Photo Credit: Diana Vitoshka
On Saturday, September 28th Team Sierra hosted the first-ever Team Sierra City Hike: LA. 115 participants from the greater Los Angeles and Orange County area gathered to hike a collective 500+ miles through Koreatown and Downtown LA, all in the name of clean air. Hikers raised an incredible $27,000 by using Team Sierra's fundraising website to ask friends and family for donations to the Sierra Club on their behalf. Chapter leaders and event organizers took special care to employ zero waste efforts, providing reusable stainless steel Klean Kanteen water bottles, utilizing corn husks as plates at the after-party, and partnering with local retailer EastWest Shop to create upcycled event T-shirts.
Here's a glimpse into the first-ever Team Sierra City Hike:
Photo Credit: Jenny Muschinske
City Hike: LA started and ended at the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter offices in Koreatown where participants enjoyed a spectacular view of Downtown LA.
Photo Credit: Jessica Dean
State Senator Holly Mitchell stopped by to thank the hikers and address some of the most pressing environmental issues facing the City of Los Angeles and surrounding areas.
Photo Credit: Jenny Muschinske
Dedicated chapter leaders and volunteers support zero waste initiatives by distributing Klean Kanteen water bottles and upcycled event T-shirts from EastWest Shop. By using upcycled shirts, Sierra Club saved an estimated 150,000 gallons of water -- or as much water as 2,586 people drink in a year!
Photo Credit: Jacquelyn Nytes
Urban hiker Liz Thomas leads the group in some pre-hike stretches.
Hikers set off on two different routes ranging from 3.8 miles to 7.7 miles through Koreatown and Downtown LA with stops at MacArthur Park, Grand Park, Pershing Square, and Vista Hermosa.
Photo Credit: Amelia Tabullo
Photo Credit: Amelia Tabullo
The top fundraising team, The Blister Sisters, raised over $1,300!
Photo Credit: Alex Slobin
Photo Credit: Alex Slobin
Earthbar and Le Pain Quotidien in Pershing Square graciously helped fuel the hikers with muffins and smoothies along the way.
Photo Credit: Diana Vitoshka
Students from Los Angeles Trade Technical College hiked and helped out at a support station in Vista Hermosa!
Photo Credit: Diana Vitoshka
As hikers returned to the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter rooftop, they attended an after-party with music from a solar-powered DJ, information about local Sierra Club happenings, and of course, snacks and drinks!
Photo Credit: Jacquelyn Nytes
Sponsors donated products and raffle prizes for hikers to enjoy at the after-party.
Photo Credit: Amelia Tabullo
There were tacos! Thanks to Mr. J's Kitcken for supplying delicious tacos and supporting our zero waste efforts by bringing corn husks to use as plates!
Photo Credit: Jacquelyn Nytes
Plush Puffs brought s'mores on a stick!
Photo Credit: Jacquelyn Nytes
FruitGuys brought a bounty of bananas to help tired hikers refuel.
Photo Credit: Jacquelyn Nytes
Thanks to all of the hikers, volunteers, and sponsors who made the first-ever Team Sierra City Hike a great success. Money raised from the event will help the Sierra Club in its mission to protect the planet, including local initiatives to keep air clean in the greater Los Angeles area. To learn more about Team Sierra, Sierra Club's fundraising program, visit teamsierra.org. For more information about the Angeles Chapter, click here.