What we’re about
Welcome to the Southern California Adventure Hikers meetup, which brings together like-minded outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy advanced and challenging activities in Southern California and beyond!
Our organizers have been active for a long while, resulting in a wealth of experience and knowledge. The group has evolved considerably from its humble beginnings as a local hiking get-together. Our activities now consist of:
advanced dayhikes (distance 20+ miles, elevation gain 5000+ ft)
backpacking trips (from weekend overnighters to multi-day treks)
peakbagging excursions (linking as many summits as possible)
mountaineering expeditions (snow, rock and mixed terrain)
non-technical climbing (class 2-3 scrambles and alpine routes)
winter outings (snowshoeing, hiking and camping in the snow)
While we welcome new members, please keep in mind that this an ADVANCED group. If you are new to hiking, unsure of your abilities or looking for something easy to get you going, it is strongly recommended you check out other meetups first to obtain the expected experience (see item #2 below).
Member expectations:
YOU are responsible for your own safety. Do not become a liability by being over-confident or under-prepared. Have a good understanding of your abilities before attempting to expand your skills. For most people progress will come easier with experience. Patience really pays off!
Good physical conditioning and some background in your interests. The difficult nature of activities requires organizers to be selective about their groups. Common sense dictates that you shouldn't sign up for something you don't know much about. If ever in doubt, check with leader(s). Please also don't distort the facts about your experience; what you know/can (or don't/can't) will become obvious quickly.
Be prepared every time. This applies equally to bringing the adequate gear for a wide variety of environmental conditions, as well as doing your research about the event. Every participant must understand the purpose of the outing, the leader's expectations and be familiar with existing information about the stated objective. Many times we find ourselves going off-trail or deep into the backcountry. We move as a group, trying to stay together as much as possible. Nevertheless, individuals must be comfortable hiking on their own and self-sufficient in case of any contingencies.
Provide own gear where necessary. Technical activities such as mountaineering and climbing require specialized equipment. While we attempt to share resources as much as possible, things like helmets, harnesses, crampons, ice axes etc. must be supplied at an individual level. Knowledge of use, techniques and safety rules related to this equipment is implied.
Be respectful, honest and show a positive attitude. This is perhaps the most important aspect to any group activity. Your profile picture (required to attend events) should allow others to identify you during introductions. Honor your RSVPs. Treat fellow hikers as well as all people with respect and dignity. Please check egos at the trailhead. Patronizing, condescending and generally negative remarks will get you removed from the meetup. We are a friendly group enjoying our time together, so you are expected to uphold this trust.
Joining Adventure Hikers is by request only. When requesting approval, there are three (3) required questions that you MUST answer so please take a moment to do so. All potential memberships will be reviewed prior to acceptance.
We'll see you on the trail!