KENNEDY PEAK!!! Poetry Hike 💙 (Strenuous 9 Miles, 1500' Gain, Good Vibes)

Hiya!

Yup! I'm hell bent on getting to our annual quota of four poetry hikes per year! And shame on me for slacking off about posting them so far!

This hike is a Strenuous 9 mile double-loop with 1500' of elevation gain in the Kennedy Peak area of GW National Forest, near Luray. The hike begins at the Stephens Trail Parking Lot (approximately here: 38°43'40.8"N 78°30'54.9"W, just search "Stephens Trail Parking" in Google Maps and it will take you to the parking lot) and takes us on a 4.5-mile ramble up the Stephens trail to the ridgeline. From there, we hike along the Massanutten Trail to Kennedy Peak at 5.5 miles, before finishing down the Massanutten Trail back to the parking lot at 9 miles. We'll move at about a 2 mph pace and we'll take plenty of breaks for water and rest along the way.

From the bottom of my heart: the best thing about a poetry hike is, well, the poetry. Once we get to Kennedy Peak, we'll break for a late lunch and hold an open-mic poetry session. Hikers are strongly encouraged to bring their favorite poem (or even something you've written yourself!) and read it aloud for the group! For real, the views are nice, but the poems are the real joy; please come ready to see, hear, and share in the boundlessness of the human condition.

After the hike is done, we'll either go to Hawksbill Brewing in Luray, depending on weather and what everyone's feeling time-wise.

We hope you bring a poem! And we hope to see you on the trail!

INFO:

This hike was heavily inspired by the Sugarloaf Solstice/Poetry Hike held annually by our fellow DC hiking group, the Adventuring LGBTQ+ Outdoors Club. We encourage you to check them out! https://4142298.xyz/Adventuring-LGBTQ-Outdoors-Club/

CARPOOLING:

We encourage those with cars to be willing to drive - you're the ones who make LMH great!

If you're a driver that is willing to drive, please post a comment on the event page with the following information:
(1) Number of seats
(2) Meeting location
(3) Meeting time (recommended departure time from DC is 8:00 AM).

As a rider, please comment on the driver's post to take a seat or post in the comments that you need a ride so a driver can find you. Riders are encouraged to help their driver out with the cost of gas.

BACKGROUNG INFO ABOUT LMH:

Please remember that this group is an informal group of friends and volunteers initiating trips under the common adventurer model (http://www.ronwatters.com/CADefine.html). We do expect our members to be familiar with the best practices of hiking and we expect you to sign up for hikes near to your current ability level. Don't turn your hike into a forced march!

We are also not professionals, nor are we trained hike leaders, nor do we scout out hikes. We plan hikes for fun. You are responsible for your own welfare and safety at all LMH events. Be careful to choose hikes only within your own physical abilities and hiking knowledge; take maps, suitable clothing, provisions (at least two liters of water plus any food or medical supplies you might require) and equipment, and act responsibly and safely at all times.

Act responsibly and safely: if you ever believe you may be lost, follow the advice of the US Forest Service (https://www.fs.fed.us/visit/know-before-you-go/if-you-get-lost)

LMH organizers and members shall not be liable for any injuries, loss or damage to persons or property, direct or consequential, arising out of any aspect of LMH activities. By attending this event, you represent that you have read, understand, and agree to the contents of our waiver of liability in the following link (https://4142298.xyz/Late-Morning-DC-Hikers-25-45/pages/12710332/Waiver_of_Liability/)