Summary

This Pride Hike for any LGBTQ+ people who love to hike and learn about hiking is co-sponsored by Q-MoB and the Arcadian Shop, a queer-owned local outdoor recreation store & education center.

WORKSHOP INSTRUCTORS:

J?eff Minkler (he/him) is a co-owner of the Arcadian Shop, and has been a professional runner/hiker for decades. He has advised hundreds of hikers with injuries, mobility constraints, and aging knees, ankles, & feet about how they can maintain & even improve their mobility in the wilderness.

B?art Church, has been a therapeutic yoga teacher for 20 years, and an avid hiker, kayaker, & Wilderness First Responder. He is formally trained to respond to wilderness accidents and injuries, but also has advised many yoga students and hiking participants in how to prevent injuries by having the right footwear, hiking poles, crampons, and most importantly the right strengthening & flexibility exercises that need to be done regularly BEFORE you go into the wilderness AND before you begin a hike and during your hikes and after you finish for the day.

H?IKE CO-LEADERS:

A?bi Cunningham (she/they) has worked at the Arcadian Shop for over five years, helping and advising countless people to find the gear that best suits their needs. The Berkshires native has been hiking for years and has been continually working to advocate for the LGBT+ community. Their goal is to provide people with the assistance and information they need in order to hike in any conditions, as well as at any age.

B?art Church, is a Wilderness First Responder and one of Q-MoB's Hiking Group Co-Leaders and has been leading hikes and other outdoor adventures for more than 30 years.

P?eter Adels is one of Q-MoB's Hiking Group Co-Leaders, is a psychotherapist, and has been leading hikes for many years. He loves to make the wilderness accessible for all kinds of LGBTQ+ people.

CLASS & 10% PRIDE DISCOUNT: We'll start with a brief class on tools & techniques hikers can use to protect their knees & ankles (especially on ascents & descents) , maintain stability in difficult terrain, & maintain your outdoor mobility as you age. We'll cover stretches, strengthening, equipment, & techniques. HINT: If you don't own a pair of hiking poles, we're going to recommend you get some soon, especially if you already suffer from knee or ankle pain while hiking.

T?HE HIKE: This is an easy hike through the Town of Lenox's historic Kennedy Park, that features beautiful carriage trails through mixed forest, wetlands, and a great mountain view.

L?UNCH AFTERWARDS: Please email me  if you want to join us afterwards for lunch at Pizzeria Boema. We need a reasonably accurate count to update the restaurant the morning of.

Directions To Trailhead Parking Lot

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Arcadian Shop
91 Pittsfield Road, Lenox, MA, 01240