The following letter was addressed to Realtor Rick Wallace, a regular contributor to The Malibu Times.
I am writing to you regarding your column Along the PCH, which appeared in the Sept. 22 edition of The Malibu Times. In the seventh paragraph you write, “There is a relatively easy hike to one of the highest peaks in the Santa Monica Mountains…”
The property you described and invite people to visit is on private property.
As a matter of fact, it is my private property. Anyone who looks at the Thomas Guide page you so kindly referenced will go immediately to Bodle Motorway, which is on my land. You have basically invited the readers of The Malibu Times to hike through my backyard. How would you feel if I did the same to you and your home?
Although this property is not yet my home, l am currently in the approval process and hope to be living there within the next 12 months. Regardless of whether l live there or not, you have no right to invite people to hike on private property, whether it be mine or my neighbors. For although you may not realize it, all the land in the immediate vicinity is privately owned. There is a small section owned by the government, but at this time, it is not accessible over government-owned land.
The people of Malibu are fortunate enough to live next to the largest national recreation area in the country, the Santa Monica Mountains. Next time you hike on a trail and recommend it to others, whether verbally or in your column, please make sure that you recommend hikes that are on public land. There are over 62,000 acres of federal and state parkland with over 500 miles of hiking trails in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Might I suggest next time that you recommend those instead of private property for public recreational use?
Tami Semler