After four weekends without hiking, I was in the mood for something more challenging to prepare for Massanutten. My friend Rose was also training for the Cocodona 250 and wanted to hike a loop with a lot of vertical gain. There was one mountain in particular that I thought could fit the bill, but it... Continue Reading →

It was the coldest of times, it was the hottest of times, it was a day of blue skies, it was a day of downpours, it was the weekend of celebration, it was the weekend of resurrection. As I am writing this, my backpack lays outside my apartment room drying from the drenching it went... Continue Reading →

Ours is a tough neighborhood. The Shenandoah National Park (“SNP”) is, relatively, in our backyard—a bit over an hour from Washington, D.C. But don’t let the proximity to civilization or the “park” name fool you! This 36-mile loop of ours skirted a densely packed rattlesnake den, unusually savvy fish, a coyote kill zone, complicated rock... Continue Reading →

DCUL News and Updates Upcoming Trips/Events Saturday, January 24th — Social: Potluck and "Big Trip" Celebration Saturday, February 7th — MO V1: Assateague Friday, February 20th — Social: Blackwater Falls Winter Weekend Saturday, March 21st — Wilderness First Aid Certification Class Friday, May 22nd — VMO: C&O canal towpath bikepacking Friday, June 5th — IO/VMO:... Continue Reading →

It couldn’t have been worse. A co-worker invited me to her in-office baby shower held during lunch break. I arrived 15 minutes late and immediately regretted accepting the invitation. The woman-only crowd was deep into corny “baby shower games.” I gamely tried to fit in during the “baby trivia” game. However, when someone passed around... Continue Reading →