FYI: NEW 2016 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS WILL BE POSTED SOON, STAY TUNED!!
"Wait, you're doing what?"
"Is walking 16 miles even humanly possible?"
"Can I bike it? Bring a dog? Quit half way through? Are you personally driving me back to my car?"
Here it is, the unofficial Frequently Asked Questions roundup for the GREAT LOS ANGELES WALK 2015! (This will be updated with new information as it comes available!)
Here it is, the unofficial Frequently Asked Questions roundup for the GREAT LOS ANGELES WALK 2015! (This will be updated with new information as it comes available!)
1. WHEN/WHERE? Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015 -- the Saturday before Thanksgiving, like we do every year. We're meeting at CLIFTON'S CAFETERIA in Downtown Los Angeles (648 S. Broadway). You'll get to see the cool renovation done by new owner Meieran. By 8:45 we'll gather for a pep talk, some info about the day and a talk from Los Angeles Times architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne, who will talk a bit about Los Angeles' famed boulevards. Then, we're off, some time after 9 am! THE WALK HAPPENS, RAIN OR SHINE! (We had light rain one year, but it cleared up by mid day.)
2. WHO? We're expecting 300 or so urban hikers this year. We're taking RSVPs at greatlawalk(at)mail(dot)com (yes, "mail," not "gmail") and on Facebook, but RSVPs are not necessary. We'll take anyone who shows up too!
3. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? C'mon, it's completely free! But you're on your own when it comes to lunch, dinner, water, etc. So don't forget to plan accordingly.
4. WHAT'S THE PATH? From Clifton's, we'll make our way one block east to Main -- the city's official East/West divider. Then we'll head down to Olympic and start walking west! (Yeah, so technically we're only walking West Olympic Boulevard. Sorry purists, there's not enough time to do the true full Olympic, which starts in Montebello!)
We'll then celebrate nearby at an after party (Location TBD).
5. WHAT IF I CAN'T GET THERE THAT EARLY, OR DON'T WANT TO START THAT FAR WEST? Just wait for us somewhere on the path and join in once we pass by. Several hikers will be Twittering as well -- including us, at @greatlawalk. Check one of those Twitter accounts to figure out where we are.
6. HOW LONG IS THE HIKE? Around 16 miles. IMPORTANT: This is not a race. Sure, you can sprint all the way to the end, but where's the fun in that? There's no prize for who gets there first. Instead, take a breath, and join the bulk of us as we leisurely stroll toward the end and stop frequently to take in the sights.
7. WHEN WILL WE GET TO THE END? With so many hikers, people will eventually start to space out. Impatient, faster walkers might get there soon after lunch. But the bulk of the walkers will get there around 4.
8. CAN WE BIKE IT? BRING KIDS? PETS? Because you're walking on your own accord -- remember, this is an unofficial gathering of passionate Angelenos walking the streets of their favorite city -- you can do whatever you want. Use your best judgement, of course. We're not responsible for you.
9. WHAT ABOUT INJURIES? Again, there is no infrastructure to our Walk, so you need to take care of yourself just like you would whenever you walk anywhere. Be careful, stay safe and stick with a group of walkers!
10. WHAT ABOUT LUNCH? We'll be taking a lunch break -- probably around an hour or so -- around the halfway point. We're still working on finding businesses along Olympic to perhaps offer GREAT LA WALK specials, or else food trucks to stop along the way.
11. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE WALK IS DONE? We'll take group photos at the end... and then celebrate at an after party between 4 and 8 pm at JOAN'S ON THIRD SANTA MONICA.
12. HOW DO I GET THERE, OR GET HOME? We suggest bringing a pal and parking at either end. OR take Metro! Thanks to David Johnson for this tip:
I plan to park in Santa Monica (Lot#6 or the Civic Center Lot) and take the Metro Rapid Line 733 to Olympic and Main. Walk to Clifton’s before 9AM.
Joni points out an even faster way: You could take the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus Rapid 10 to Olive and 7th and walk 3 short blocks.
Check out LA Metro for bus times!
13. WHAT SHOULD I WEAR/BRING? Loose, comfy clothing. I'd wear shorts, a t-shirt (and perhaps a sweatshirt, depending on the temperature). Also, tennis shoes... sunglasses... a hat... sunscreen... extra socks... a blister kit (optional, of course -- I haven't brought one, although Band-Aids are a good idea)... and most importantly, a camera! We'll all be documenting it and posting pics later.
14. HOW CAN I GET A T-SHIRT? T-shirts are now for sale at http://greatlawalk.spreadshirt.com (we don't make any money off of these). But order fast, in order get the shirts in time for the Walk.
15. HOW SHOULD I TRAIN FOR THIS? It's not a marathon, so training isn't really necessary. I suppose you could walk around your neighborhood in the days before hand... but I'd avoid any big gym routine the day before, so you're not sore the day you're hiking. But other than that... I didn't train at all for any of the previous nine walks, and have turned out just fine.
16. WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? Why not? There's no special reason, no charity, no protest, no issue we're promoting -- other than a passion for Los Angeles. In 2006, I organized our walk down Wilshire to mark my 10th anniversary in Los Angeles. But it was so much fun, and it was a chance to meet so many new people, that we did it again in 2007, down Pico; in 2008, via Sunset and Santa Monica Blvd.; and in 2009, we hit West Adams as we walked down Adams and Washington to Venice Beach. In 2010, we returned to Wilshire for the fifth walk; in 2011, we hit Hollywood; in 2012, it was Melrose's turn; in 2013, it was all about Sunset Boulevard; last year, we hit the Valley via Ventura Boulevard.
It's the Saturday before Thanksgiving as well, so somehow I don't feel as bad gorging on sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie a few days later. And hey, it'll be a cool conversation piece at your holiday party.
17. CAN I SEND IN PHOTOS? READ A RECAP LATER? Of course! We'll have an official GREAT LOS ANGELES WALK 2015 page on Flickr for you to upload your pics. And check out www.greatlawalk.com the Monday after the Walk to read a full recap! Send us links to your own recaps, YouTube videos, etc.
18. IMPORTANT: You are walking on your own volition. The Great Los Angeles Walk is just a casual opportunity to walk with other Angelenos through the city. It's not an official organization of any sort -- and is therefore not responsible for your conduct or anything that may happen during your hike. Be careful, and be respectful of others and of your city.
1 comment:
Very nice idea. I would start it at 7am though. I am a very experienced hiker.
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