Howard County Group - Outings

Outings: Get online directions to our meeting places. And take a look at our photo gallery to see pictures from previous outings. For outings by other groups, see the Maryland Chapter calendar and the Sierra Club Potomac Region Outings. 2012 Sat. Jan. 28: East Ridge Loop, Frederick Municipal Forest, MD. Moderate 7 mile hike with 700 feet of elevation gain. Bring lunch and boots. Depart at 9:00 from the park & ride just north of I-70 on Rt. 32. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sun. Jan. 29: White Oak Canyon, VA. Strenuous 10 mile hike in Shenandoah National Park, featuring several ice-covered waterfalls. The trail will likely be icy in places. Bring lunch, water, and good hiking boots. Depart at 8:00 from the west lot of the Broken Land Parkway Park & Ride at Rt. 32. Leader: Ken Clark, 443-280-4050, kenclark7@live.com. Sat. Feb. 4: Sugarloaf Mountain, MD. Moderate 6 or 8 mile hike featuring rocky outcrops with sweeping views. Bring lunch and water. Meet at the Bagel Bin off Rt. 40 in the Enchanted Forest Shopping Center, for a 9:00 departure. Call James Perschy, 410-964-1902, jameshike@verizon.net. Sat. Feb. 11: Rock Creek Park in D.C. Moderate 8 mile circuit hike through woods by the creek, with a quick visit to the zoo. Bring lunch and water. Depart at 9:00 from the west lot of the Broken Land Parkway Park & Ride at Rt. 32. Call Tim Ryan before 9:30 PM, 410-248-2974, timothy.a.ryan@urs.com. Sat. Feb. 11: Introduction to 3-Season Backpacking Seminar. Oregon Ridge Nature Center, 10:00 to noon. Presentation on backpacking gear, clothing, safety and preparation. Bring snacks and drinks. Free admission. Hosts: Mike Juskelis, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com, 410-439-4964 and Betty Steil, blsteil@verizon.net, 443-745-3041. Sat. Feb. 18: Catoctin Mountain, MD. Moderate 8 mile hike with 1300 feet of elevation gain. Highlights include pretty Fishing Creek and several vistas. Bring lunch and boots. Depart at 9:00 from the park & ride just north of I-70 on Rt. 32. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Wed. Feb. 29: Signal Knob / Meneka Peak, Massanutten, VA. Strenuous 11 mile circuit hike with 2400 feet of elevation gain, featuring overlooks of the Shenandoah Valley. Some trail sections are very rocky. Bring lunch and boots. Depart at 8:00 from the park & ride just north of I-70 on Rt. 32. Preregistration required. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Wed. March 7: Shawl Gap / Sherman Gap, Massanutten, VA. Strenuous 10 mile hike with 1600 feet of elevation gain. Bring lunch and boots. Depart at 8:00 from the park & ride just north of I-70 on Rt. 32. Preregistration required. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Steep ascent and descent with easterly views of the Shenandoah valley and SNP and views into Fort Valley. Bring lunch and boots. Leave from the Rt 32/I-70 Park and Ride @ 8:00. Preregistration required. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Wed. March 14: Kennedy Peak, Massanutten, VA. Moderate 9 mile circuit hike with 1600 feet of elevation gain, featuring a grand view of the Shenandoah Valley. Bring lunch and boots. Depart at 8:00 from the park & ride just north of I-70 on Rt. 32. Preregistration required. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Wed. March 21: White Rocks / Little Sluice, Massanutten, VA. Scouting Trip. Strenuous 13 mile hike with 2200 feet of elevation gain, with 2 rock scrambles to outstanding views. This can be used as a backpack training hike. Bring lunch and boots. Depart at 7:00 from the park & ride just north of I-70 on Rt. 32. Preregistration required. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. The Howard County Sierra Club group does not charge any fee for leading outings, but some outings do require unspecified park entrance fees or rental fees for items such as canoes or inner tubes. Participants on Sierra Club outings must sign a liability waiver. The Club encourages outings participants to carpool to the trailhead, but such travel is at the participants discretion, and risk. Outings normally begin at the trailhead.