Wild Outdoor Adventures

WEEKLY HIKE - CITY HIKE - CHESTNUT HILL
(7 to 8 Miles | 400 Feet of Elevation)

DESCRIPTION
Join us for our weekly, weekday evening/night hike.

Once a month we leave the woods/nature behind us and take our weekly evening/night hike into a different part of the city. In December we will stroll the idyllic and picturesque streets of the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia. We should hopefully see plenty of houses, businesses, churches, and other places decorated for the holidays along the way. We will pass by well kept row homes and multi-million dollar estates as well. We will wind our way back and forth down Germantown Avenue on the way back to our starting point to see, especially if you're not familiar with the neighborhood, the many restaurants, bars, and shops that call the neighborhood home. This is probably the best place in the city to live, if you can afford it, and makes for a safe, fun, and new place to do an evening/night hike.

TERRAIN | OBSTACLES

• Please note - this is a city or urban hike. That means you will face typical obstacles when navigating/walking/hiking through an urban environment - broken sidewalks, uneven pavements, streets with no sidewalks, intersections, crosswalks, vehicular traffic, pedestrian traffic, bicycle traffic, and more!

SPEED | DISTANCE | ELEVATION

• Distance - Between 7 and 8 miles, depending on the pace we keep
• Elevation - 400 feet (estimate)
• Speed - around 3.0mph throughout the course of the hike.

BASIC INFO

• DAY & DATE: Wednesday December 4th
• START TIME: 6:30PM (AND WE START ON TIME!)
• STARTING LOCATION: ACME MARKETS
• ADDRESS: 7700 Crittenden St, Philadelphia, PA 19118
• END TIME: Target is 9pm.

GEAR:

• Hiking boots/shoes (sneakers okay but may get muddy/dirty)
• Water
• Appropriate clothing - hats, rain jackets, etc. as needed
• A change of clothes for after (at your discretion)
• Headlamps not necessary for this.
• I also advise people bring hiking bags - either to help store stuff to keep you hands free and/or to help get you accustomed to using one
• Phone | Car/House Keys | Wallet
• Snacks (as you see fit)
• Beer or other drink for before the hike.
• CAMERA!!!!! (OR PHONE!!!!!)

PARKING

• PARKING - Free parking available in the shopping center parking lot.
• DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES or anything visible in your car.

BATHROOMS

• Bathrooms available at the start (not sure about the end) at one of the nearby shops
• No bathrooms breaks, as always, on these short evening hike.

AFTERWARDS

• Afterwards we can head to a place nearby for food & drinks if enough people want to go. Everyone is welcome!

CANCELLATIONS

• I do not cancel hikes for inclement weather. It must be dangerous conditions during the hike or dangerous travel conditions to/from for me to cancel. If I ever do need to cancel or postpone I try to do so as early as possible.
• You may cancel at anytime up to and including the start time of the hike. Cancellations without contacting me after the start of an event counts as a no-show. More than 3 no-shows gets you removed from the group. If something happens, I get it, reach out and just tell me after. I've been there - hungover, busy, etc. Just be polite, and brief, if you miss and forget to cancel.

WEEKLY HIKE - TROLLEY TRAIL & WEST FAIRMOUNT PARK
(7 to 8.5 Miles | 600 Feet Elevation)

Join us for our weekly evening/night hike!

This week brings us to West Fairmount Park and the growing in popularity Trolley Trail. Following the course of the old trolley line that ran through the west side of Fairmount Park for almost six decades, the trail offers a great wooded hiking experience right in the middle of the city. In addition to the main trolley trail, tonight's hike will feature smaller side trails that wind their way, and some of them really wind back and forth, through this side of the park. Those include the Mouse, Mickey Mouse, No Flow, Rose, and Kitchen Sink trails. No, I did not just make any of those up lol - go check out AllTrails.

Along the way we'll pass by some historical locations including several of the famous mansions that line the park and from the top of Belmont Plateau catch a wonderful view, I think it's the best shot in the entire city, of Philadelphia's skyline. Additionally, putting aside the sound of traffic from roads and the Schuylkill Expressway, this hike offers us a chance to enjoy nothing by solid, woodsy outdoor trails while hiking within the city limits the entire time. Not a hard hike, but definitely a good workout nonetheless.

NOTES | CONDITIONS

• This hike involves using trails that are overgrown at times, but it's safe and it won't be like that the entire time. This is meant for people in decent/average shape able to cover the distance, tackle the elevation, and do so in the time allotted.
• PLEASE NOTE - THIS IS NOT A "CITY" HIKE. TRAILS THAT MAY BE WET/SLIPPERY/MUDDY IF IT IS OR HAS BEEN RAINING. THERE'S OBSTACLE CROSSINGS, STREET CROSSINGS, ROCKY/TWIGGY TRAILS, AND OTHER OBSTACLES INVOLVED.

BASIC INFO

• DAY & DATE: Wednesday December 11th
• START TIME: 6:30PM (AND WE START ON TIME!)
• STARTING LOCATION: Chamounix Equestrian Center
• ADDRESS: 98 Chamounix Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19131
• LENGTH: 7 to 8.5 miles (8.5 is target)
• ELEVATION: 600 Feet +/- (600 is target)
• SPEED: 2.75 to 3.0 Mph average
• END TIME: Target is 9:00 PM

GEAR:

• Hiking boots/shoes (sneakers may be getting on this)
• Water
• Snacks
• Appropriate clothing - hats, rain jackets, etc. as needed
• A change of clothes for after (at your discretion)
• Headlamps. We try not to use them unless when necessary.
• WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND buying a headlamp with a NON-WHITE color (red, blue, green are best) with at least 2,5000 lumens on the non-white color. This helps keep your night vision and also prevents you from blinding others when you must use it. Reach out to me if you're unsure what to buy, I can offer suggestions.
• I also advise people bring hiking bags to keep you hands free and prep for hikes with rock scrambling
• Beer or other drink for before the hike.

PARKING

• Plenty of free parking along Chamounix Drive.
• BE CAREFUL....there's a big dip in the road as you pull into the parking spots along the street - pull in slowly!!!
• DO NOT LEAVE ANY VALUABLES IN or anything visible in your car

BATHROOMS & BREAKS

• Unfortunately there are no bathrooms anywhere on this hike, but there's woods everywhere so mother nature is your restroom tonight!
• We'll take a few short breaks here and there to let folks catch up, grab some water, adjust gear, etc. and we'll take a 5 minute break on Belmont Plateau so we can get some good photos of the skyline.

AFTERWARDS

• If there's interest we can maybe do a tailgate along Chamounix Drive or got out to a local place nearby for food and drinks.

CANCELLATIONS

• I do not cancel hikes for inclement weather. It must be guaranteed thunderstorms (in open terrain), enough snow/ice to make getting to/from a hike dangerous, etc. If I ever do need to cancel or postpone a hike I try to do so as early as possible.
• You may cancel at anytime up to and including the start time of the hike. Cancellations without contacting me after the start of an event counts as a no-show. More than 3 no-shows gets you removed from the group. If something happens, I get it, reach out and just tell me after. I've been there - hungover, busy, etc. Just be polite, and brief, if you forget to cancel.

CITY HIKE - OLD CITY - FISHTOWN - NORTHERN LIBERTIES
12 Miles & 250 Feet Elevation

DESCRIPTION
Call me an urban exploration. Nothing beats wandering a big city and discovering beautiful buildings, tiny alleyways, and famous landmarks by accident. That's even true of your hometown/current city. Join me for a twelve mile stroll Old City Philadelphia as well as the poplar and hip neighborhoods of Fishtown and Northern Liberties.

Along the way we'll see some of the most famous sites from Philadelphia's history and I'll even share a few stories from the annals of history. Hoping we'll also get to see lots of Christmas/Holiday decorations along our route as well. Additionally there will be plenty of gorgeous buildings, tiny little streets and alleyways, amazing architecture, beautifully maintained homes, and quite, hidden little blocks. This is a great way to see a lot of the city in just a short amount of time.

Guests welcome as well, but they must be able to complete the hike as described.

CONDITIONS | EXPECTATIONS

• While a long hike/tour at 12 miles, this contains very little elevation and we'll be on city streets, walkways, and alleyways the whole time. Plus we'll break a few times for bathrooms, coffee, snacks, etc.
• Typical urban obstacles on this - car traffic, bicycle traffic, pedestrian traffic, the occasional broken sidewalk or dip here and there, etc.

BASIC INFO

• DAY & DATE: Sunday December 15th
• START TIME: 10:00 AM (AND WE START ON TIME!)
• LOCATION: The Richmond Shops IGA
• ADDRESS: 2497 Aramingo Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125
• LENGTH: 12.0 Miles (Target)
• ELEVATION: 50 Feet (Target)
• END TIME: 3-4:00PM (Hike/Tour done)

GEAR:

• Sturdy shoes for this! Sneakers or hiking boots - your choice - just keep in mind that whatever you were will get miles on them and if it's raining or has been raining before the hike they may get a little wet, muddy, dirty, etc.
• Appropriate clothing for temperature and precipitation
• A change of clothes for after (your discretion)
• I also advise people bring bags to store stuff and to get used to hiking/walking with your hands free.
• Water
• Snacks (as you see fit).

PARKING & MEETING LOCATION

• Free parking in the shopping center parking lot
• DO NOT LEAVE valuables in your car!
• We'll gather near the Wells Fargo ATM in the middle of the parking lot away from the supermarket and closer to Aramingo Avenue. I'll post a comment and upload a map with pin to the event photos once I arrive

BATHROOMS/BREAKS

• Bathrooms available at the start/end
• We will find two or three public bathroom along the hike
• We will take our usual breaks on the hike/tour - one to two minute water & gear adjustment breaks
• We will try to find a spot for snack/water/coffee break at somepoint

AFTERWARDS

• If there's enough interest we can find a local bar/restaurant with good food and drinks and share a meal afterwards.

CANCELLATIONS

• I do not cancel hikes/events for light rain, drizzle, etc. It must be dangerous travel conditions, or constant, all-day downpours. This hike/tour can easily be done in light/fine rain or snow with an umbrella or rain jacket.
• You may cancel at any time up to and including the start time of the hike. Cancellations without contacting me after the start of an event counts as a no-show. More than three no-shows gets you removed from the group.

MONTHLY FULL MOON NIGHT HIKE -
PENNYPACK PARK - NORTHEAST PHILLY
(8.75 Miles +/- | 250 Feet Elevation)

Join us for our monthly full-moon night hike!

DESCRIPTION
There's a certain magic about hiking at night, especially with a full moon to help light the way! This December we will use the light of the moon to hike through the outdoor gem of Northeast Philadelphia - Pennypack Park.

Not as famous or picturesque compared to its larger cousins the world famous Wissahickon and Fairmount Parks in Philadelphia, the Pennypack still offers local residents and visitors alike 1,600 acres of green space right smack dab in the northeast part of the city. With dozens of miles worth of hiking, walking, and biking trails, the park provides plenty of spots to unplug from the modern world and enjoy the beauty of nature and some well deserved solitude. This is a really flat park and hike, so we will try and keep a good pace and get as many miles in as our three hours allow.

Once we finish the hike we can head to a nearby place for food or drinks if there's enough interest

NOTES | CONDITIONS

• This hike involves using trails that are overgrown at times, but it's safe and it won't be like that the entire time. This is meant for people in decent/average shape able to cover the distance, tackle the elevation, and do so in the time allotted.
• I do not regularly hike the side trails here, so I do not know what condition they will be in, so please come prepared for anything. They're nowhere near as rocky as West Fairmount Park nor the Wissahickon, but of course, they can have rocks, tree roots, and other obstacles on them.
• PLEASE NOTE - While in the city limits, this is not a "city" hike. We will use the main paved trail on the way back, but the first half of the hike will be on a side trail soif it's been raining trails may be slippery, muddy, wet.

SPEED | DISTANCE | ELEVATION

• LENGTH: 8.75 Miles +/- (8.75 is target)
• ELEVATION: 250 Feet +/- (250 is target)
• SPEED: 3.0 Mph average

BASIC INFO

• DAY & DATE: Monday December 16th
• START TIME: 7:00PM (AND WE START ON TIME!)
• STARTING LOCATION: Old Holmesburg Prison
• ADDRESS: 8215 Torresdale Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19136
• LENGTH: 8.75 Miles +/- (8.75 is target)
• ELEVATION: 250 Feet +/- (250 is target)
• SPEED: 3.0 Mph average
• END TIME: 10 to 10:15 PM - done hiking

GEAR:

• Hiking boots/shoes (sneakers may be get dirty/muddy/wet on this)
• Water
• Snacks
• Appropriate clothing - hats, rain jackets, etc. as needed
• A change of clothes for after (at your discretion)
• Headlamps. We try not to use them unless absolutely necessary. The point is to hike using the light of the moon once the sun has set.
• WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND buying a headlamp with a NON-WHITE color (red, blue, green are best) with at least 2,5000 lumens on the non-white color. This helps keep your night vision and prevents you from blinding others when you use it. Reach out to me if want suggestions.
• I also advise people bring hiking bags to keep you hands free and prep for hikes with rock scrambling
• Food/Drinks for tailgating afterwards
• Beer or other drink for before the hike.

PARKING + MEETUP SPOT

• Plenty of free parking along Torresdale Avenue
• We will meet by the trail entrance to the park.
• I'll post a comment and a photo with a map pin once I arrive.
• DO NOT LEAVE ANY VALUABLES IN or anything visible in your car

BATHROOMS & BREAKS

• Unfortunately there are no bathrooms anywhere on this hike, but there's woods everywhere so mother nature is your restroom tonight!
• We'll take a few short breaks here and there to let folks catch up, grab some water, adjust gear, etc. and we'll take a few slightly longer breaks here and there to try and get some cool photos of the moon and sky..

AFTERWARDS

• The plan is to hike, with a few short (1-2 minute) breaks here and a few 2-3 minute breaks for photos here and there, otherwise we'll be hiking most of the three hours. Once the hike is over we can tailgate in the park by our cars or we can go out to a nearby place for food and drinks.

CANCELLATIONS

• I do not cancel hikes for inclement weather. It must be guaranteed thunderstorms (in open terrain), enough snow/ice to make getting to/from a hike dangerous, etc. If I ever do need to cancel or postpone a hike I try to do so as early as possible.
• You may cancel at anytime up to and including the start time of the hike. Cancellations without contacting me after the start of an event counts as a no-show. More than 3 no-shows gets you removed from the group. If something happens, I get it, reach out and just tell me after. I've been there - hungover, busy, etc. Just be polite, and brief, if you forget to cancel.