Written by Suzanne Tobin
Like to hike? Interested in exploring different trails in Montgomery County for free? Want a free baseball hat with the MCExplorers logo on it?
Come join the Montgomery Explorers, a group of 50 and better walkers who meet each Monday in most seasons except on county holidays. They mosey along at their own pace in various parks throughout the county. June 19th is a county holiday, so there is no walk that day.
The Summer Walks run June 26th through September and start at 9 a.m. Fall Walks start at 10:00 a.m. in October; and Winter Walks are biweekly January through March.
Volunteers familiar with each park usually give a short introduction to that week’s trail, as well as tips to watch out for any highlights along the way. A volunteer hikes along at the front, middle and back of the group. The total distance is usually between 3-4 miles.
For those not quite so hardy, you can choose to turn around at any time and head back to the starting point. For example, some folks choose a timed pace: 30 minutes out and 30 minutes back; others may choose distance, 1 mile out and 1 mile back. (For a newbie hiker, 30 minutes usually equals one mile, so both time and distance work in that case.)
The Montgomery Explorers Club was founded in April, 2021 by Jennene Blakely, Eric Brenner, and Gail Melson. Since then, membership has steadily grown through word of mouth.
Participants of all fitness levels and abilities come from all over the county and even D.C.
Currently, 397 people are on the e-mail distribution list, with the number of registrants growing weekly! Since January 2023, there have been anywhere from 40-70 hikers joining weekly.
Registration is ongoing throughout the year. You will need an Active Montgomery account to register at: https://montgomeryparks.org/events/montgomery-explorers/
When you click on that link, the activity is listed as “ParksPACCExplorersMembership”. You can also search under the Memberships designation.
Once registered, you will receive the weekly or biweekly email with detailed descriptions of the trail, parking availability and bathroom availability.
Make sure to bring water, sunscreen, bug spray and any other items you might need to stay comfortable. Carpooling is strongly recommended. Some trails have limited parking.
Happy Trails!
Photos courtesy of Montgomery Parks.