Backbone Trail

Topanga Fire Road overlook with Hoffman

Someone put up two hammocks for people to enjoy.  It was awesome!

On Sunday I did a ride with Hoffman in the Santa Monica mountains.  It started right out of Santa Monica on a 2100' fire road climb and descended on the Backbone trail to Will Rogers park.  It was one of the best singletracks I've been on.  Amazing time.

I met Hoffman many years ago through our mutual rock climbing friends.  We never climbed together but have run into each other at random places.  I ran into him years ago surfing at Trestles the one time I was there but I don't even think we even surfed together.  I think I was going in as he was coming out.  Then we ran into each other at a cyclocross race a couple months ago and found out that he's been mountain biking for a while.  We made some plans and this is our second ride together and realize that I relate to fellow climbers the best. We both realized that climbers tend to give it a go more often than others.  I've found out that Hoffman's signed up for Vision Quest in a couple of months (80+ mile mountain bike ride with 12,000' of climbing) and I wanted to do that too.  He's also done the Everest Challenge which I want to do.  I've done several double centuries and he wants to do some.  My hairbrain mountain bike ideas that I tell co-workers which get eye rolls gets accepted by him.  I guess rock climbing does attract a certain personality type and also has taught us that we can push our limits.