Los Angeles Hiking Group

This is a fast-paced, intermediate+ hike on mostly single-track trails on the way up and fire roads on the way down. Some sections are overgrown, and there will be areas involving rock scrambling and uneven terrain. Long sleeves and long pants are strongly recommended for comfort and protection.
We hike in an interval style, moving at a strong pace between regroup points and staying together as a group. Participants must be comfortable pushing hard on sustained climbs and keeping up with the group pace. If someone is not able to keep up group pace, they’ll be asked to turn back. If you have questions about whether this hike is a good fit, please ask in advance.

Hike Details & Difficulty
The hike will be approximately 2.5 hours and 4+ miles, using a mix of fire roads and single-track trails.
You should expect steep climbs (up to ~25% grade) for 10–15 minutes at a time at your maximum hiking effort, followed by short regroup breaks, repeated throughout the hike. Total cumulative elevation gain is typically ~1,200 feet (routes may include Hogback, Mt. Hollywood, Mt. Lee, Taco Peak, etc.).
Maximum effort means you should expect to be breathing hard (panting).

What to Bring
Plenty of water
Hiking shoes with good grip
Hiking poles (optional, at your discretion)
Long-sleeve shirt (especially for overgrown sections or cooler conditions)
Flashlights optional; red or green light only — white light diminishes night vision.

Arrival & RSVP
Please arrive 10–15 minutes early. We leave exactly on time.
If you cannot attend, please update your RSVP.

Directions
Take the Los Feliz / Crystal Springs entrance off the I-5 freeway.
Go north on Crystal Springs Drive into the park. At the second stop sign, turn left at the four-way intersection (ranger station on your right). Continue briefly, then turn right into Merry-Go-Round Lot #1. Drive through Lot #1 and continue to Lot #2.
We meet at the north end of Parking Lot #2 by the steps.

Liability Notice
Assistant Organizers, Event Hosts, and support hikers are volunteers and organize hikes without compensation and assume no responsibility for participants or guests. By signing up, you acknowledge the risks associated with outdoor activities and agree to release and discharge the Organizer, Assistant Organizers, and Event Hosts of the Los Angeles Hiking & Fitness Meetup Group from any liability arising from participation.
Please see Meetup’s Terms of Service: https://www.meetup.com/terms/

The Urban-ish Adventurists which includes legendary walkers Lori and no one right now (legends in their own minds) collectively known as "Lo” invite you to explore Toluca Lake. We will be doing a 5 mile-ish walk around Toluca Lake and surrounding areas.

We do our best to keep the walk in a 2 hour range, however could go longer by a mile or so and sometimes goes over time posted.

Comfortable shoes, water, flashlight and a good attitude are suggested items to bring but not required.

Remember it is suggested you get a minimum 10,000 steps a day. We can all achieve that healthy goal together. We help motivate each other. Come out to walk and socialize with nice friendly people and experience a good workout at the same time. Hope to see you at our next urban-ish walking adventure.

We appreciate our regular walkers and always encourage new walkers to give our walk a shot.

MEETING LOCATION: Tables/benches near the parking lot exit in front of the baseball/softball field

TOTAL DISTANCE: We try to keep it to 5 miles but sometimes, we go over by a bit (mostly flat)

GUESTS: Attendees are welcome to bring a guest (dogs are welcome as long as they are on a leash)

LIABILITY WAIVER: The organizer(s) is an uncompensated and untrained volunteer. By joining this event each member accepts full responsibility for knowing their limits, for all injuries, health issues, material losses, assessing all risks and for getting lost. Each member shall make their guests aware of these policies and releases the host(s) and the group from all liability.

This hike is 4.6 miles/1224 ft ascent is known to the regulars as the "backyard hike" and it is NOT a Beginner Hike. Most of the elevation gain is in a short period of time. The trail on the steep ascent is hard to find, so a little bit of adventure is required for this hike. This hike is 120 minutes and NO ANIMALS ALLOWED

Legend for hikes: These hikes run year 'round every Tuesday. In the leader's (subjective) mind, the hikes are generally easiest the first Tuesday of the month and most challenging the last Tuesday of the month, with everything progressive in between. Beginners are encouraged to come to the first Tuesday of the month. Beginners will receive doses of encouragement the second Tuesday of the month to keep up if unable. The 3-4-5 Tuesday's of the month it is expected anyone that can't keep up with the leader will turn back

The fine print:
Wildlife (snakes, bobcats, mountain lions etc) seen in the park, be aware of your surroundings and stay alert at all times.

Bring Along:

Hiking boots and at least 1 Liter Water. Layered clothing in case it's cold. Long pants in case it's hot, to prevent being bitten by insects. Mosquito and tic spray (available at REI) are recommended.

No bright (white) flashlights. Red, Blue flashlights are OK.
If you get to the lot after we meet, Sierra Club hikes start at 7:00PM on the opposite end of the lot.
We do start ON TIME, no matter how much traffic is on the freeways, inside the park, including if our parking lots are being used by movie crews. Allow yourself enough time for any unexpected surprises.

From 134 Freeway:
(Note, if you are not familiar with Griffith Park Drive, this is a dark single lane route. You are better off taking I5 directions)

Exit Forest Lawn. (If coming from Westbound go straight, from Eastbound, Go Right). Make a left on Zoo Drive. Make a right hand turn on Griffith Park Drive. Road weaves through Griffith Park. Continue on road until you hit Crystal Springs Road. Make a right hand turn on Crystal Springs. There's no street sign at the next stop sign. Look for the sign in the median stating "Merry-Go-Round Parking" with an arrow, follow the arrow. Continue up the road. The road forces you to make a sharp right hand turn into a parking lot, this is Lot 1. Go through the parking lot. You'll hit a small dark road (it's lit if it's daylight savings time) which will take you to Parking Lot 2. This is the parking lot where we meet. We meet next to the driveway that takes you down to parking Lot 3.

From Interstate 5 (either direction)
Go West on Los Feliz. Make a right on Riverside drive into Griffith Park. Go two stop signs and make a left turn. Continue up the road. The road forces you to make a sharp right hand turn into a parking lot. Go through the parking lot. You'll hit a small dark road (it's lit if it's daylight savings time) for a short period of time, followed by a brightly lit lot. Park in the back of the lot (the part you entered in). Meet at the back of the lot, where the driveway to the lower part of the lot is. It's close to the "No Practice Driving Allowed" sign is.

Where to meet: If you know the park well, it is Merry Go Round Lot #2, just at the path to the lower lot. (http://angeles.sierraclub.org/griffith/griffith_park_map.html)

If you'd like a visual, here is a map. (http://angeles.sierraclub.org/griffith/griffith_park_map.html)

CLICK (http://files.meetup.com/262967/PL#2.jpg)

for Visual Map of Driving Directions from Ranger Station

Put these coordinates in google maps for exact directions from your location:
34.133525,-118.284731

Join us for a magical hot springs experience with a beautiful 1 1/2 beginning to intermediate hike. We will be meeting in the parking lot near 1260 East Mountain Dr., Montecito, CA.

“Why on a Wednesday?”, Why not on the weekend?” Because the crowds are crazy on the weekends and it’s not enjoyable.

Optional dinner at Siam Elephant Thai restaurant which is amazing, so make sure that you carpool accordingly because I will probably be going if there is enough interest.