This year the two titans of Trails Council, Jerry Mitcham and Dave Edwards, were awarded Lifetime Achievement Awards for their 6,000+ hours of service over twenty years. Both Jerry and Dave, and their trucks, have logged many miles on roads and trails making our volunteer events possible as they continue to lead, mentor and inspire so many others.
Greg Sweel heroically mans any and all power tools cutting neat swaths through the brush and always volunteers to walk to the farthest work location. Greg has averaged 173 hours per year and is nearing a 20 Years of Service Milestone! That is some serious dedication!
Our crew of regulars has been busy this year with a multitude of projects assisting State Parks, NPS, and The Nature Conservancy (Channel Islands). We started out the year clearing the Old Cabin and Boney Trails, worked in areas damaged by the Palisades Fire, and then moved on to wherever we were needed. Jon Sheldon, who consistently logs the most hours, not including Channel Islands events), is an excellent crew leader, mans whatever power tool is needed uncomplainingly, and cheerfully mentors “newbies”. Jon has also been diligently pushing forward with Phase 4 of the Signs Project in La Jolla Valley, Pt. Mugu State Park and we can expect to be installing new signage there soon.
Since joining our crew in 2022, Ruth Feldon has been an extraordinary presence, averaging more than 409 volunteer hours per year. Even after missing September and October, she still contributed an impressive 310 hours of volunteer service this year. With 60 to 70 events scheduled annually, it is no surprise that the names Ruth and her husband Jon appear on nearly every event roster - a testament to their dedication and passion for our trails.
Carlyn brings warmth, kindness, genuine enthusiasm and a very handy first-aid kit to every event she attends, all while remaining wonderfully humble. We need more Carlyns in the world!
Denise contributed nearly 300 hours on the trails this year despite being on the disabled list for January. She makes good use of her camera phone while working and is the source for many of the photos on this page. Her enthusiasm and energy help power the crew through the various tasks of the day. Denise has an affinity for her battery powered pruner and also led the effort to provide all volunteers who worked in the fire areas with a special t-shirt.
Trail Days, our signature trail work event held in April each year, set new records with 280 volunteers, 1,399 volunteer hours, and 3.5 miles of trails maintained. Barb Thomas has been the primary organizer for the past decade, coordinating with California State Parks, National Park Service, Sierra Club Task Force, Concerned Off Road Bicyclist's Association (CORBA) and a host of other smaller organizations to transport, feed, provide tools and to keep informed nearly 200 hundred volunteers. She has done an excellent job overseeing an event that continues to grow and evolve.
We continue to reach out to a variety of groups that love and utilize our trails. Several events featured large groups of runners working to prepare trails for future races. Are you an active trail user who belongs to a group that might be interested in working with us? Email or call us. We can all benefit from this shared labor!
Carlyn passed 1,000 hours volunteer trail work hours in October 2025. Jon surpassed 2,000 hours in record time (averaging 312 hours per year over 7 years). George reached 3,000 hours in November of 2025 by averaging 202 hours over 14 years. Congratulations to this hard working trio of volunteers!
Work on this section of the Backbone Trail (Blue Canyon/Chamberlain) required especially thoughtful and complex planning: five separate groups, two entry points, miles of trail, and a wide range of skill levels. Watching everyone come together so seamlessly was truly inspiring. It was a beautiful example of teamwork in action, with each person contributing to make the trail safer, more accessible, and more welcoming for hikers. Shout out to Roger Young for recruiting and organizing the trail runners - their role was critical in working these hard to reach areas of the Backbone Trail. Kirsten Rosselot is always up for some tread work and removing Yucca. George Sherman is usually on the front lines systematically clearing the largest limbs, preferably thorny Greenbark Ceanothus, with a variety of tools and is always available to remove the gnarliest stumps.
This year we recognize two Rookies of the Year: Livia Szoke and Larry Marino. In late winter of 2025, Larry - and soon after, Livia - happened upon our crew while trail work was underway. What began as casual conversation quickly led to action, and within a few weekends both were working alongside us on the trail. They consistently step in wherever needed and have become valued, integral members of the crew. Their contributions have made a clear difference in both the amount and quality of work we accomplished this year, and we deeply appreciate their commitment—whether with us or with CORBA, where they also volunteer. Livia recently joined the Santa Monica Mountains Trails Council board of directors, and her organizational and speaking skills will be put to excellent use.
Trail work is a collaborative effort. We solve trail problems together, share meals, and - above all, we enjoy the time spent improving our trails.
