OUTdoor Adventuring in DC

Lesbians living in and around the Washington, DC area who enjoy being outside, exercising, meeting new friends who have similar interests, and relaxing – all at the same time – should definitely consider participating in Adventuring.

Adventuring is a not-for-profit, non-membership, all-volunteer organization serving the gay and lesbian community in the Washington, DC area since 1980. Their purpose is to encourage and publicize group outdoor activities. They exist to serve participants as a member of the gay community and as a lover of the outdoors.

There are no rules to read or applications to fill out in advance. All one has to do to participate is to identify a trip they like, call the trip leader for details (and to reserve a spot, if necessary), then go. That’s all. There is a small per-trip fee, plus the sharing of expenses with the other participants.

Since there is no membership, all who are interested may attend one or many events without paying any annual dues. And although they are a gay and lesbian group, they put no restrictions on who may participate, apart from requesting that all be fit or experienced enough to complete the activity. In other words, all straight friends and family are welcome to join, provided they realize most participants will be gay.

The trips
You name it: day hikes; short, weekend and week-long cycling tours; camping; cabin trips; skydiving; rafting, sailing and canoeing; skiing and ice skating are all offered by Adventuring. The list is limited only by the imagination of their trip leaders – who consist of anyone who proposes a trip and organizes it. They encourage participants to lead trips whenever they have the urge to try something new and adventurous, or when they aren’t satisfied with the current offering.

At Adventuring they define an outing as a non-competitive outdoor activity requiring some sort of physical exertion. The idea is to have fun and get some exercise in the open air.

A monthly newsletter is published by the group that informs those interested of all upcoming trips, events, and activities with other groups. The subscription fee is $18 a year and they never sell or distribute the addresses of their subscribers to anyone, so privacy is respected.

Upcoming trips
Dec 14 (Sun): Prince William Forest Park Hike
Dec 21 (Sun): Sugarloaf Solstice/Poetry Hike
Jan 01 (Thu): Great Falls (VA)-Scotts Run Hike
Jan 11 (Sun): Gettysburg Campaign’s Finale Hike
Jan 24 (Sat): Brookland-Fort Totten Hike

Adventuring is an affiliate of IGLOO, the International Gay and Lesbian Outdoor Organization. IGLOO has member clubs in many US and international cities, and sponsors an annual Jamboree, a ski weekend and a century bicycle ride.

For more information visit http://www.adventuring.org.

Tabber photo, top photo, by Katie Tegtmeyer. Featured photo by Rob Pongsajapan.