Several weeks ago when I was hiking the five summits again, I ran into this spry hiker putting up flyers on trees on some of the hiking trails in the San Gabriel Mountains. Don Viejo is his trail name, he is 85 years young and he’s looking for a female hiking companion. And we’re not talking about leisurely walks in the park. He expects candidates to handle hikes from 4-12 miles in length. Just to prove the point and weed out the slackers, he’s holding interviews atop 9,400′ Mt. Baden-Powell — a challenging hike in itself.
Here’s the full text of his flyer:
85 YEAR “YOUNG” MALE SEEKS
FEMALE HIKER, FOR SATURDAY HIKES.
SON AND DAUGHTER SAY “DON’T HIKE SOLO.”
A PAL ALONG IS FINE; TO HIKE WITH A LADY, IS
LIKE A GENTLE BREEZE AND WARM SUNSHINE.
TRAIL NAME: DON VIEJO. 5′ 6″ TALL. 130 LBS.
FEMALE HIKER QUALIFICATIONS:
1. SINGLE, OVER 40 YEARS OLD.
2. ABLE TO HIKE OVER 10 MILES.
3. HIKES RANGE FROM 4 TO 12 MILES.
PERKS: DOOR TO DOOR TRANSPORTATION.
LUNCH OR DINNER AFTER HIKE.
INTERVIEW DATE: SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 2014.
HOURS: HIGH NOON TO 2 PM.
INTERVIEW SITE: TOP OF MT. BADEN-POWELL,
9400′ ELEVATION, NEAR BOY SCOUT MONUMENT
LOOK FOR “VIEJO” SIGN. O.K. TO BRING MAKE OR
FEMALE PERSON, AS COMFORT-ZONE BACKUP.
I’M NOT VERY FAST.
I’M NOT VERY SLOW.
I JUST KEEP HIKING,
TO GET WHERE I GO.
I’M PART WALTER MITTY.
I’M PART PETER PAN.
I HIKE PRETTY GOOD
FOR A “MIDDLE AGE” MAN.
HIKE WITH THANKS A MOUNTAIN HIGH,
UNDER A SUNNY BRIGHT BLUE SKY.
626-285-2520. GIVE FIRST NAME. LEAVE MESSAGE.
I’ve got to say, he’s got a lot of spunk for 85 years! Ladies? Any takers?
good luck brother!
I second that wish and sure hope you find a hiking partner! Keep us posted.
We saw his note halfway up Mt. Baldy yesterday! Glad to see you’re trying to help him out.
Any news on this gentleman? Did he find his hiking buddy!?
I caught this on the San Gabriel Mountain Discussion Forum and was curious how it turned out. I had done Baden Powell the two weekends prior to his date with destiny but three in a row was a bit too much.
And, unless I’m mistaken, I believe this is the same man who was forced to spend the night up there in January and found the next day.
http://www.kcet.org/living/travel/socal_wanderer/national-forests/missing-hiker-found-in-angeles-national-forest.html
SURE hope this STUD found what he was looking for.
Hello Jeff. Help! I am Don Viejo’s daughter. He just mailed me this letter. Please share this message and ask other people to share. My dad is one of a kind! Thanks, Kelly Jo.
HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM DON VIEJO,
TO A QUARTET OF BEAUTIFUL LADIES.
WE MET ON NEW YEARS DAY, JANUARY 1,2015,
AT THE HENNIGER FLATS HIKING TRAIL, ENTRY SIGN MONUMENT.
I TOOK YOUR PICTURE. YOUR NAMES WERE:
DEBORAH
AMY
BARBARA
LADY WITH CAMERA
I TOLD THE STORY ABOUT THE “BOILED RAT”, AND A POEM.
“I HIKE FOR HEALTH AND PLEASURE.
I SEARCH NOT FOR GOLD OR GAIN.
I KNOW THAT I AM CRAZY,
BUT I’M GLAD, I’M NOT INSANE.”
I WOULD LIKE TO HIKE WITH DEBORAH, BUT DO NOT KNOW HER LAST NAME
THIS MESSAGE IS FLYING BLIND LIKE A SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSION.
MY EMAIL IS vaho@att.net
“QUE SERA, SERA,
WHAT EVER WILL BE, WILL BE.
THE FUTURE’S NOT OURS TO SEE,
QUE, SERA, SERA.”
We met up with Don Viejo on the Registry Trail to Mt Baldy. He is such an inspiration, he had a great sense of humor telling us jokes along the way, he even spoke Spanish, he just kept surprising us. He made it to the summit and came back down with us. Whomever he choses to hike with is lucky to have him. Good luck Don!
My friends and I had pleasure to hike with him last Saturday on the way up to San Antonio Mountain via Registry Trail. He is a very delightful young man and I am hoping to share some trails with him again in the near future.
I wish him luck on his search!