What we’re about
Our goal is to combine nature's magnificence, a good workout, and the support and laughter of friends. An observer of one of our early hikes noted that our group is like a mobile party, and we feel that captures our spirit beautifully. All that's missing is you, so get out here with us!
Our hikes are free, and our leaders are volunteers. However, we ask for voluntary contributions once a year ($3-$5) to help defray Meetup subscription costs.
Please review before you register for a hike:
- The number of hikers will not exceed 24, including the leader. This will allow us to hike on COSCA trails, State Park, and National trails without having to obtain a permit in advance. This also means that if you are on the waitlist, or you show up and have not registered (including “Plus-Ones”), you will be turned away.
- Sorry, no dogs allowed, either on-leash, off-leash, or in "Doggy Backpacks."
Welcome to the Weekday Trailblazers!
The Blazers are led equally by a dedicated cadre of experienced volunteer hike leaders, in a true communal spirit, with no charge for hikes or events (with rare exceptions).
You can help us defray our costs by buying Weekday Trailblazers gear (each purchase kicks in $3-$5 to the kitty):
The majority of our hikes fall within the area from Malibu to Simi Valley (south to north), and Will Rogers State Park to Port Hueneme (east to west), although we'll venture beyond those loose boundaries when we feel like it (we are Trailblazers, after all). We offer hikes of varying levels, as well as occasional non-hiking events.
- Our Intermediate Hikes generally start at 8:30 AM on Tuesdays (earlier in the heat of the summer). Total distance is 7-10 miles (less in the heat of the summer), 3-3.5 mph, and with elevation gain between 1,500' and 2,000', less in the heat of the summer. We would rate them as intermediate for difficulty and pace. We have a strong roster of leaders for these hikes, but ANYONE is welcome to lead. Contact Steve J, Laurie, Peter, or Katie with your ideas.
- Gentler-Friendly Hikes are scheduled on most Thursday and some Tuesday mornings at 9 AM, earlier in the heat of the summer. These hikes are tailored for advanced beginners, or anyone wanting a little extra fun with friends. As the name implies, they're slower-paced (2-2.5 mph), shorter distance (usually 5-6 miles), and lesser elevation gain (less than 1,500') than our flagship hikes. Contact Steve J with ideas for Gentler hikes.
- Gentler / Intermediate are somewhere in between.
We also occasionally run:
- Beginner Hikes are scheduled on Thursday mornings at 9 AM, earlier in the heat of the summer. These hikes are tailored for those new to the group, new to hiking, or those rehabbing injuries. They're slow-paced (2 mph), short distance (usually <5 miles), and little elevation gain (~500'). Contact Steve J with ideas for Beginner hikes.
- Fast-Paced Hikes start in the late afternoon/early evening (two hours or so before sunset), and are as fast or faster than our intermediate hikes. Headlamps recommended!
- Geologist Thom Davis' Rock & Stroll Hikes combine his expansive knowledge of the Earth's bones and our usual workout in natural beauty. Many events will be outside our normal stomping grounds, and some will involve overnight stays. Times and ability levels vary, so be sure to read the write-ups carefully, and contact Thom with any questions.
We cancel hikes for red flag warnings, when the temperature is 90 or higher, or when the Heat Index (also sometimes called Temperature Humidity Index or Wet Bulb Temperature) is 85 or higher at any time during a hike.
The Blazers welcome and encourage whatever level of participation you'd like. You can be out in front leading, in the pack enjoying the ride, or sweeping in the back. We value your contributions, so join our mobile party and let's have fun!
We also ask that you be aware of the signs of Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke, know what to do about them (for your own safety and for the safety of others around you). Just google "Mayo Clinic Heat Stroke Exhaustion", or buy one of our Heat Safety T-Shirts!
We also ask that hikers be prepared with:
- Hiking shoes appropriate for the terrain
- Loose-fitting clothing appropriate for the conditions (generally, this means no denim or jeans)
- A broad-brimmed hat
- Water
- Electrolytes (Gatorade, Nuun tablets, etc)
- Sunscreen
While not responsible for your safety, our hike leaders may adjust, shorten, re-route, or terminate a hike based on conditions, at their sole discretion.
Please read the release of liability below in its entirety. By signing up for our group, you are agreeing to it for all events you participate in.
DISCLAIMER / RELEASE OF LIABILITY
The hike host is a volunteer and not responsible for the group. Safety should be a priority for everyone in the group. Please treat this meet-up as hiking with a group of friends. If you become fatigued and unable to continue the hike, it is expected you will advise the hike host of this and return to our starting point on your own. If you are able to proceed, it is expected that you will maintain line of sight with other members of the group at all times and help to promote the group’s safety and fitness goals.
Outdoor sports and other events we plan can be inherently dangerous and accidents may happen. By participating in any posted event, you are taking responsibility for your own safety and well-being. The Weekday Trailblazers Meetup Group and its organizers and hosts are not trained leaders and we do not confirm the qualifications of any of its members to lead or participate in trips. All participants take full responsibility for their own actions.
If you choose to sign up for this or any Weekday Trailblazers Meetup event, you are releasing the Weekday Trailblazers Meetup Group, its organizers, and hosts from all liability in case of possible injuries. Your personal safety depends on your own judgment and experience.
All participants must be 18 or older, or accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Sorry, we don't allow "Plus-Ones" on our hikes. Please join the group, then sign up for a hike.
Upcoming events (4)
See all- Dr. Julie Morley: Helping Hummingbirds: Let's Make the Future Brighter!Needs location
Ornithologist and multispecies expert Dr. Julie Morley will kick off COSF's 2024 speaker series at 7:00 p.m. on May 1 with a videoconference presentation on how you can help the Hummingbirds.
She will discuss how to create a hospitable hummingbird habitat in your backyard, how to choose and maintain healthy feeders, and which species you’re likely to see in our area. Dr. Morley will also cover hummingbird lifecycles, which species are threatened or endangered and what else we can do to help.
Dr. Julie Morley is an ornithologist, author, photographer, multispecies scholar and founder of Multispecies Media, a nonprofit that seeks to educate people about the importance of coexistence with other species. She is the author of Future Sacred: The Connected Creativity of Nature and wrote her doctoral dissertation, Crow Cosmopolitics, on corvid behavior. Her Instagram account, @juliejmorley, focuses on her photography of hummingbirds.
Dr. Morley received her PhD in Multispecies Studies and her MA in Transformative Leadership from the California Institute of Integral Studies. She did undergraduate work in Classics at University of Southern California and Columbia University.
Held quarterly since 2019, the COSF virtual Speaker Series has included climate authority Dr. Sean Anderson as well as wildlife experts Dr. Dan Cooper, Dr. Seth Riley, Dr. Jessica Sanchez, and the National Wildlife Federation’s regional executive director Beth Pratt.
To sign up for this event, go to the registration page on the COSF website.
While this is a free event, COSF encourages a donation of $10 to support future Speaker Series presentations. Special thanks to the event sponsor Wild Birds Unlimited!
- Hike the Entire Backbone Trail, 8 Days with camping and meals includedBackbone Trail, Malibu, CA
Come join the 19th annual Backbone Trek, hosted by the Santa Monica Mountains Trails Council! For a fee of $550 this guided event includes camping every night in a State Park campground, transportation to and from the trailheads and all your meals. You will need to provide your own camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, etc) that will be trucked for you between campgrounds so you don't need to carry it.
You can find all information about the event at https://www.smmtc.org/bbtrek/ including a complete multi-day itinerary and descriptions of each day's hike. The trek is limited to the first 25 people who sign up.
To register for the event, you will need to download the registration form from that web page listed above and mail it to the organizers. Signing up here will not do anything except show your friends that you intend to go!
