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Who Are These Maniacs Hiking Runyon Canyon In 100-Degree Heat?
Yesterday temperatures hit over 100-degrees in parts of L.A., and while normal humans had trouble walking to the corner coffee shop, the intense heat did not stop others from getting their Runyon Canyon hike in. But who and why are these maniacs hiking in the heat?
LAist photographer Annie Lesser visited the popular Hollywood hiking trail on Wednesday during the hottest time of the day and captured these superhumans sweating it out and struggling on the trails, which were emptier than usual. Are they gluttons for punishment or just living their best life (like the ones who are just sitting in their underwear on their couches in front of a fan)? Many admitted to Lesser that they were obviously crazy.
Brandon Skeie, who braved the trail, said "I always go hiking in the heat. I think it's invigorating." Another hiker, who didn't want to be named, said she was "shaking" because she was so hot, but seemed proud of her accomplishment/heat exhaustion.
"Even though it's hard, it it feels good," hiker Trina, who did not want to give her last name, said. "I can't wait to get to the bottom, it feels like a major accomplishment. This is my first time, so I feel I should have stopped half way up and gone back down, this is too much for a beginner."
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Not everyone struggled—it was an apparently easy for Evan Schwartz, who was on the trail with a buddy. "We like to run in the hardest conditions, so when it's hot weather it just makes it that much easier," he said.
Get ready for another scorcher today, as temperatures are creeping towards 100 degrees. If you're one of those hardcore people with plans to hike Runyon, well, bring water, and godspeed, you crazy bastards.
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This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
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