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Interview with Thad DeFauw

Tell us about your outdoors experience. How much do you like outdoor recreation?

I love getting out on weekends, especially on some of our favorite comfort hikes, and I love getting out a little during the day during the week at lunch, either for a cross country ski, short hike, or bike ride.

Are you in love with it? If so...when did you fall in love and where? 

In 1998 I started hiking up in New Hampshire, and fell in love with it.  I was living in Providence at the time, and I remember doing some beautiful hiking on Kauai that summer and I decided I would get involved with Chiltern Mountain Club and start doing outdoor activities regularly in New England (and also met my husband on a Chiltern Mountain Club cross country ski weekend).

If you knew someone who was thinking of starting outdoor recreation, what advice would you give them?

Just do it, and start small if necessary. 

What was your first GO excursion? How did it turn out? What do you like about GayOutdoors?

I honestly don't remember my first GO excursion, but it was probably back in the early 2000s. I like GO for its simplicity, as anyone can lead a hike or sign up for one.  

Describe New Hampshire to our outdoorzy members who’ve never been there? Is there a lot to do if you are an outdoor enthusiast?

When a lot of people think of mountains on the east coast, they probably think of rolling hills.  However, the mountains in New Hampshire are quite rugged, often reminding me of scenery in the Rockies.   There is a wonderful variety of hiking opportunities in New Hampshire.   

What changes have you made to better our environment?

Riding my bike as much as I can instead of driving, and hopefully will switch to an electric car at some point.   

What is your earliest outdoor adventure memory. Who did you go with?

My earliest outdoor adventure memory was probably in 1993 or 1994 when I visited my former college roommate who was living in Reno, Nevada, and he took me on a hike in the Sierra Nevadas.    I remember it being very exhausting, but beautiful, and I marveled at the snow in the higher elevations.   

What is your favorite thing to do a perfect summer day?

Either go on one of our favorite hikes or bike rides. 

If you could spend the day on the trail with one person, living or dead, it would be…

I'd have to say it would be with my husband.   :-)

What is your favorite post-hike meal?

Going out for Thai food in Plymouth.

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Hiking, backpacking, camping or vacation adventures, GayOutdoors [GO] has been the LGBTQ outdoorzy community leader for the last 22 years. We are an informal group of diverse hiking enthusiasts in the United States with a shared love of the mountains who prefer hiking with friends. We invite you to join us on our hikes, to post hikes for other members to join you and to share your hiking photos, stories and advice.

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