Reposted from Kevin Steele's blog:
If a trail never leaves the pavement, is it still a trail? I spent a few days with record setting thru-hiker Liz Thomas in Los Angeles in early April – she was making an inaugural hike of a 200 mile route that traverses many of the city’s highlights. Liz hikes FAST. And light. She holds the women’s speed record on the Appalachian Trail: hiking 2181 miles, unsupported, in 80 days.
This 200 mile route was the idea of Robert Inman and resulted from his goal of connecting every one of the city’s 300+ public staircases. Liz figured she could blaze through the route in five days, at 40 miles per day, and I was along for part of the fun. It was a challenge to not only keep up with Liz but to scout and plan locations along the route that I would arrive at just ahead of her.
