Sierra Club | Kansas City | Backpacking | Hiking | Service

🚶‍♂️ From NKC to KCMO’s River Market: Suburban & Urban Adventure Awaits on a Ten-ish Mile hike! 🌆

Walk from the NKC Sam's Club parking lot, zigzagging through the 'burbs, diving into NKC’s industrial jungle, surfing above MO waves on the Heart of America Bridge, and finally river-siding it to the market! 🚗🌉🌊🛒 Did we mention one of the best cityscape views of downtown KC, too?

As we walk, we’ll witness the importance of urban planning, as on some of the stretches, we will be walking on sidewalks while on other stretches next to roads, where a sidewalk could be but isn't, in the grass/gravel/dirt/road edge (let's call walking along roads without sidewalks "roadside") in NKC neighbourhoods— it’s like a neon sign: Sidewalks Wanted! 🏙️

We'll cross the Mighty MO via the HOA Bridge (1, 2, 3), where great views await, walk down a wide road time forgot where we hope no train is parked on the tracks or have to go the long way around to **Berkley River Front **and see the new soccer stadium and then stop @ a river viewing deck.Then pop into Chinatown Market (great cold drink selection.) Finally, our outing concludes at the vibrant River Market. 🛒

But wait! 🍽️ Afterward, linger for a delectable **Taste of Brazil lunch -**if open and not cold outside, otherwise, the sure thing is indoors at Minsky's, where the TV wall's slate of sports games awaits.

Remember, this adventure spans ten-ish miles (follow that link to see a top-down perspective & use Google Street View for an impression).

You’re in control—of how you'll get to our starting point & then back to it. THIS IS A ONE-WAY POINT-TO-POINT HIKE. YOU HAVE TO PLAN HOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO THE START & THEN WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO FOR RETURN TRANSPORTATION, e.g. if your vehicle is at Sam's Club where we started, how will you get back there to get it, we are not returning there as part of the outing. And note, we have NOT cleared anyone parking at Sam's Club for this, it is the rally point for the hike, not necessarily a proper place to assume you can park.

And if the weather is bad, it is super cold, or streets are meh from earlier weather (e.g. snow or ice on the ground), we we'll likely cancel. So yeah, we're rolling the dice that we catch a break on conditions, tbd!

Guidelines for staying safe and projecting group strength:

1. What to Bring: Pack your headlamp, fresh batteries, water, snacks, mini-umbrella, rain jacket, hiking sticks/staff, & pepper spray.
2. Stay Close: Maintain physical proximity. Walk closely together.
3. Dress Code: Go ahead & wear bright colours if you'd like to, e.g. bright safety color vest/outwear (e.g. fluorescent blaze orange (hunter orange) or fluorescent chartreuse (hunter safety green)
   Also, wear layers that you can remove & put in a daypack that you also bring.
4. Blinking Lights: Since we're walking roadside without sidewalks at times, consider using reflective armbands or flashing LED lights. Stay visible & stay safe! 🚶‍♂️🌟
5. Awareness: Be vigilant of your surroundings. Scan for potential threats & stay alert. If you see something, say something.
6. Confidence: Walk with purpose & avoid looking hesitant. Confidence can deter troublemakers.

Remember, safety is a collective effort, and by following these guidelines, our group will be more visible to traffic, project strength and discourage unwanted attention. 😊👍

How Do I Get to Go?

Read everything. Be prepared. Sign up.

Use LNT practices.

Sign the standard participant agreement.

Bring a personal 1st aid kit.

Be prepared with a rapid solution should you not be able to finish and need to leave the outing, e.g. if you find 10 miles is too much, have a bail out ready so it doesn't bog down the group.

The Outing officially begins & ends on the dates & at the location designated by the Sierra Club, i.e., the trailhead. The Outing does not include carpooling—at your discretion, transportation, or transit to & from the Outing; each participant is personally responsible for all risks associated with this travel. Account for travel time when planning; we just show together time. You decide how to reach the start & leave from the finish.

🤒 If you’re sick, please do not attend. 🏥

⚠️ STATUS: RSVPs ARE open!

This program introduces you to backpacking through a weekend that combines classroom learning, several trail miles with loaded packs, and an overnight campout. It’s designed for people who want to try backpacking, learning basics in a supportive setting.

You’ll gain confidence, practical know‑how, and a sense of what it takes to prepare for and travel in the backcountry. If you’ve never backpacked before, this is the place to start.

If you've backpacked before and want to pitch in, reach out. It is a great way to give back, meet people, and help build the KC-area backpacking community.

👉 Want more after this? Brush up your wilderness navigation and trip planning skills; research, prepare for, and get out there on the many area backpacking trails. Explore guided National Sierra Club Outings, which offer a wide variety of big‑league adventures across the country.

What Activities to Expect

• Flexible e-learning up front (see more on this below)
• Saturday Morning: Classroom session introducing backpacking basics.
• Saturday Afternoon: Transition to the campground, then shoulder packs and hike several miles on trail before returning to camp to set up for the night.
• Saturday Night: Camp overnight.
• Sunday Morning (10 AM-ish): Group Activities. Wrap‑up.

Program Price
The program cost is $70. This helps to finance the gear library, support leadership training & trail maintenance. The instructors volunteer their time w/o compensation. Refunds are not available if requested less than 30 days before the 1st activity.

Participants complete a standard participant agreement & medical form in class. Bring a personal 1st aid kit to all outdoor activities.

Gear
We’ve got (some of) you covered—literally. Our small but mighty gear library is available to Sierra Club members in and for this class, but supplies are limited. It includes sleeping bags, pads, tents, backpacks, and stoves.

Because quantities are limited, we need to sort this out in advance. You’ll see a Google survey as part of the sign‑up workflow below — your responses there are essential, since they tell us about your interest and help us allocate gear once we verify your membership.

If you’d like to take advantage of this resource but aren’t yet a member, you can join the Sierra Club for as little as $15. When we confirm gear is available for you, you’ll need to provide proof of membership (for example, your membership number).

With the exception of those approved to borrow gear from our lending library (and only for the specific items allocated), YOU will provide and use all your own kit— along with all consumables such as food, water, first aid kit, medications, and stove fuel.

Weather & Contingencies
Backpacking is an outdoor activity, and weather is part of the challenge. Activities will proceed in normal variable conditions (e.g., heat, cold, wind, rain). However, if severe weather or unsafe conditions arise (e.g., thunderstorms, flooding, extreme heat advisories, acts of nature, etc.), the leadership team may adjust or postpone the activities, or cancel them outright.

If full cancellation becomes necessary, we will attempt to offer one follow‑on opportunity within the next month or two, if possible. While this may not align with everyone’s schedule, we believe the value gained through our shared content, online interaction, and commitment to outdoor activities fulfills our mission, and thus, lack of alignment with the rescheduled date is not a basis for a refund.

Our Backpacking Chops are Established
To give you an idea of our past successful backpacking classes, take a look back at it over the years:

f 2021
w 2021
s 2022
f 2022
s 2023
f 2023
s 2024
f 2024
f 2025

How to Join
First, read everything—seriously, don’t skim. The details matter.
Then, join the waitlist. If we’re in sync, you’ll get a survey to complete. Make sure you use an email that lasts—it’s how we’ll stay in touch.

There are spots for ≈20 people who fully sign up quickly ONCE RSVPs OPEN.

Sign‑up workflow
These are steps that often happen one-at-a-time and days or weeks apart, depending on our availability. Please complete the steps ASAP when we prompt them.

→ RSVP on the Meetup waitlist when that opens
→ Complete a Google survey promptly when we send it
→ Get approval confirmation (you'll know if we move you to the going list here on Meetup)
→ Pay $70 to Sierra Club via PayPal when we ask for it (we usually work the preceding steps over the first month or two, then do this in a batch)
→ Accept the Slack invitation and engage with us there

Get Prepared on Your Schedule with Our Flexible E-Learning Setup
We connect with participants through the Slack platform (a private workspace/chat tool), utilizing a flexible, asynchronous model. This approach allows you to access information on your own time, while still ensuring everyone stays aligned on critical logistics.

Here’s how we manage the flow of information:

• Asynchronous Access (Learn on Your Schedule): The core benefit is flexibility. Our system means the extensive library of resources, guides, and tips is available for you to review at your convenience, day or night. And we'll be prompting some of this, to emphasize certain content well ahead of the activities.
• Regular Monitoring Is Required: While you learn on your own schedule, timing is still critical for announcements. You must actively monitor both the Meetup event page and the workspace from time to time to catch mandatory updates and logistical prompts (e.g., when the payment step is due).
• Consultation is Optional (Leverage Our Expertise): Your level of engagement with the deeper content is up to you. You are welcome to simply follow mandatory updates and logistical prompts. However, if you want our volunteer instructors to consult on specific topics or gear choices, you can proactively engage within the workspace—that's your call. The flexibility of the platform lets us get back to you when we're able to do so.

Your Responsibility: Proactive engagement is key to staying informed! To succeed, you must actively and frequently monitor both Slack and Meetup for updates and announcements. Do not rely solely on push notifications to stay in the know.

Notice
The activities officially begin & end at the locations designated by Sierra Club, and don’t include carpooling, transportation, or transit to & from them; each participant is personally responsible for all risks associated with this travel. Account for travel time when planning.

• 🐻 Bear Aware Campsite
• 🌿 Leave No Trace
• ☔ Rain Kit
• 🌩️ Weather & Weather-moderated Matters
• 🥾 Hiking Safety
• 🏕️ Backcountry Camping
• 🐍 Wilderness Bites & Envenomation
• 🦟 Bugs & Animals
• 🔥 Hiking in Hot Weather & Hydration

Each quiz is built in Google Forms and designed to keep you on your toes — you’ll need the correct answer to move forward, so you’ll finish with a 100% score every time.

And if you’re hungry for more, check out Adventure Smart’s “Survive Outside” course ((🇨🇦🌐🎓)). Much of the overview content is freely viewable, but to formally enroll, track your progress, and receive a completion certificate, registration/login on the e-learning platform is required. A note: U.S. resources are more scattered. The most comparable public modules are readings available at wilderness.net, though they focus on wilderness topics rather than trip safety.

💬 Try the quizzes, learn something new, and let us know what you think — we’d love to hear your feedback or alternative answers you discover along the way!

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