welcome to austin outings....

The Austin Sierra Club offers a vast array of outings to choose from.

Local Outings are normally close to home and are usually only 2 - 4 hours in duration. These outings include day hikes, conditioning hikes (to promote physical fitness), kayak or canoe outings, bike rides, tubing outings, social get-togethers, dog-friendly outings as well as longer overnight or weekend camping/hiking trips to nearby locations. Most day hikes are free of charge and open to both members and non-members, although you may be asked if you would like to contribute to the voluntary newsletter support fund.

Major Outings are much more extensive camping and hiking expeditions to more remote part of the US. These outings are planned in January, announced in the early Spring and most of them occur in the mid- to late Spring, Summer and Fall of the same year. Costs vary depending on the length of the trip and the distance travelled.

Both types of outings are led by qualified outings leaders who go through a certification program to learn how to lead groups on outings that are safe, fun and educational.

For a quick reference to Austin Sierra Club events and outings in a handy calendar format with links to outings details, use this link or the EVENTS CALENDAR link on the navigation bar to the right of this page.

legal notices

In order to participate on one of the Sierra Club's outings, you will
need to sign a liability waiver. If you would like to read a copy prior to the outing, please see: Sierra Club Liability Waiver Form OR call (415) 977-5630.

In the interest of facilitating the logistics of some outing, it is customary that participants make carpooling arrangements. The Sierra Club does not have insurance for carpooling arrangements and assumes no liability for them. Carpooling, ride sharing or anything similar is strictly a private arrangement among the participants. Participants assume the risks associated with this travel.

outings leadership class

OUTINGS LEADERSHIP TRAINING

We try to hold leader training sessions every year in January or February. If you are interested in becoming a part of the Austin Sierra Club Outings leadership team and would like to be a part of the next (2008) class, please contact Chuck Byrd at

The next training session will be very similar to the one last January. For a complete schedule of session topics, please follow the link below and review last year's topics: 2007 LEADER CLASS. Please email Chuck for additional information, expressions of interest or to be placed on the email notification list for the next outings leader training class.

For more details, see the BE A LEADER page.

Although the Austin Sierra Club boasts some of the best and most interesting outdoor activities available, we know we are not the only game in town. Here is a link to a page of OUTINGS RESOURCES, some of which link to other Sierra Club sites, some of which are to helpful sites not associated with the Sierra Club. Enjoy. Explore.

Hiking with your pooch can be frustrating. Some trails are not dog-friendly and many do not allow dogs at all, but now there is no reason to leave your dog behind to turn into a couch potato (yes, dogs need to get and stay fit as well as we do). This book, by local Sierra Club member Melissa Gaskill, will help you select the right hikes and trails to keep Spot happy, healthy and fit right at your side.

Read the BOOK REVIEW

outings committee meetings

The Outings Committee is made up of qualified Outings Leaders and other active members interested in helping set the Outings events calendar. Meetings are open to all members who wish to have input into outings planning.

NEXT MEETING:

• We will meet to plan local outings on the next Thursday prior to the next general meeting.
• Outings meetings are held at the Central Market Cafe on North Lamar at 6 PM.
• Call the outings Chair at (512) 913-5990 for directions or more information.