Johanna Ellis is a member of the board of directors of the Laguna Beach Historical Society. She grew up nearby and encountered Eiler Larsen a number of times as a child when her family passed through town on their way north or south.
In 1930 Eiler Larsen set out on what is the first recorded attempt of what we call an Appalachian Trail thru-hike. He didn't make it in one year. He got a little distracted.