Autumnal Equinox Hike

Councilmember Tom LaBonge led his annual Fall Equinox hike tonight, as he and 75 Griffith Park enthusiasts climbed to the peak of Mount Hollywood 1,625 feet above sea level. Hikers began gathering at the north end of the Griffith Observatory Parking Lot at 5 p.m. and the Councilmember made comments at 5:18, the exact time of the Autumnal Equinox this year.
“It’s all about enjoying a hike in the middle of the city with friends and neighbors,” said Councilmember LaBonge. “It’s a great way to celebrate nature and the change of seasons.”
An equinox occurs when the tilt of Earth’s own axis is inclined neither away nor towards the Sun, which means that the Sun is directly above a point on the Equator. It means that on this date, the day and the night are equally long.
Hikers departed at 5:30 p.m. for the gentle, 1.5-mile climb to the peak. Hikers brought children and dogs on the friendly community walk. The sunset views of the city were breath-taking. At the summit, hikers shared food that they had generously provided.
The Councilmember, dubbed Mr. L.A. by Los Angeles magazine because of his enthusiasm for his hometown, hikes Mount Hollywood every morning. He has been organizing quarterly sunset hikes in Griffith Park since he was elected in 2001. The hike lasted less than two hours. Click here to see more photos from the hike.