Sierra Singles - something for everybody single

Sierra Singles at Alamere Falls. Photo by Richard Lardner

Sociability, exercise, and nature - the Sierra Singles Section of the San Francisco Bay Chapter offers an ideal combination for a wide range of single people.

Every weekend of the year (and some weekdays too) Singles gives opportunities to participate. Day hikes, averaging 8 to 12 miles in length, are most frequent, but other outings include car-camping, kayaking, river-rafting, talk sessions, biking, downhill and cross-country skiing, softball, literature readings, canine hikes, kite sessions, non-violent bridge (cards), dinner hikes, theater evenings, and game nights. Often these events will include potlucks or after-hike sociability at a restaurant or pub.

Participants find companionship, conversation, exercise, and a safe environment (love and happiness extra, though, not guaranteed). The sharing of viewpoints while walking and lunching on a nine-mile hike can be fascinating. Leading conversational topics among Singles are relationships, exercise, dieting, fashion, and life in the high-tech/business-to-business world. Frequent also are hiking-related topics such as where and how to buy boots, outdoor clothing, and sun screen. On one hike all 25 participants engaged in a lively conversation about how one washes one's clothes (male/female differences included). Another Singles hiker sighs with relief, glad to rarely get stuck with topics like these. Chacun à son goût.

Sierra Singles also offers the opportunity to learn about and participate in the protection and appreciation of our rich and diversified Californian environment (see the volunteer-of-the-month article about Roy Buck, a Singles leader who leads botany hikes). Many leaders inform us about animals, plants, terrain, and water features, as well as how to protect oneself when encountering these. There is an emphasis on "What you pack in, you pack out"! Some leaders sponsor outings where we participate in grooming of trails, removing invasive vegetation, or volunteering in local clean-ups of the seashore.

Over 900 singles from all over the Bay Area subscribe to the Singles' monthly newsletter. What sort of singles? Almost every sort! One may be a gardener or a Silicon Valley professional; others will be students or gainfully unemployed or doctors or lawyers. Some will be single parents. Singles come in all ages from late 20s to early 60s with an average perhaps in the mid-40s. Some will be younger singles; others may have rejoined the singles grouping after a sojourn in marriage or relationships. (Solo Sierrans have a somewhat older average age, though there is considerable overlap; feel free to try both sections.)

Leadership in the section comes from this whole range of ages. As with all Sierra Club outings, each leader must have current first-aid certification. Diversity is the key ingredient. The nature of the events reinforces this concept very strongly. The section currently has over 40 leaders and has started a drive to encourage new leadership to provide more creative events as well as an expansion of day-hiking. An Executive Committee monitors leaders, events, our newsletter, and the section's financial responsibilities.

No wonder Singles is varied! Sierra Singles provides the chance for single people to take part in Sierra Club activities among other singles and to meet others (yes, even those of the opposite sex) in a safe, sociable atmosphere.

For more information on the Sierra Singles and our monthly newsletter, call (510) 452-6192 or e-mail us through: www.sierraclub.org/chapters/sanfranciscobay/singles

A yearly subscription to our newsletter is $19 by e-mail or $24 for a mailed printed copy for Sierra Club members; $28 e-mail/$33 printed copy for others.

Richard Lardner, chair, Sierra Singles