Los Angeles Hiking Group

Come join us for a great workout, for exploring unique parts of town and for meeting new people to do an urban hybrid hike in one of the most beautiful parts of Los Angeles: Los Feliz. The hike includes some stairs and it is partially on fire road/wide trail in the Vermont Canyon/Griffith Park area. We will get to enjoy interesting architecture varying from mansions to historical buildings, including the Ennis House (by Frank Lloyd Wright , 1924), on winding narrow roads with lush greenery. The views of DTLA will be gorgeous as well. The highest point will be the Heli-Pad in Griffith Park.

LEVEL: The route itself is fairly moderate, no extreme inclines or rough trails, but our speed is above moderate (well below advanced). While we love to socialize and we do encourage newcomers, please note that moderate+ cardio fitness and brisk walking speed are required.

LENGTH: 5.4 miles, 2 long staircases up and 2 down. 1100 ft elevation gain. 2- 2 1/4 hours.

SPEED: Brisk, with a short pause to re-group at the top of the stairs and the steepest hills. There will be no sweep; bring a phone map just in case you want to leave early.

BRING: Exercise outfit, hiking shoes or tennies with good grip (4 miles on paved roads, 1+ mile on dirt trail. The trail section will have one moderately steep downhill part) sunscreen and water.

RESTROOMS: None at the start. We'll pause at the halfway point in Vermont Park for restrooms.

LOCATION: We meet at 9.30am for introductions and take off sharply at 9.35am. (If you are a few minutes late you can drive to corner of N. Berendo St. Cromwell Ave. and catch us there)

PARKING: Easy, plentiful unlimited street parking. Alert: do not fully trust the GPS, depending on your phone and app it may be slightly off. Check a map for street names!

PLEASE NO CRASHING: Urban hikes do not work well with large groups, so, unfortunately, the space is limited. I "overbook" events in anticipation of some last-minute dropouts, so you cannot count on those spots being available. Waitlist, if needed, generally clears in order but priority may be given to members with good attendance records and a posted picture (LA Hiking group rule).

LIABILITY: The organizer is an uncompensated and untrained volunteer. By joining this event each member accepts full responsibility for knowing their limits, for all injuries, medical issues, assessing safety concerns, material losses and for getting lost. Each member shall release the organizer from all liability and have their guests accept these policies, also.

Join us for a fun, high energy hike on the trails of Griffith Park
Please note this is a HIGH INTERMEDIATE level hike. Not suitable for beginners.
Description: Expect the hike to last between 2 and 2.5 hours. The distance covered is typically 4 to 6 miles.
We go different routes(fire roads or up single-tracks)at a brisk pace, whenever possible. We make brief pauses for water.
We will be going up some challenging steep trails, so please come prepared: hiking shoes with good traction and water are highly recommended. We start on time, and we ask that you be mindful of others' time.
Directions: Take the Los Feliz/Crystal Springs entrance to the park just off the I-5 freeway. Go North on Crystal Springs into the park. At the second stop sign you'll come to a four way intersection. The ranger station should be on your right. Make a left at that intersection, go up the road a little bit, and you'll be forced to turn right into merry-go-round lot #1. Just drive through lot #1 and down the road a little ways and you'll be in lot #2. We meet in the north end of parking lot 2 by the steps.

Release of Liability: The organizer of this hiking event is a volunteer and is not a professional guide. The function of the organizer is only to organize events, in particular, hikes. Each person who signs up for a hike outing is responsible for his or her own safety and the safety of his or her guests. By signing up for this hike, or any other event organized by me, you are acknowledging that you are aware and have made your guests aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with any outdoor activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge the organizer of this hike from and against any and all liability arising from your and your guest's participation in the group activities. L.A. Hiking, its organizer, assistant organizers, event organizers are not responsible for any injuries or accidents that may occur carpooling to and from this event, or for any injuries or accidents incurred before, during, and after this event. If you sign up or participate in an event, you acknowledge that you freely and voluntarily agree to assume all risks of injuries and damages arising from, as a result of/and associated with this event.

Our meeting location for this Sunday's hike is at The Greek Theatre which is located at 2700 North Vermont Avenue Los Angeles, California, 90027. We'll meet at the white benches on the sidewalk in front of the Greek Theater Box office building, which is a small building just north of and next to the Greek Theater. Parking is in Lot G and on the streets close by. Click on the map to enlarge.

The hike will be about 2 to 2.5 hours and will be about 4+ miles. It is a moderate+ to FAST-PACED hike, we go different routes (mostly single-track trails up and fire roads down).

To judge the difficulty of this hike; you should expect to go up a steep (25% grade) hill for 10 to 15 minutes at your own maximum hiking speed* before you get a short break and then do it again. We will typically ascend 900' to 1100' (HogBack to Mt. Hollywood, Mt. Lee, Taco, etc.).

*to the point that you are panting hard.

Another way to describe the difficulty; on this hike we go up STEEP and VERY STEEP hills, but we go at the speed of the slowest hiker as long as that slowest hiker is pushing very hard (panting, sweating). i.e., there is tolerance for a slower hiker that is pushing hard. If a slower hiker is taking it easy, then they will be asked to go back to the parking lot and join a different hike.

Bring WATER, hiking shoes, hiking poles and a long sleeve shirt if you get chilly. You can bring flash lights but please only the red or green; white light diminishes night vision. Arrive 10 to 15 earlier, we leave exactly on time. If you cannot make it, please update your RSVP.

Please be aware that Assistant Organizers, Event Hosts, and support hikers are volunteers and organize hikes without compensation and assume absolutely no responsibility for you or your guests. By signing up for a hike, or any other event organized by this group, you are acknowledging that you are aware and have made your guests aware of the risks, dangers, and hazards associated with any outdoor activity, and you accept, and fully assume all such risks, dangers, and hazards, and further agree to release, and discharge the Organizer, Assistant Organizers, and Event Hosts of Los Angeles Hiking & Fitness Meetup Group from, and against any, and all liability arising from your and your guest's participation in the group activities. Please see the Meetup terms of service agreement https://www.meetup.com/terms/