Griffith Park morning hiking crew creates community, connection and consistency

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A local hiking crew called "The 5am Crew" is helping people start the day off right, while building a sense of community. They meet three mornings a week early enough to watch the sunrise together. For the past three years, "The 5am Crew" has gathered in the early morning hours to hike up the hills of Griffith Park. Boyle Heights resident Omar Covarrubias started the group after a leadership course challenged him to create a community.

" I said, I wish I had two dozen people join me for a hike at 5 a.m. So I declared it, I put it on a piece of paper, and that's the thing that I got to work on," he said.

Now, the group hikes three mornings a week, with plenty of newcomers and a whole lot of regulars!

" It's a great way to start my week start my day It's the best gr eat energy good vibes everyone here is amazing," said Jenny Yoon from Granada Hills.

" Everyone's very warm, welcoming, encouraging, motivating. They push you, they encourage you to do more and do bigger and better things," said Gabriel Suarez from Lakewood.

"Once you get here and you see the vibe and you start talking to people, you become friends, you don't want to miss a day. You don't wanna miss a date. Your health gets better, you get stronger. You really build community," said Sara McCloskey of Woodland Hills.

The group's Instagram page grew from 300 followers to 58,000, with special event hikes that draw in big crowds.

" We had a thousand people here for new years, two years ago, and then we had about 800 people here this new year. For Valentine's we had about 600 to 500 people show up," said Covarrubias .

Even if it's at 5 in the morning! All in the name of connection, consistency and community.

" I'm trying to create ripples. For everybody to just motivate others to get out and work out, hike, bike, run, do all the things that get you out of the house and create connections, you know?" said Covarrubias .

The 5am Crew meets TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS, and SATURDAYS at Griffith Park.

We want to know what's happening in your town! Share with Tony here and we may highlight your submission on ABC7.