Outings Calendar

In order to enjoy Wild, Wonderful West Virginia, on all outings we pack out all trash and leave pets, radios, tapeplayers and firearms at Home. Chapter Policy also prohibits smoking in the presence of others during all Sierra Club activities.

Welcome to Our New Chapter Outings Chair, Dan Soeder
The West Virginia Chapter welcomes a new outings chair, Dan Soeder. Dan is a recent transplant to West Virginia, where he and his wife live on a farm in Preston County. Dan has been active in the Club for many years, including service as outings chair for both the Delaware and Maryland chapters, as well as membership in the Club’s national Outings Support Team (OST), advising and assisting regional chapter outings programs.
Dan’s own outdoor recreation interests run to hiking, biking, and kayaking. Read a letter from Dan on this PAGE about our Spring and Summer 2010 outings and how to become an Outing Leader.
Our past outings chair, Nate Parr, served with Dan on the OST and put us in touch with Dan, whom Nate highly recommends. Our thanks to Nate, and welcome to Dan.

More Outings Leaders are Needed:
The WVSC has trained, quality leaders to take you on trips into our state’s wild and wonderful places. Sign up for one of our outings and enjoy a day with like-minded conservationists.

Want to become an outings leader? Contact our new Chapter Outings Chair, Dan Soeder, at Dan.Soeder@sierraclub.org or 304-568-2164 for more information and you can also read more HERE.

X-C skiers enjoying an outing in the Blackwater Canyon

To participate in an Outing:
Call the Outing Leader for trip information such as level of difficulty, equipment needed, meal arrangements, meeting time and place, etc.

If you see an outing that interests you, try to call the Leader at least one week in advance to sign up. And please notify the Leader if you have to cancel your participation.

You can view the Chapter's Outing Policy via this PDF file.

Outings Department News:
December 05, 2008

New Bike Helmet Policy Adopted

After two months of lively discussion, the Outdoor Activities Program Team (formerly the Outdoor Activities Governance Committee) adopted a policy for bike helmet use on all outings:

Policy for all Sierra Club outings
Revised by the Outdoor Activities Program Team on November 17, 2008

Participants and leaders must wear appropriate safety helmets while riding on a bicycle outing.
Further guidelines about bike helmets --
Helmets are most effective if they are less than five years old (because they deteriorate with age), are not damaged, fit snugly, and are worn about 1" above the eyes. In all cases, the manufacturer's instructions for use should be followed.
Helmets with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or Snell Foundation certification are most effective. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to know if a helmet has such certifications as not all certified helmets are clearly marked.

Many thanks to all who offered feedback and insight. The policy can be found here: http://www.clubhouse.sierraclub.org/outings/policy/BikeHelmets.asp

May 2012

Sat, May 12
Saturday, May 12th: Sugarloaf Mountain Day Hike
Nearest City: Comus, MD
Join for for a spring hike on Maryland's Sugarloaf Mountain

Sat, May 19
Saturday, May 19: Spruce Knob/Seneca Creek Backcountry Day Hike
Nearest City: Whitmer, WV
Join us for a great 8-mile loop-hike that is quite appropriate for beginning hikers!

Sun, May 20
Sunday, May 20th: Valley Falls Day Hike
Nearest City: Grafton, WV
Check out the water falls at Valley Falls State Park!

Sun, May 27
Sunday, May 27th: Ohiopyle State Park, PA Day Hike
Nearest City: Ohiopyle, PA
Join us as we check out the Youghiogheny River in nearby Pennsylvania!

June 2012

Sun, Jun 3
Sunday, June 3rd Paddle on Cheat Lake
Nearest City: Morgantown, WV
Join us for a leisurely early summer cruise on Cheat Lake

Sun, Jun 10
Sunday, Jun 10: Cheat River Leisure Float/Paddle
Nearest City: Parsons, WV

Sat, Jun 30
Saturday, June 30th: Evening Bike Ride on the Morgantown Waterfront
Nearest City: Morgantown, WV
Join us a short evening bike ride along the Mon River in Morgantown!

July 2012

Sat, Jul 7
Saturday, July 7th Adopt-A-Trail Clean-up at Coopers Rock
Join for a bit of work on our 'Adopted' cross-country ski trail in the Coopers Rock State Forest

Sun, Jul 8
Sunday, July 8th Great Allegheny Passage, MD/PA
Nearest City: Frostburg, MD
Join us for a bike ride on the Great Allegheny Passage Rail Trail

Sat, Jul 14
Saturday July 14th: Coopers Rock Hike Day HIke
Nearest City: Morgantown, WV
Join us for an out-and-back hike along Chestnut Ridge in the Coopers Rock State Forest!

Sat, Jul 21
Saturday, July 21st Washington Monument State Park, MD Day Hike
Nearest City: Boonsboro, MD
Join us for a great summer hike near the Eastern Panhandle of WV

Sun, Jul 22
Sunday, July 22nd Spruce Knob/Seneca Creek Backcountry
Nearest City: Whitmer, WV
Beat the summer heat with a day hike at one of the highest elevations in West Virginia!

August 2012

Sat, Aug 4
Saturday, August 4th Blueberry Picking: Dolly Sods Wilderness
Nearest City: Davis, WV
This is a family and pet friendly outing where we will saunter slowly through the Wilderness in search of blueberries and huckleberries!

Sat, Aug 11
Saturday, August 11th Coopers Rock Day Hike
Nearest City: Morgantown, WV
Avoid the summer heat! Join us for a summer hike in Coopers Rock State Forest.

Sun, Aug 19
Sunday, August 19th Allegheny Highlands Trail Mountain Bike Outing
Nearest City: Parsons, WV
Join us for a summer bike ride on the Allegheny Highlands Trail!

September 2012

Sun, Sep 2
Sunday, September 2nd Endless Wall Trail Day Hike, New River Gorge
Nearest City: Fayetteville, WV
Join us for a leisurely hike along New River Gorge's Endless Wall Trail

Sat, Sep 15
Saturday, September 15th Coopers Rock Circuit Hike
Nearest City: Morgantown, WV
This is a strenuous day-long hike for experienced hikers only!!