen years ago, the idea for DC UL was born. Like any good trail, DC UL’s journey had some twists and turns—even a u-turn or two. There were bonus miles, getting scharfed, bailouts, beer angels, great whiskey shortages, inchworms and mosquitos, car in ditches, questionable water sources… well, yes, the list could go on.
The common theme, however, is everyone who took the time to complete that application, submit their gear list, and get on their first LM trip. Our members make us who we are. And for that, we thank you.
Fifteen years is quite a milestone for any group to be operating consistently. DCUL’s mission has always been to build a strong backpacking community that wakes early, walks far, and travels light. Looking back at the group and our events, we’ve certainly managed to do just that. It’s a good path forward.
It’s also a path we want to keep following. Looking at our 15th-anniversary gathering, we’ve certainly achieved the goal of building that backpacking community. It was a collection of all that’s best about DCUL – old-timers (not me, of course), long-time leaders, and first-timers. That’s DCUL.
We also want to grow. Over at the leadership team, we’ve been mulling over some ideas for new ventures. I’d love to see us get more involved in trail maintenance work. We’ve also contemplated doing more introspective trips, allowing us to connect more with our surroundings. There are also our perennial favorites—Massanutten, anyone?
So as we look at the next 15 years, I’d like to offer an invitation – if you’re a member, picture yourself as an organizer. I never put a backpack on my back until I was 34, so it’s never too late to start backpacking or leading a trip. If you’re an organizer, picture yourself as a co-organizer. Part of our strength is that we have a constant influx of new ideas and new people – so tell us what we could be doing differently.
Save the date for our 30th anniversary as we’ll still be here.
Photo credit: Shane
DC UL Backpacking 
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