Plato Ad Hoc Hiking Group

Interested in exploring our local Santa Monica Mountains with fellow Plato members? The members of the Winter 2009 “Look Where you Walk” SDG want to continue our explorations as an ad hoc hiking group and invite you to join us. We are thinking of a monthly hike in our local mountain (Santa Monicas and San Gabriels), on well established trails. We believe the length of the hikes should be 4 – 6 miles, depending on the wishes of the group.

We will be hiking on unpaved trails with elevation gains of 1000 feet or more. To evaluate your ability and safety to join us in our hikes, please take the following test and seriously consider the results as an indicator of your ability to meet the rigors of the hikes.

We’d like to have a preliminary meeting on either July 22 or July 29, at noon, to determine our best hiking times, days, and hike locations and lengths. Please go to the Plato Blog or email us letting us know if you will be joining us and which day is best for you.

Lee Ann Kennedy
Sol Scope

Skills and Ability Evaluation – give yourself points for each question.

1. If given the choice to either walk up 2 flights of stairs or wait 3 minutes to take an elevator, which would you do?

a. Happily, gladly wait for the elevator = 0 points
b. Reluctantly and slowly walk up the stairs = 1 point
c. Happily walk up two flights of stairs = 2 points
d. Not even consider the elevator but automatically select the stairs = 3 points

2. Would you be able to walk from Plato to the UCLA bookstore and back in an hour (2.4 miles roundtrip)?

a. I don’t know where the bookstore is = 0 points
b. Yes, I could possibly do it in an hour = 1 point
c I can’t walk that slow – ½ hour max for the walk = 2 points

3. Could you walk for 3 hours on uneven ground with rocks that includes uphill and downhill sections carrying a small backpack weighing about 10 pounds with clothes, food, water and other items?

a. You must be kidding?! – 0 points
b. Yes – 1 point
c. Yes, and I could probably carry 15 pounds = 3 points.

4. We recommend the following equipments for our hikes:

a. Hiking boots
No, I don’t have and don’t want them – 0 points
No, but will buy them – 1 point
Yes, and they are broken in – 2 points

b. Backpack/fanny pack
No, I don’t have either and don’t want either – 0 points
No, but will buy or borrow – 1 point
Yes, and can lend people my extras – 2 points

c. Water bottles
No, I don’t own a bottle nor do I drink water – 0 points
No, but I can buy bottled water for the hike – 1 point
Yes – 2 points
Yes, I’ll bring a ½ gallon for each 4 miles & toilet paper for breaks– 3 points

d. Walking Sticks
What!?– 0 points
No, but I’ll consider if it will help me keep up with the group – 1
Yes, I have them and use them when needed – 2 points
Yes and I have extras to lend to others – 3 points

Add up your score! If you have...
0 – 6 points, you definitely will not survive a hike.
7 - 8 points, you might survive a hike with an attitude adjustment
9 - 18 points – you’ll be fine and not left behind