ABOUT CATALINA BACKCOUNTRY
Catalina Backcountry is family owned and operated.
Our passionate naturalists love the island and love sharing the secret places that make it special.
Who we are
WHO WE ARE
Pastor Lopez
Catalina Mountain Man & Stargazer
A lifelong surfer and island explorer, Pastor enjoys sharing Catalina Folklore and knowledge, gained from a lifetime in Catalina's backcountry.
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Linda Salo
World Adventurer & Catalina Trail Master
An avid hiker and world traveler, Linda has journeyed to seven continents! Having hiked and trekked in a number of amazing and beautiful places, it is the rugged beauty of Catalina Island that speaks to her soul. With a long family history of visiting the Island, Linda moved to Avalon full time in 1992, where she is a community-wide volunteer, serves on a number of nonprofit Boards and can often be found enjoying the many trails that cover the Island’s interior. Always ready for the next adventure!
Mary Schickling
Enthusiastic Tour Guide & Comic Relief
Mary also hails from the majestic Pacific Northwest but, instead of braving rugged terrain, she braved rugged crowds as a stand up comedian.
She moved to the Island in 1994 after performing for a week at the Catalina Comedy Club. The Island cast its spell & Mary stayed. She got married, raised a daughter & developed a love of the trails. She joined Catalina Backcountry in 2014 and can't seem to keep the humor at bay while leading a group of explorers experiencing the beauty of our little island.