During the morning devotional Jan. 13, Noemi Bravo told the story of Moses climbing Mt. Sinai, then pivoted to the Coast to Crest Trail Challenge.
“These six individuals really climbed the mountain,” Bravo said of six recent finishers from San Diego Rescue Mission.
Bravo, an education and career development coordinator at the mission, said that she too completed the series of five hikes at locations up and down the San Dieguito River watershed.
“Pushing through to the peak of the mountain is where you get the best view of life,” she said.
Her congratulations included certificates and gifts from the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy, which organizes the annual hiking challenge.
The challenge aligns with the rescue mission’s goals to promote personal growth, overcome homelessness and rebuild lives, she said.
The mission’s recovery curriculum includes wellness programs to equip participants with tools to achieve lasting personal transformation. Within this holistic approach, hiking as a group serves to build confidence, resilience and community.
Like anyone on the journey to recovery, Coast to Crest Trail Challengers push through discomfort to gain that hard-earned sense of achievement.
One participant, Rita, said she appreciated the support of her fellow hikers and that thanks to being sober, she was able to feel every emotion and every muscle during the hikes.
“It was rough,” she said. “My body’s not used to it.”
The collaboration between the conservancy and rescue mission reflects a shared belief in the transformative power of nature. Beyond the physical journey through the trees and brush, the challenge provides a metaphorical climb to the mountaintop, empowering individuals to see new possibilities for their futures.
San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy Executive Director Cheryl Goddard attended the ceremony and praised the participants for their accomplishments.
“The Coast to Crest Trail Challenge isn’t easy,” Goddard told the group. “It takes grit and determination. It’s a powerful reminder that every step forward matters — on the trail and in life.”
Learn more at sdrvc.org.
Adam Kaye writes for the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy. Nonprofit groups, public agencies, local businesses and organizations of varying interests are welcome to share their news by submitting press releases for publication. Send yours to news[at]northcoastcurrent.com. Submissions are edited for news style and brevity.