Adventuring’s Blackberry Ice Cream Hike takes DC’s LGBT community to the Shenandoah
An LGBT group known for its hikes gears up for a busy Fourth of July weekend
“I remember when I did my very first adventuring hike,” says Jeff Hughes, president of the LGBT outdoors activity group Adventuring. “At the time I was running regularly, and it was a 10-mile hike. I thought ‘Oh my god, I run 10 miles, this isn’t going to bug me at all.’ But it’s very different walking on rocks and roots and climbing up and down things. I was exhausted and sore by the end.”
The group has become famous for their one-day adventures, which range in difficulty and showcase the diverse geography of the Mid-Atlantic region. Recent adventures have included a moonlight bike ride by the monuments, kayaking down the Potomac River, and camping out in cabins in the Shenandoah Valley. The group has two outings planned for the upcoming July 4 weekend — a leisurely walk down the C&O canal capped by the Independence Day fireworks displays, and the annual “Blackberry Ice Cream Hike.”
“We hike in the upper elevations of Shenandoah National Park,” Hughes says of the 7-mile hike. “Shenandoah’s very well-known for growing blackberries, and they’re also known for making their own blackberry ice cream. We always end up indulging in ice cream, as well as things like blackberry prohibition drinks.”
Adventuring’s Blackberry Ice Cream Hike takes place on Sunday, July 3, with a carpool leaving from the East Falls Church Metro Kiss & Ride lot at 9 a.m. For more information, visit adventuring.org.
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