If you’re looking for an alternative to the gym and want to get rid of a few extra pounds, then the Sierra Club weekly hikes just might be your thing. Every Tuesday and Thursday night, the Sierra Club of Long Beach meets for training hikes to socialize and to prepare for bigger hikes from Mt. Baldy to Mt. Kilimanjaro.
I attended last week on the recommendation of a patient and had a really great time. The hike began at the intersection of Hill and Redondo and weaved throughout the elevation changes of Signal Hill ending at Panorama Park after one hour. We were rewarded with a great view at the end of the hike and had great conversation along the way.
I’ll have to admit, I went with the fast group and by the next day my legs were plenty sore, but there are hiking groups for all fitness and skill levels and the entire group was very inviting. I was amazed at the panoramic views and it was very exciting to experience an evening outdoors with good conversation.
A speed blur of the Long Beach skyline during the hike
At the end of the hike I stopped the Outings Chair for Sierra Club Long Beach, Todd Williams for a couple of quick questions about health, hiking, and the environment.
Tell me a little more about the Tuesday and Thursday training event and what you are training for at this time?
The Sierra Club’s mission is to get people out into the wilderness, so these are conditioning hikes to keep ourselves in shape because hiking up in the mountains can be pretty tough. So this all about preparing our group to fully enjoy their wilderness hikes.
Sierra Club morning meetup
Tell me about the Sierra Club in Long Beach, what you are working on right now as a group?
The Sierra club’s motto is to Explore, Protect and Enjoy our natural environment. We offer conditioning hikes, we offer outings, we take the train to L.A. or conservation events. Politically, we keep on what’s happening in the City Council, we address pollution issues, plastics are becoming a bigger issue as well.
What are some small things that Long Beach residents could do to make it a healthier city?
1.) Get out and exercise.
2.) Buying Local and Organic.
3.) Reduce reliance on plastic bottles, because when you walk around we’re beginning to see them everywhere.
4.) Bringing your own bags to shop for food.
5.) Use mass transit if you can.
Anything else you would like to close with?
Well, Monday night we do a beach walk, Saturday morning walks in Signal Hill and El Dorado Park. Also you don’t have to be a member of the Sierra Club to participate. Check out our website at http://angeles.sierraclub.org/Longbch/.