Take a hike up Mt. Helix to start the New Year right

By
B.J. Coleman
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WBMtHelix.jpg

The Grossmont-Mt. Helix Improvement Association has a novel tradition for kicking off the New Year. On the first weekend after January 1, the group hosts a walk up to the Mt. Helix summit and back. Fresh air, exercise, a beautiful view from the mountainside, and good company will help La Mesa residents and visitors begin 2016 on the right foot.

The Grossmont-Mt. Helix Improvement Association has a novel tradition for kicking off the New Year. On the first weekend after January 1, the group hosts a walk up to the Mt. Helix summit and back. Fresh air, exercise, a beautiful view from the mountainside, and good company will help La Mesa residents and visitors begin 2016 on the right foot.

Now in its eighth year, the event is officially titled the “Walk Up Mt. Helix to Welcome the New Year,” which appears on the yellow banner that will lead the walkers up the hillside. The approximately 1.3-mile route round trip will start this year at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 2, with attendees gathering at the Fire Station at 10105 Vivera Drive. Organizers want those interested in attending to know that there is plenty of free parking at the station and that the route is safe, with no traffic.

The walk is open to the public, at no charge, and refreshments and live music will await the walkers at the hilltop. The event promises to be entertaining, providing stimulating but leisurely physical activity, and bringing neighbors together to meet and greet each other. GMIA has announced its usual open invitation, “As always, well behaved children and dogs are welcome.”

Patricia Ryan, currently serving as GMIA’s first vice president, is on the organization’s committee for the New Year’s walk, and she is arranging pastries and coffee for walkers at the amphitheater, as she has done since 2012. Starbuck’s donated coffee in previous years, filling an order in 2015 for 200 coffee drinkers. Ryan said that the coffee always run out, and she will be ordering enough to slake the caffeine thirst of 250 for this year’s event. Other beverages available will include water, hot tea and hot chocolate.

“This has grown more popular every year,” Ryan said. “And this is one of our most popular events. This is easy and fun.”

Ryan described the activity as taking about a half hour for the group of walkers to reach the hilltop, with most attendees staying another hour at the amphitheater for food, friendly mingling and enjoyment of the beauty of the setting. Most of them then disband and return down the hill on foot at their own pace.

The local Vons bakery will specially heat and prepare small-sized portions of bear claws and other breakfast treats. GMIA members will, as before, provide fruit to accompany the sweets.

Musical entertainment will come from the Jan McBride Jazz band. Ryan said the music is upbeat and friendly.

For the kids, the firefighters will have a fire engine open to inspection and exploration. And retired firefighter and GMIA member Mike Valley will have firefighter hats to hand out. Valley is further donating 20 trash “pick-up sticks” to those willing to assist in keeping the neighborhood litter free.

“We have never cancelled the walk. The weather has always been perfect,” Ryan said. “I love it. This is an opportunity for neighbors to come together for a healthy, friendly event. Many people look forward to this annually and only see each other this once each year. This provides a healthy start to the New Year and brings us together to celebrate our community. We want everyone to come and enjoy it.”

Attendees have ranged in age from babies being carried in backpacks to octogenarians.

“We have a lot of fit seniors in the area because of their participation in walking activities like this,” Ryan said.

Have there been especially memorable moments?

Ryan said, “Last year we had two dogs on the walk who had been victims of Katrina. They got adopted out here, and their new owners walked them to the top. So, we had a couple of famous dogs here.” She also mentioned a little girl who had been on the walk “at least three times.” Ryan went on, “She had been coming in a stroller, but last year, she could walk by herself part of the way.”

The walk encourages attendees unfamiliar with the organization to become new association members. A table manned by GMIA members will further invite yearly membership renewals.

The New Year’s walking activity was the inspiration of Susan Nichols, president of GMIA. She was seeking more events for the organization to sponsor and with greater community outreach. Other activities on GMIA’s yearly schedule include the springtime Art and Garden Tour, opening four to five private neighborhood gardens to attendees, and the weekend after a “succulent swap,” during which area residents can share cuttings of plants that thrive in the Mt. Helix environment. GMIA hosts an annual dinner in June and stages an October Community Forum to address neighborhood issues and ways for GMIA to help resolve area concerns.

The Grossmont-Mt. Helix Improvement Association was founded in 1938. GMIA represents 1,100 due-paying households, while further speaking on behalf of the over 7,000 residents in the Mt. Helix area. Membership in the group, under the organization’s bylaws, is open to residents in the GMIA. Dues cost $18 annually. Membership benefits include a quarterly informative newsletter covering community events and area-specific gardening tips. More information can be found at www.gmia.net.

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