The Hikes
The NIH Hiking Club organizes hikes about once a month. I will try to post new hikes at least 10 days in advance. Bookmark the current schedule page and check it once a week to avoid missing a hike. Most of our hikes are in Shenandoah National Park or the George Washington National Forest, both of which are about a 2 hr drive from NIH. The hikes range from a relatively easy 6 miles to 13-14 miles. The hikes have at least 1000 ft of elevation, and a few hikes have 2000+ ft gains. Hike descriptions generally list distance, elevation gain, and perhaps some details about the trail. If you have questions about the suitability of a hike for your physical condition, please contact the hike leader. If you wish to bring children or dogs on a hike, you must check with the hike leader first. Dogs are prohibited on some trails in Shenandoah, and most of our hikes are not suitable for small children. There are no membership dues for the club, but some hikes in Shenandoah National Park require the payment of an entrance fee. Any hike that starts from the Skyline Drive costs $10/car, while hikes starting from the Old Rag, White Oak Canyon or Little Devils Stairs trailheads cost $5/hiker.
Logistics
We usually meet at the Grosvenor Metro Park and Ride lot, which is on Rockville Pike, about 2 miles north of the NIH campus, and just north of the Capital Beltway.. Departure information is included in all hike descriptions. Please try to arrive at the parking lot on time, or you may be left behind. We carpool to the hikes, since there is often limited parking space at the trailheads, and suggest that each passenger contribute a few dollars for gas. Hikes usually have a brief breakfast stop on the way, and sometimes a stop for dinner or ice cream on the way home. It is not necessary to inform the hike leader in advance that you wish to go on a hike, just show up at the appointed place and time.
What to wear/what to bring
It is recommended that participants wear hiking boots because many of the hikes involve stream crossings that cannot be done completely dry, and trails are often rough and rocky. We will not prevent those without hiking boots from participating, except on winter hikes when there is snow cover. However, experience has shown that people without boots are much more likely to twist an ankle, or spend most of the hike with wet feet. The hikes go rain or shine, at the discretion of the leader. Bring some type of rain gear, regardless of the weather forecast. Cotton clothing is not recommended because when wet, it will not keep you warm. Every hiker should carry lunch and at least one liter of water, more on hot days or long hikes.
For more information
If you have questions about the club, please contact Bill DeGraff. If you have a question about a specific hike, please contact the hike leader . I am always looking for other people to lead hikes. If you are interested, please let me know.
degraff@helix.nih.gov
Disclaimer:
As with any activity of this type, there is the possibility of injury or accident. Neither the Hiking Club, the hike leaders, nor the NIH R&W Association is responsible for any injury or accident that occurs during or in transit to or from any of our activities.