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VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Palaner//palaner Single Event//EN
METHOD:PUBLISH
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:meetup-a4ad3b9ac9@palaner.app
DTSTAMP:20260802T152526Z
DTSTART:20260814T190000Z
DTEND:20260814T210000Z
SUMMARY:VMO: Black Forest Madness (43 miles)
LOCATION:Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro Station Kiss & Ride
DESCRIPTION:Saved in Palaner as: saved\n\nPalaner match: 25% · why: lots of
  people going\n\nHike the Black Forest Trail in the sweltering heat of Aug
 ust?? Madness! I can sense U-Turn shifting uneasily in his chair somewhere
  at the mere idea. But hear me out. If you're preparing for the Collegiate
  Loop trip\, or any other challenging future exploits\, its 8\,700 feet of
  total elevation gain/loss over 43ish miles and two days and an evening co
 uld be a good warmup. Also\, I have some ideas on how to make this fun. I'
 m doing a slightly different configuration of splits from that of past DCU
 L trips. Splits are 4.6/20.5/17.6.\n\nCaltopo: https://caltopo.com/m/LB400
 3U\nPurple Lizard map: https://www.purplelizard.com/collections/maps/produ
 cts/pine-creek-pennsylvania-grand-canyon-map\n\nI'd like to leave the Gros
 venor-Strathmore metro at 3 pm on Friday\, as it is at least 4.5-hour driv
 e (including quick Sheetz dinner stop) to the Black Forest Trail parking a
 t Trout Run Rd (https://maps.app.goo.gl/GwvYQvSrMqDPKv7p9)\, and there wil
 l be some night hiking. However\, there can be a later car if some can't l
 eave that early but feel confident navigating in the dark. Once arriving a
 t the trailhead\, we'll hike about 4.6 miles and camp at the intersection 
 of the Old Cutoff Trail\, the trail coming up the ravine from Callahan Run
 \, and where the trail turns right to go up to Hemlock Mountain. (If some 
 arriving later don't want to hike 4.6 miles in the dark\, they could camp 
 at the site half a mile from the parking lot and add those miles to Saturd
 ay's hike.)\n\nI plan to start very early Saturday morning to beat the hea
 t\, but also to leave time for fun later (but others can start when they l
 ike). About 14.5 miles into Saturday\, we pass through the hamlet of Slate
  Run and right past Hotel Manor. This hotel (okay\, more of a rural inn)\,
  has a full restaurant and a great beer selection. Furthermore\, it has a 
 large deck and grassy area with picnic tables and Adirondack chairs overlo
 oking Pine Creek. A perfect place to relax with a meal and a cold drink\, 
 and maybe even some creek wading! From there it's 6 more miles and a prett
 y steep climb to a beautiful (but dry) cliffside campsite. Water (and back
 up campsites) are just a half mile or so past there and into Sunday mornin
 g's hike. Sunday is another 17.6 miles\, plus the long drive back\, so we'
 ll need another early start. We'll get lunch on the drive back.\n\nThis tr
 ail is a bit demanding\, especially in August! Lots of steep climbs and de
 scents. But it has its rewards in terms of views and beers! It's tradition
 ally a VMO\, and I'm going to stick to that despite shortening Saturday to
  20 miles\, because of the total mileage and elevation. If there's a heat 
 wave\, I will cancel for safety\, but if it's normal August temps\, I'll s
 till go.
URL:https://www.meetup.com/dc-ul-backpacking/events/315549815/
CATEGORIES:palaner,saved
STATUS:TENTATIVE
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