The Santa Monica Mountains Trails Council sponsored “The Trek,” a continuous seven days of hiking and seven nights of camping, along the Backbone Trail May 7-13. There were 13 hikers, with leader Burt Elliott and sweep Diana Savage, ranging in age from 46 to 73 years, with most hikers over the age of 60. The Trails Council provided support in the way of food and meals, leaders and a support vehicle for transporting gear and shuttling hikers when necessary. The council also hosted a barbeque dinner for participants at Calamigos Ranch during one camp night.
Hikers covered 66 miles with 13,000 cumulative feet of elevation gain. They started at Point Mugu State Park and finished at Will Rogers State Historic Park a week later.
“It was exciting to become so intimately acquainted with the Santa Monica Mountains-the rocky peaks, the beautiful dark canyons, and the lovely meadows,” wrote participant Lynne Haigh. “We identified 195 species of wildflowers, and saw three rattlesnakes, including one which was curled up in a bush at our first campsite. The group was wonderfully compatible-interesting people, all with a good sense of humor and a great love of the outdoors.”