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Gather 'round...world's best urban-area hikes!
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OK, hikers, gather 'round. There won't be any campfire stories (or smores), because today's subject is day hikes--the best you'll ever find in any urban environment.
It's that time of year again, time to launch the annual Backbone Trail series, which has magnetic resonance for both in-the-know trekkers and the wannabes.
Backbone Trail
Previously referred to in the catchall phrase "String of Pearls," today's Backbone beckons, harkens--it flat out says, "You got to be here, or you'll hate yourself in the morning!" More than 64 miles in serpentine length, it unravels from Point Mugu in Ventura County to Pacific Palisades in L.A. County
Matchless Santa Monicas
Given the Santa Monica Mountains' rugged topography and its geologic history, parts of its spine resemble the backs of dinosaurs, hence the Backbone cachet. It snakes its way through the Santa Moncia Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMRNA), established by Congress more than 25 years ago.
SMMRNA, no joke, is the world's largest urban forest when combined with contiguous State and Local parks, land preserves and private properties. Statistically, it's a mind-blower. For instance, it has more area codes (5) and zip codes (26), including the notable 90210 owned by Beverly Hills, than any other unit in the National Park system.
But back to the Backbone. All you need to know is in the kitbag of Sheila Braden, ranger for the National Park Service who's headquartered in Thousand Oaks at the NPS Visitor Center (805-370-2301). Braden became enamored with the Backbone long before she joined NPS, having attended, out of curiosity, the 1990 dedication of the trail. Immediately captivated by the mountains' grandeur, she adopted a newfound cathexis as a hiker.
Bring them mountains on. I love 'em!
Today, Braaden is the official coordinator for the Backbone Trail series, which is now co-sponsored by the Santa Monica Mountains Trails Council (smmtc.org/).
As if it were counterintuitive, NPS wants to spread its welcoming arms--dare we say the numbers--to the more than 10 million habitants in the greater L.A. sprawl. Yet, as rugged and time-tested as the Santa Monica Mountains manifest--organized hikes on its well-maintained trails (with a BIG assist from SMMTC) typically are limited to a maximum of 40 trail meisters, so as to not over-tax what nature has proffered.
Alas, the first several segments of the Backbone's 10 individual hikes are full up, but there may be some vacancies later in the year. To find out, contact Braden.
Background to individual segments
Here' s what NPS has to stay about November '08's BBT trail kickoff:
"The Backbone Trail ties together the individual parks of the Santa Monica Mountaions, offering a cross-sectional view of the unique National Park unit. To add to your hiking enjoyment, we have put together background information of the segments. After hiking all of the indiividual hike segments, we hope that you will"
"Have a cleare runderstanding that the protection of the recreation areaq belongs to not one agency but to a complex patnership of private agencies, organizations and individuals. Undertstand th interactions of the flora and fauna that survive in this unique Mediterranean-type ecosystem."
There'such more to be said, and shared--someday there wll actually BE campsites on the trail, and with good steardship, smores will be perfectly fine--by NPS and its devoted trekkers.
