Faces of West County: Leo Bergbauer

Catching up with long-distance hiker Leo Bergbauer

We caught up with Leo Bergbauer the other day, but only because a bum ankle finally was bad enough that he came off the trail to rest. More on that later. 

Leo grew up here in Sebastopol and is one of those kids who very soon after high school ended was outta here. His boundless energy comes with a near constant happy smile. He is a driven young man and has a very real goal that he’s pursuing. It’s the Triple Crown! 

Here’s Leo. 

Where and when were you born Leo? 

Philly, 1996. I’m 27 now. 

How did you get to Sebastopol? 

My parents moved out here when I was two years old. They wanted to live in a co-housing community, and one was forming out here. 

And when did you leave? 

A week after graduating from high school. And I never looked back. 

Me too! I think I left Cleveland within 48 hours of finishing high school. Which high school did you graduate from? 

Analy. Go Tigers!!!!  (Leo laughs.) 

Weren’t you at a Waldorf school for a while? 

Yeah. K-6. I went to Sunridge, and then to Twin Hills. I remember my eyes opening up in 7th grade when I got there. It was a different world. 

Here’s something funny I remember. You were a neighbor of ours here at Two Acre Wood (co-housing), and I remember that at some point, when you were at the Waldorf-inspired school, we inherited underwear from you. There were action heroes printed on them, and your Waldorf school didn’t allow that. 

I’m glad someone got to use them! 

So from Twin Hills, you made your way to Analy. Was there any one teacher there who really left an impression on you? 

Absolutely. Coach Elwood. The reason is, that he used to tape up both of my ankles before every football game. He was passionate about sports, but he was just as passionate about helping each of us succeed. 

So your ankles have been an issue for a while. Were you any good at football? 

Freshman year, I sat on the bench at 105 pounds. 

Sounds like a safe place to watch the game. 

But not so much fun. Then I popped up to 150 pounds and was a starter after that, playing both offense and defense. I loved it! I’ve been 150 pounds ever since. 

Does anything else stand out about high school? 

Yeah. Coach Maloney’s woodshop class. He was another teacher who was a bit of a mentor. Another good guy who really cared about us. And I loved creating stuff in shop. 

So did you go right on to college or what? 

Better than that. A week after high school, I left for Europe for four months with two good friends, Matt and Johah. We actually started off in Israel, and then made our way west, to Greece, Italy, and Spain. I finished the trip on my own, working in a surfers hostel in Portugal. 

Wow. You were only 18? 

Yup. 

So then you returned to the states and went right to college, right? 

Nope. I moved to South Lake Tahoe and became a ski bum. I was a lift operator at Kirkwood. 

Oh yeah. I remember you telling us how all the lifties were always so stoned. You know, as a skier, that didn’t make me feel any better. 

Yup. That’s true. We were all high. I finished that season with a nasty fall, landing on my head snowboarding. I fell about six feet off a rail and scorpioned my back. (Bending the back way back like a scorpion, I’m assuming.) Compressed my vertebrae. 

That’s when you went to college? 

Nope. I moved back to my favorite town, this one, to heal at my parent’s place. It took six long months to fully heal. Snowboarding is still my favorite sport, but that was a hard six months. 

Then I moved to Santa Cruz, and that’s been home ever since. 

And I did go to college! I went to Cabrillo JC and ended up getting a degree in horticulture and landscape design. I started working in landscaping at 20, and after 5 years, started my own business. 

Well done Leo! I know you’re a passionate guy, and one thing you’ve become passionate about is backpacking and mountaineering. 

Oh yeah. The real story begins. At least my recent story. 

I decided to walk the Pacific Coast Trail in ’22. It took me six months to cover 2,500 miles. That’s about 14 miles a day, without days off. 

Amazing. Did you do it alone? 

I started out alone, but you hook up with people on the trail, and end up hiking together. I had three different friend groups. 

Were you ever hurt or sick? 

Never. And I never saw a bear! 

That PCT hike really opened me up to the world of long-distance backpacking. 

So what was your next walkabout? 

I went back to work to fund my next adventure. That brings me to this current journey. I wanted to walk 6,000 miles in 12 months! I started Dec. 1, 2023, in New Zealand and did 800 miles covering the whole south island. 

It’s supposed to be stunning. And then? 

I started the Appalachian Trail in Georgia and did 1,300 miles before a sprained ankle forced me off the trail in order to heal. I got as far as New York. That means I was doing 20 miles a day with a full pack. My goal for a full day on the trail is to do a whole marathon: 26.2 miles! 

How long are you giving yourself to heal? 

I’m hoping to get going again in a month. (Leo shows me his countdown timer on his phone.) 

I can’t wait to get back out there.  

And what trail is next for you to get your 6,000 miles done? 

The plan is to do the Continental Divide Trail, southbound from Montana. The CDT is 3,100 miles from the Canadian border to the Mexican border in New Mexico. 

Don’t you ever get lonely on the trail? 

I do, yes, but never for more than a day or two. I’m lucky that I make friends so easily. 

Leo. I’m no psychiatrist, but your hiking compulsion feels a little like an OCD thing. 

I don’t think so. I just want the Triple Crown: the PCT, AT, and the CDT. Then I’ll go back to work. 

How are you going to keep your ankles healthy with so many miles to go? 

Tape! Coach Elwood style. 

So what’s your favorite hike around here? 

I love the Eastern Sierras. Is that around here? 

Close enough. 

So Leo. Do you know who you’re voting for in November? 

It won’t be Biden. 

Really?!? Why’s that? 

He’s too old. And not a very good leader. 

Okay. Sorry to hear that. You know something, let’s not go there. 

Perfect. 

Leo, I know that your Grandpa Paul died recently. He was a remarkable, full-on character. Did he instill a sense of adventure in you? 

He was a very social guy and always had a positive outlook on life. I suppose I carry a part of him in all these adventures. But it’s probably my dad, Harry, who really instilled in me a love for nature and taking on big challenges, and being so positive about life. 

Do you want to close with a saying that means something to me? 

Sure. What do you got? 

“Shoot for the moon, and even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” 

Seems like you’re living that idea. Thanks Leo. What a perfect time in your life to be pursuing your dream of the Triple Crown. Much luck in your big adventure.