Santa Cruz Island

I was saddened to read of the upcoming eviction of Francis Gherini from his ranch on Santa Cruz Island (Oct. 3).

This summer, my wife and I were privileged to participate in a run from Gherini’s Scorpion Ranch to Smuggler’s Cove and back, along with about 200 other runners. It was a beautiful day we will never forget; our violation of the island was our footfalls on the established trails.

After the National Park Service takes over Gherini’s portion of the island, excursions like ours will be a thing of the past, and the island will be returned to what park officials deem to be its natural state, 20 miles off the coast, so that no one will ever again be able to enjoy it as we did this summer.

Thanks for the memories, Mr. Gherini.

ERNEST CHALEKSON