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?