LOS ANGELES — "Upwards and onwards."

That's the spirit of a mountain-climbing, drink-mixing, trail-trekking trio of friends Dylan Skolnik, Jack Petros, and David Weber — otherwise known as the "Summit Sippers."

"This is the Sipper uniform," Weber said as he quickly changed from a T-shirt and shorts into his formal wear. "I feel like a different man when I wear this."

On random weekends, the Sippers arrive at trailheads carrying coolers of ice, bottled beverages, and a folding table. It's a lot to schlep, uphill, for about two miles, but it has its benefits.

"On weekends, we do bicep curls with the coolers just for some training," Weber quipped.

Their journey began in Joshua Tree, where Weber, Petros, and another friend had been hiking. It was 115 degrees, and they had brought along a few beers, but by the time they went to drink them, they were warm.

"So we were like, 'What if there was a bartender who had an ice-cold beverage for us right now?'" Weber remembered. "How awesome would that be?"

The more they talked, the more elaborate and absurd it became. What if they were the bartenders and they were wearing bowties? And suspenders?

It was a flight of fancy, but Weber wanted to see it take wing, so as soon as he got home, he ordered the outfits on Amazon. "And I'm like, 'We're doing this, guys! Let's do it!'"

"I think it wouldn't have been as fun if we were here in normal clothes," Skolnik added. "You don't realize the power of the bowtie until you wear one."

They held their first sip in October of 2019, and while they had to scale back a bit during the pandemic, they've started stirring things up more frequently again. The drinks are all on their own time and their dime. The drinks are free, and each event costs them about as much as going out to brunch in Los Angeles. They'll happily take selfies, but not tips, although there is a spot on their website for donations to help cover ingredients, like mixers and garnish.

"Fresh herbs and high elevation," Petros explained. "Mix those together, and you get magic."

"Sometimes I'm drinking or making drinks at sea level, and it's just not the same," Skolnik said.

The Summit Sippers set out to build a community, and it's working, with plenty of repeat faces in the small crowd. They chronicle their adventures and tease upcoming ones on their Instagram account, @summitsippers, as well as in their e-newsletter. Followers essentially raise their hands, hoping they'll get picked to raise a glass. They don't announce the locations publicly since they try to keep the gatherings to a manageable, responsible size, especially after COVID-19 hit.

"It really is just about having fun. Celebrating together," Petros explained. "We love hiking. We love nature. I think it's more fun to do together."

Of course, they are out in public, and with their top hats and adhesive mustaches, they're pretty hard to miss.

"I love the random people who come by, and they're like, 'What the heck is this?" Skolnik said.

When they explain that they're the Summit Sippers serving free beverages with a view, people often ask, what's the catch?

"To see your surprised face, your jaw dropping to the floor," Weber answered.

Passing out drinks and their signatures 'staches, they admit they often forget to take a moment to enjoy the view behind them. They're honestly too focused on the view in front of them. The view they created, the one they didn't realize at the time, would be so sorely needed.

"I think now more than ever we need community," Skolnik said. "We need nature."