A group o
f local hikers recently took on the challenge of hiking all 83 miles of the Santa Clara River.
Denny Truger, Robert Grzesiak, and Ron Nichols met at the Placerita Canyon Nature Center, where they are all docents, and have been hiking together for years. Grzesiak moved to the Santa Clarita valley over 20 years ago and has always dreamed of accomplishing the hike along the Santa Clara River. His dream inspired the group and they began planning their journey months ago.
The trio had originally planned the trip to take place over a span of two to three days, but after greater research realized it would more realistic and enjoyable to stretch the trip out over a longer period of time, according to the hikers.
Before embarking, t
he trio had to research maps of the river and plot out their routes to ensure their safety.
“The trip took place over 19 days and we hiked over 100 miles after zig zagging through different parts of the river,” Truger said.
Each day the group hiked an average of five to six miles and Truger used his GoPro to document the trip. Along the way, the group identified numerous non-native and endangered plant and animal types such as the arundo donax and the two-striped guarder snake.
“The whole trip was unique, but I enjoyed the fact that we ran into water right away and were able to see cray fish, which are rare,” Truger said.
The group hopes to hike some of the smaller basins leading into the Santa Clara river in the future.
At the end of their trip Truger put together a presentation of some of his over 3,000 pictures taken to present at an event held by the Placerita Canyon Nature Center.
The Placerita Canyon Nature Center hosted the event to allow the group to showcase their trip and educate the community about the nature surrounding our valley.
He says their journey ended up being an educational experience for both the hikers and those they were able to share their findings with at the recent event.
Truger encourages the community to get involved with the nature center and to check out everything it has to offer.
By Tamara Sosa
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11 Comments
Arrest them like those homeless people who got kicked out of the shelter
Great job, guys! I hadn’t heard about this until reading the story just now. I hope there is an additional presentation about this trip.
Not the same thing
Good for them this River has so much to offer we don’t realize how much our homes and business have on our environment. Its good to see that all we try to do here in SVC is doing our wild areas some good at least. to see and hear that there is water and wildlife there is good for a change. I remember riding from the Stables that were behind Magic Mountain into the Santa Clara River, it was beautiful. The stables are gone but I will never forget the quiet and peace of riding there.
Kory, that makes zero sense. Zero.
Now this is news…..bring back Saugus speed way..what the hell happened to Santa Clarita….I used to ride all over SCV if it ain’t the cops messing with us it’s some transplant complaining.the good ol days…..
Brian Smith Michael Smith
I think calling it a “river” is an exaggeration
world’s famous. THE WASH
That salt ridden wash? The one where the salty water comes in and they are trying to shake down Santa Clarita to remove the excess salt from it?
That salt ridden wash? The one where the salty water comes in and they are trying to shake down Santa Clarita to remove the excess salt from it?