Join the Climb for Heroes

On Sunday, May 21, 2017, Team SoCalHiker is joining the Climb for Heroes for the third consecutive year, and you can join us! This annual hike takes place on Mt Baldy and raises funds for The Heroes Project. This non-profit works with veterans who have lost one or more legs in service to our country, redefining what they can do by helping them train, prepare and climb some of the highest mountains in the world.

The event is open to all ages and abilities. There will be five stations spaced along the out-and-back route, allowing you to hike as much or as little as you are able. Some people hike just to the restaurant at Notch, then take the ski lift back down (it’s totally cool). Others go as far as the start of the Devil’s Backbone. Only the heartiest will power on all the way to the 10,069′ summit of Mt Baldy–the highest mountain in Los Angeles County.

Registration for the event is free, but The Heroes Project requires that you raise a minimum of $100 to participate in the hike. It’s well worth it, with free breakfast, coffee, snacks and swag that includes a t-shirt.

You can register as an individual or as part of a team. I’d love for you to join #TeamSoCalHiker! We’re going to have awesome t-shirts for everyone on our team who meets the $100 fundraising goal by April 23rd.

How to Register

Registration is easy. Just visit our team page on Crowdrise and click the Register to Climb button and follow the instructions. Be sure to select Team SoCalHiker as your team if you want to join us.

Once you’re registered, you get your own fundraising page that you can share with friends, family and co-workers via Facebook, Twitter and email. And when they donate on your behalf, you get closer to reaching your fundraising minimum, and they get a receipt for their tax-deductible donation.

How to Donate

Can’t join us for the Climb for Heroes on May 21? You can still show your support! Donate to one of our team members. Visit our team fundraiser page and scroll down to the bottom of the team. Click Show more until you find a team member who still needs help meeting their $100 fundraising minimum and give them a boost! Your donation is tax-deductible.

The Route

The route is will be an out-and-back route that begins at the base of the Mt Baldy Ski Resort. Participants can park there for free. There will be a lot of people there, so plan to get there early. We will be gathering for a group photo at 7:30am.

Along the route are five stations, each manned by a veteran in the The Heroes Project program. You’ll get a chance to meet and talk with them, thank them for their service and hear their story. And you’ll pick-up a special poker chip that shows you made it to that station. When you return to the start/finish, you’ll be able to trade the poker chips you collected for swag.

Training for the Climb for Heroes

If this is your first time summiting Mt Baldy, here are some tips to help you get ready.

• Hike every week between now and May 21st. I recommend two weekday hikes of 4-6 miles with hills, and one long hike on the weekend. Work your way up to 10-12 miles. You can find local trails here.
• Hiking Mt Wilson via Chantry Flats makes a great test for both distance and vertical gain, and it’s another one of the Six-Pack of Peaks. Just don’t do it the day before.
• If you’re not sure how your body will respond to the altitude, be prepared to turn around if you get dizzy, headaches or nausea. These could all be symptoms of altitude sickness, which can be serious.

What to Bring

• Layers. The temperature can be quite cold early in the morning, and downright freezing on the summit. Layers that you can wear or take off when it warms up gives you flexibility to adapt to the changing conditions. Here’s a good overview of what I wear.
• Water. I will carry three liters.
• Snacks/Lunch. I typically carry some Clif Bars, salted nuts and electrolyte chews, and snack a little at a time rather than all at once.

Optional: Money for food afterwards. I’m going to be stopping at the Mt Baldy Lodge for a well-earned burger and a beer after the hike. Join us! 

For more information about The Heroes Project, visit the official website.