ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

FOREMOST, I would like to thank Jeff Schaffer, author of Wilderness Press’s Hiking the Big Sur Country, which this book replaces. I drew upon his incredibly accurate mapping and trail descriptions in writing this book.

My parents are at the head of the list of acknowledgments. Their love and support has given me the confidence to live passionately and follow my dreams. To Craig, for making my first experiences in the backcountry filled with adventure and fun. To Heid, for countless hours spent listening and encouraging. To Matt, for guidance and inspiration to go for it. To Jannie, for your willingness to stand up for what you believe in. To Laurie and Chris, for your incredible generosity. To Briezer and Wickland, whom I can always count on for an adventure. To E, for many words of advice. To Trevor, for your friendship and flexibility. To my community of friends and avid adventurers: Heart & Lissin, Hammer, Aaron, Pogen, Thomas, Isabel, Bill, and Joanne for accompanying me on unknown and overgrown trails. To Michelle and Leah, for taking the path less traveled. To Jan and Sid, for opening your home and hearts.

I wish to thank Thomas and Caroline Winnett at Wilderness Press for the opportunity to pursue professionally what I love. Thank you to David Lauterborn, who read the manuscript, contributing his knowledge and art of good writing, and to Roslyn, for picking up the pieces and guiding me through the process to completion.

A special thank-you goes to the hundreds of volunteers who built, maintained, and continue to work on the trails of the Santa Lucia Mountains. Unfortunately, the USFS has said that budgetary constraints preclude them from restoring most of the trails in the wilderness in the foreseeable future. Without the grassroots volunteer efforts of the folks at the Ventana Chapter of the Sierra Club and the Ventana Wilderness Alliance, many of the remote trails that traverse the heart of Ventana would be lost. The dedication of these volunteers to protecting and restoring the wildlands of the Big Sur coast is vital to the preservation of the rugged wilderness and biodiversity of the Northern Santa Lucia Mountains for generations to come. Without their efforts, this book would not have been possible.