Backpacking Los Angeles
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Perfect Weather Hike in Griffith Park! ☀️🙋🏻♀️ 🙋 🙋🏽♂️
Sat, Jul 25, 4:00 PMCome join the Perfect Weather Hike in Griffith Park every Saturday (location or route varies). Join us on this friendly social hike, with optional plank challenge at the helipad. Followed by optional lunch at the Village Bakery and cafe. Trail Is a roughly a 4.5 mile 10,000 step loop on mostly fire roads. Distance varies depending on trail variations. We’ll have views across the city to the Pacific Ocean, Griffith Observatory, downtown LA... Moderate pace with Tiffany on the main fire roads or faster pace on advanced inclines with Marvin and Gary. Route varies: Cadman trail to 5-Points, Beacon Hill, Helipad, Glendale Peak, often Cedar Grove and back to the cars. Steady incline approx 700ft elevation gain in the first hour - challenging for beginners but worth it! We’ll gather at each split in the trail to make sure all are accounted for. Dog friendly 🐕. Just remember there are coyotes in the park. Rattlesnake season! 🐍 They like to sun on the trails. Do not approach and steer clear if any are on the path. Meet after at Village Bakery and Cafe 3119 Los Feliz Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039 Like all meetups, hike at your own risk. You are responsible for your own well-being. Please bring water, wear sunscreen and proper shoes. Facebook group https://m.facebook.com/groups/1608982546701615/?ref=share&mibextid=S66gvF This is a residential neighborhood. There is NO restroom on this hike. The nearest is at the Griffith park Southern Railway by the Griffith Park Cafe on Crystal Springs Drive. If you arrive early, It’s a 15 minute roundtrip walk to the restroom. Hike will be cancelled in the event of rain and soggy trails or severe heat advisories.

Urban Stair Hike in Franklin Hills/Silver Lake, Level: Moderate++
Sat, Jul 25, 3:30 PMCome join us for a challenging workout and for meeting new people to do a beautiful urban stair hike in Franklin Hills/Silver Lake. This is one of our favorite repeat routes. We will meet in Franklin Hills and go clockwise this time. We'll start with conquering the Prospect triple stairs, then cross over to a charming part of Silver Lake, drop down to the reservoir, then work our way back through numerous hidden staircases. **LEVEL**: The inclines are intermediate++ (people not used to stairs may find the hike harder than it sounds). Intermediate Plus for speed and length. We are a friendly group that loves to socialize and encourage newcomers to join, but please note that moderate ++ cardio fitness and brisk walking speed are required. **LENGTH**: 5.5 miles, 14 long staircases up and 6 down + steep hills. The elevation gain is 1400 ft., which is at the higher end for stair hikes. 2h-2 1/4h. **SPEED**: Brisk, faster than most moderate hikes, but below advanced. We'll take a short pause to re-group at the top of the stairs and the steepest hills. There will be no sweep; bring a phone for navigation just in case you want to leave early. **BRING**: Exercise outfit, workout shoes (no hiking shoes needed) and water. Sunscreen? **RESTROOMS**: None; go before you arrive! **MEETING POINT**: We meet at the corner of Myra Ave. and Cumberland Ave. where we have free, unlimited street parking. We meet at 8.30am for introductions and take off sharply at 8.35am. **ALERT!!! DEPENDING ON YOUR PHONE AND APP THE GPS LINK MAY BE SLIGHTLY OFF. Check the street names on a map before parking.** **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.

Summer 2026: Let's walk across or around a country
Wed, Sep 2, 2:00 AMThis is a trial balloon to see if there are adventurous people out there who'd like to walk across or around a country in 2025. Yes, walk across or around a whole country. There are several such paths of about 100 or 200 miles that can be walked in a week or two. For instance, the Coast to Coast path in England, Hadrian's Wall, Offa's Dyke, the Isle of Man Coastal Path, the Wexford-Pembrokeshire Pilgrim Way, etc etc. Some have inns to stay the night, others might involve stealth camping. Some have more elevation gain and tougher terrain than others, but this isn't like climbing 14ers. It might be possible to bike parts of some routes. The walking could be combined with other \*optional\* activities: \- going to football matches\.\.\. \- drinking beer and eating so much fish and chips we need a mercury detox\.\.\. \- almost getting arrested for lèse\-majesté\.\.\. OK, those are what I'll be doing. You can choose your own activities. The specifics for all this are open, I'm just trying to gauge interest. Note that I'm posting this to multiple groups so more might RSVP than are shown here. If the idea of walking across a country or similar appeals to you, RSVP and we'll decide from there. (Pic from theguardian.com/travel/2024/sep/26/walking-celtic-camino-ireland-to-wales-wexford-st-davids)

Mt. Waterman Trail Maintenance
Sun, Jul 26, 2:30 PMThis is a great opportunity to combine your love of the outdoors with the gratification of making a significant contribution to the environment. We will be giving this trail some much needed TLC. There are trees that need to be cleared and storm damaged tread repairs. Hike will be up to 6 miles round with 1600' gain from starting from the Buckhorn Trailhead. Shorter hike options also possible. Pants & long-sleeved shirt, good boots/hiking shoes are required. Hard hat, gloves and safety glasses can be provided. Please be sure to bring plenty of water and your lunch. Event will be cancelled if it rains.

France Culinary Explorer! Food, Wine, Cheese. Cooking Lessons, Tastings AND MORE
Wed, Sep 9, 5:00 PMJoin us on this gourmet gastronomic holiday as we rendezvous with the cuisine & culture of France. This is a foodie’s dream. Around every corner we will find open-air markets, artisanal chocolatiers, macaroon shops, boulangeries, cheesemongers, local butcher shops with the finest cured sausages and hams . . . and YES - world-class wine shops where we can savor the flavors! We will start in Paris, home of some of the world’s most prestigious museums, including the Louvre, Musee d’Orsay, Pompidou, Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and so much more. Of course, we get to visit some of them...BUT French cuisine is such a huge part of this country's culture and history! Learning about it and experiencing it, is the main goal of this tour. In Paris, we will savor the culinary artistry of Michelin-starred chefs and indulge in the city's iconic pastries. We will journey to Normandy, where lush landscapes yield exquisite cheeses and apple-infused delights. We will follow the Loire River to discover the vineyards and châteaux of the Loire Valley, where fine wines and gourmet experiences await. Let the flavors of France enchant our palate as we explore these culinary treasures! Cooking classes, gourmet food tastings, wine tours, and enough free time to explore to our heart’s desire with centrally-located first class accommodations. ***The Itinerary in brief:*** **Day 1 Paris** arrival and Welcome Dinner with Corsican Cuisine **Day 2 Paris** sightseeing tour, Seine river cruise,French bread making class **Day 3 Paris** Museum Day. Dinner along Canal Saint-Martin **Day 4 Paris-Auvers Sur Oise Auver.** Pay homage to Van Gogh and the many famous painters who lived there. Paint our own masterpiece! On to Giverny for a visit to the Gardens of Monet. Overnight in Rouen. **Day 5 Rouen - Camembert - Caen.** Cheese tasting **Day 6 Caen - Mont St Michel.** Stop in Calvados. Apple brandy, anybody? **Day 7 Mont St Michel - Rennes - Nantes.** Cooking Class **Day 8 Nantes - Tours** with stops at 3 Chateaux Vineyards for wine and chocolate tastings **Day 9 Tours - Orleans.** Stops at Château of Clos Lucé, Leonardo Da Vinci's home. Visit an underground cave for farming mushrooms. And yes, some mushroom tastings! **Day 10 Orleans - Paris** On the way, a stop at an artisan chocolatier and more wineries **Day 11 Paris.** Visit the famous Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen (the flea market) for some amazing shopping. Farewell Dinner in the Montmartre Area Join us for an unforgettable feast for the senses! For a detailed Day By Day itinerary: **[Click Here](https://forms.gle/cQdqYw74gAYqphXX8)**[ to fill out our info request form](https://forms.gle/cQdqYw74gAYqphXX8) **Price per person, double occupancy: $5320** (we match roommates for those willing to share and save) **Price for single room: $6720** Limited capacity of 24 total. This trip will fill up extremely quickly. RSVP does not hold your space. **The only way to secure your spot is a $500 deposit.** **[Click here for Secure Deposit Link](https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/V6PKYK8VEWPHJ)** Deposit is refundable up to 90 days before the departure (less PayPal fees). *[Click Here](https://forms.gle/Qxx6eSy9tbjezXYg6)*[ and Fill out this Form if you are making a Deposit](https://forms.gle/Qxx6eSy9tbjezXYg6) **\*\*\*Airfare from/to the US is not included\*\*\*** ***[Click Here](https://secure.meetup.com/messages/?new_convo=true&member_id=131297062)***[ to Message Direct to Anna with any questions including airfare quotes.](https://secure.meetup.com/messages/?new_convo=true&member_id=131297062) She can help you arrange the airfare and answer any logistics questions. We do a monthly Zoom with Q & A on all our overseas events. [https://www.meetup.com/moretoexplore/events/296044209/](https://www.meetup.com/moretoexplore/events/296044209/) Come to the zoom and ask any questions. Great way to get the info you want without all the other fluff. As well as meet us and other attendees. [Click here for General Policies](https://www.meetup.com/MoreToExplore/events/282719353/) and useful info about our international trips. The MAIN Meetup post for this event is here: **[France Culinary Explorer](https://www.meetup.com/fork-n-cork/events/298965454/)** (RSVP there for any conversation and comments) We believe in good decent social. This events is cross posted to several other groups and the number of RSVPs on each is not reflective. We have a set of sister groups where we post our local free, local/regional camping, and our overseas events too. [Click Here to see all our other fun events](https://www.meetup.com/CulturalArts/Events) Live the adventure instead of only dreaming it! SOT 2000318-10

Griffith Park Hike to Mt. Hollywood @ Merry Go Round Lot
Wed, Jul 29, 1:30 AMThis hike is to Mt. Hollywood, about 5 miles/1600 feet elevation gain. This hike is @ 2 hours 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 Tuesdays of the month it is expected anyone that can't keep up with the leader will turn back. No animals allowed on hike The fine print: Wildlife (snakes, bobcats, mountain lions etc) seen in the park, be aware of your surroundings and stay alert at all times. 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. 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 tick spray are recommended. No bright (white) flashlights (it ruins night vision). Red, Blue flashlights are o.k. If you get to the lot after we meet (we start on time!), Sierra Club hikes start at 7:00PM on the opposite end of the lot (next to the stone steps). This hike is to Mt. Hollywood, about 5 miles/1200 feet. 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: See above. If you know the park well, it is Merry Go Round Lot #2, just at the path to the lower lot. If you'd like a visual, here is a map. 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
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