GO 25th Anniversary Weekend at MountainSide

As part of our 25th anniversary celebrations, GayOutdoors is hosting a weekend at MountainSide Campground in Hinsdale, NH!  MountainSide is a small horse farm with rolling hay fields, a large wooded area, a house, a barn, and several buildings, including a guest house, cottages, and a bunkhouse.  A large grassy tent area overlooks the southern mountains of Vermont and offers colorful sunsets.  The owners, Dave and Mike, have been longtime GO members and are excited about having our camping weekend at their campground.  Mountainside is a clothing-optional campground, so be aware that there may be nudity. 

Several outdoor activities will be posted for the weekend posted as separate events on the website.  Below is a tentative schedule. You may have an activity you would love to share with other members, such as hiking and swimming excursions, biking, paddling, a bocce ball tournament, morning yoga sessions, etc. We can help you organize it or pair you with an experienced trip leader to co-lead the trip if you are a little nervous about doing it yourself.  We are not asking for money to attend, but a donation box will help offset costs if you are interested in contributing. 

Friday, 8/16

• 2 pm - 9 pm - Check-in
• 7 pm – Beer & Wine Blast

Saturday, 8/17

• 10 am – Kayaking on the West River at the Vermont Canoe Touring Center in Brattleboro
• 9:30 am – Hiking to Daniels Mountain in West Chesterfield
• 1 pm – Swimming in Kilburn Pond
• 2 pm – Outdoor Games at MountainSide
• 6:30 pm – Potluck dinner 
• 8 pm – GO Slide Show & 25th Anniversary cake

Sunday, 8/18

• Breakfast and check-out

ACCOMMODATIONS

Accommodations must be made through MountainSide directly.  To reserve your site, book directly with Dave, the owner, by calling 603-398-7871 or their website http://www.mountainsidenh.com/.  You can let Dave know your preference for a tenting site, or he can choose one for you. If you prefer to upgrade to one of the campers or cabins, in the bunkhouse, or if you have an RV, discuss this with Dave when you register. You will be asked to pay onsite when registering using either cash, check, or PayPal; credit cards are not accepted.

As of 7/15, the only sites left are tent sites, the Pavilion Cabin (a king bed and a twin bed), or the Bunk House has two twin beds or a queen-size bed. 

Check-in on Friday is between 2 and 9 p.m. You must check in at the campground no later than 9:00 p.m. Friday. Dave will ensure you get checked in at registration and find the perfect site for your camping needs. You are encouraged to reserve as soon as possible since space is limited.

MEALS

You are on your own with regard to meals, including breakfast.  The exception is a potluck dinner on Saturday, which you can sign up to contribute here: https://www.PerfectPotluck.com/FMQV1057

The Canteen is the ideal location for meals and our Saturday night potluck. It’s a covered area with 6 or 7 picnic tables, a gas grill, a gas stove/oven, a wood pellet smoker, a sink, and a small refrigerator. Coffee [with cream/sugar] will be provided on Saturday and Sunday mornings at 7 am.

There are many reasonably-priced restaurants in the Hinsdale/Brattleboro area, should you wish to dine out. 

SOCIAL EVENTS

During the day, you are welcome to attend one of the planned activities or do something else entirely.  Rock River is a popular spot in the area.  Evening activities are where members can relax and socialize with everyone else. 

Friday Night Beer/Wine Blast at the Canteen 7 pm: We’ll start the weekend on Friday night with our traditional Beer/Wine Blast beside a communal bonfire. Bring a six-pack of your favorite local craft beer to share in our communal cooler and sample what everyone else brought! Or bring a bottle of wine to our Wine Table and sample what everyone else brought! We’ll have name badges, and it’s a great way to meet the gang.

Saturday Night Potluck at the Canteen 6:30 PM: Calling all camp cooks! Let's have a potluck supper.  You can register for what you plan on bringing here: https://www.PerfectPotluck.com/FMQV1057 . We also need a Grill Master and some people to help with cooking/prep.  You can also sign up for these roles on the Perfect Potluck site.  Please be sure to bring the serving utensils for your dish.

We'll end the potluck with a slideshow from GO’s last 25 years and an Anniversary cake!