It was late spring in 2001 and I decided to investigate the hills over the new Elysium property in Malibu, California. Elysium had relocated merely a few months earlier from its 30-year home in Topanga after the daughters of its late creator, Ed Lange, decided to sell.
The most popular trail provides hikers and nature lovers a brilliant solution to enjoy the area’s flora and fauna in its natural state. This kind of day was overcast, yet warm, a perfect day to go hiking, or so I thought. Generally I’d wear tennis shoes and also a baseball cap and carry a bottle of water and also a towel (just in case I ran into someone). These days, yet, I wanted to be adventurous. I liked to trek without wearing or carrying anything, to be completely naked!
As I developed on my hike, I started to see the fog rolling in from the shore. It wasn’t long before I made a decision to turn around and head back. Perhaps half an hour or so later, the fog had rolled in so that the visibility I had was no more than ten feet. After another hour or so, I realized I was walking around in circles. I didn’t know which way was West (the ocean) and I couldn’t find the Elysium Property. Additionally , I started to stress because the temperature often falls dramatically in the evenings in the hills of Malibu.
What if I cant find my way back during daylight? I continued on the trail, now going in a direction I simply knew was wrong. After another hour or so, I heard what sounded like farm equipment, a tractor maybe. Subsequently a house seemed out of the fog. I believed to myself, I got two picks. If I go down the hill to the house, the people there may telephone the police. I made the choice to go down the hill toward the house.
As I continued down the hill, I saw a guy and a female. I ceased and I yelled you-who! As the man and girl looked up and saw me I said, Im lost and I need a towel. I went on to say I am not insane. My friends let me trek bare on their property.
Then I smiled. The woman said that she’d get me a towel and walked to the house. The man just looked up at me and didn’t say a thing.
When the girl came back with a towel as well as a t-shirt, I continued my walk down the hill and toward their property. I thanked the woman as I wrapped the towel around my waist and put on the t-shirt. Then I inquired which way was the road. The girl pointed and said, Its that way.
I have often wondered what went through the mind of view . I guess she could have just as easily called the authorities as help me. On the other hand, living up in a remote portion of the Santa Monica Mountains, Ill wager she’s seen lots of strange things and met a lot of fascinating folks that have wandered off the Backbone Trail. I can only theorize what her variation of the encounter is when she tells her friends about the day a naked man came down the hill toward their home and asked for a towel and directions. On the other hand, maybe she did not think it was uncommon at all. Ill never know.
So if you ever find yourself naked and lost in the mountains, just stay calm, and remember, occasionally a big grin will cover a lot!