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81-Year-Old Woman Completes Rigorous 67-Mile Horseback Ride in Santa Monica Mountains

Santa Monica Mountains Trails Council
Ruth Gerson. Jeanne Wallace, Janet Peterson, Tracey Potter and Kimberly Gustafson returning from their 67-mile horseback ride on the Backbone Trail.

An 81-year-old Conejo Valley woman has reached her goal of horseback riding for 67 miles through the Santa Monica Mountains. 

Ruth Gerson, along with four of her female friends, returned on Saturday from a six-day ride on the newly completed Backbone Trail. The five women started Monday from Point Mugu State Park in Ventura County and ended at Will Rogers State Historic Park in Los Angeles.

"I guess it was the challenge of going through different areas of the Santa Monica Mountains and going on the trails that are there and seeing what my horse and I could accomplish," said Gerson about the ride.

She rode the trail on horseback 25 years ago but decided to ride it again since it has recently been completed and officially designated as a National Recreation Trail.