Monday, December 01, 2008

By LEIGH GROGAN
THE SACRAMENTO BEE

last updated: July 20, 2008 07:21:12 AM

Can someone kayak and chitchat or hike and nosh -- all in the same outing?

There is a pretty easy way to combine outdoor fun and social interaction -- thanks to Internet listings that can connect you with like-minded adventurers.

It's as simple as joining one of the more than 500 "meetup groups" in the valley that offer physical activity along with the chance to meet and schmooze.

There's everything from cycling groups to running groups -- and even those who take it to new heights, zooming down a zip line at Heavenly and then having dinner at an upscale restaurant closer to home.

You can get on board with four-wheel-drive enthusiasts, snowboarders, even dads who like to hit the trail with their kids.

But it doesn't all have to be action-packed. There are groups for moms, writers and Ron Paul fans. Want to learn Italian? Bellydance? How about start a community of social activists who want to make a difference? Check out meetup.com, enter your location and make new friends.

Here are a few more you have to love:

The Central Valley Skeptics is a society of freethinking individuals with the common love of skeptical inquiry. Check out atheists.meetup.com/663/

The Turlock Pagan Meetup Group says it's purpose is to enable pagans of all paths -- Wiccans, Witches, Druids and other practitioners -- to make new friends, share their beliefs and views, exchange powerful knowledge about spells, witchcraft, magic, spirituality and religion. pagan.meetup.com/1170/

The Modesto Ghost Trackers Group investigates

hauntings, shares images and hunts the eerie inhabitants of the paranormal realm. There's a group in Stockton, too. ghosts.meetup.com/769/

The Sacramento Couch Potatoes Fitness Club for Women. Learn more about it at fitness.meetup.com/762/about/.

Hitting the bull's-eye

Meetup groups follow a simple creed, usually posted on their Web sites.

The events are "leaderless and nonguided." In other words, the group gathers at a certain time and place for the day's activity. No one person is in charge, and most claim to be noncompetitive.

Some groups agree to pay dues. Others just accept donations to fund activities. Members also help with gas and equipment-rental expenses.

All the groups we reviewed promoted safety: Cyclists wear helmets, for instance.

But most groups, it must be said, are not organized to the extent of asking members to sign waivers or carry liability insurance.

A hiking and adventure meetup group in Sacramento, for instance, simply states it is a "group of individuals who want to hike in a group. These are not guided hikes/adventure events; there are no trip leaders. When you RSVP, you'll see all the other members who have RSVP'd as well. Everyone is responsible for their own safety. Please join us and get outside!"

In other words, participate and have fun, but know your limits when it comes to the activities you choose.

Meetup groups attract newcomers to the area eager to meet others who share their passion for adventure. There are singles, married people and families, and all ages are invited.

However, there are differences between meetup groups and, say, the Sierra Club.

Tony Loftin, outings and membership chairman of the Mother Lode chapter, says Sierra Club leaders are trained not only in the adventure activities they lead, but also in first aid.

"We recertify them every four years," he says.

The Sierra Club outings are free, even if you're not a member.

Loftin's concern with meetup groups is training.

"There's a right way to conduct and plan an outing," he says. "A leader has to be able to determine someone's fitness abilities. For example, are you walking along a flat bike trail for a short distance, climbing over rocks or going up considerable elevation?"

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