Alisal Ranch operator’s fitness journey has taken him to an abbreviated father-son hike in Hawaii and back again
When you hear the name C.J. Jackson, you automatically associate it with the Alisal Ranch and you would be correct. Jackson’s family has owned and operated the ranch since it was purchased in 1943. Dating back to 1810, the 10,700-acre Alisal Ranch has a history of cattle, thoroughbred horses, and farming.
“My father took over the business of the Alisal from my grandfather, who purchased it in 1943 as a place to winter his cattle,” said Jackson. “My grandfather was a cattleman from Marfa, Texas, born in Albany, New York.”
Jackson remembers short trips to the Santa Ynez Valley with his family — ones he took reluctantly.
“My parents and extended family live in Montecito and have for generations,” he said. “When I had to accompany my parents up to the Valley, it was the last place I wanted to be, because I had friends and a life in Montecito and the Valley was the last place I wanted to visit — the place was as dull as dishwater when I was 13.”
At 18, Jackson went to Connecticut to study at Yale, “getting as far away from here as I could get.” After graduating from Yale, he continued on to graduate school, attending Claremont Graduate School, near Pomona, where he met his wife, Mary.
Living in Los Angeles County was not ideal for the Jacksons.
“In 1995 my wife and I moved to the Valley, mostly to get out of Los Angeles County. My wife was a farmer’sdaughter, so she had to have enough space for animals and a very large garden,” said Jackson. “I came here basically to find myself. I was a banker at the time, and that profession didn’t hold any promise for me on future horizons. I was a round peg in a square hole. But my banking experience helped my father with real estate lease-hold issues, and in 2006, I formally took over running Rancho Alisal and then the Alisal Cattle Ranch.”
Jackson, 67 years young, was born in Santa Barbara County and has lived in Solvang for the past 30 years. He has been a member of many boards and organizations, such as the Dunn School Board of Trustees and the Santa Ynez Valley Foundation, and was the director of the Santa Ynez Valley Economic Forecast Group, to name but a few. He is presently on the board of the Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation, having served on it for 27 years. His focus has always been on the well-being of the Alisal and the community in which he lives. But unfortunately, his ownwell-being was ignored.
“I was pretty out of shape, having had a hip replacement in February 2019, just before COVID hit and we were not permitted to gather for business purposes in my office. My doctor said I was borderline diabetic, and overweight, and I didn’t feel in control of my own destiny,” Jackson admitted. “My friend Richard Crutchfield, who was 80 at the time, guilted me out of my recliner to begin walking. The first day we got up to about a quarter mile, then progressed with regular walks, eventually accomplishing 15 miles a week — five-mile outings three times a week. That took about nine months to accomplish. I combined my walks and my work responsibilities, meeting residents and maintenance andcattle ranch employees while practicing social distancing outdoors during my walks. My orthopedist approved.”
“I was feeling better walking and joked around saying it was an even better workout for my jaw muscles, because on these walks we never stopped talking.”
Then, Jackson took it even further.
“Since I was feeling better, I coordinated a group of people — a local nutritionist, Nancy Dale; my primary care physician, Dr. William Heringer; a personal trainer, Nick Simon, with Academia Sports Performance Lab in Solvang, formerly called LIFT; and Richard, of course — to help me with my goal of getting healthy, and slimmer to look better in my clothes by losing 50 pounds,” Jackson said. “Initially my nutritionist put me on a program which helped me lose some weight, but it was slow going. My doctor saw improvement and challenged me to go further, and my personaltrainer put me on a program that included aspects of physical therapy to enhance my athletic capability, improving my balance, flexibility, and range of movement. I even started skiing with my grandchildren, hiking, and even backpacking.”
For inspiration, Jackson would hang up a one-size-too-small pair of jeans on the wall of his home office. As he lost weight, he would hang another smaller pair, then another, his goal being to fit into a pair with a size 32 waist, which he is still working towards accomplishing.
“I was getting healthy, but I still needed to lose some weight,” said Jackson. “So, my nutritionist put me on a specific plan that she thought matched my personality, and I subsequently lost 30 pounds in 30 days. I lost seven pounds in the first week, so I was very motivated to continue. My doctor said, ‘Whatever you are doing, don’t stop.’ All of my team dovetailed into an overall health program that was working for me.”
Then, an extraordinary opportunity arose for father and son to spend some time together backpacking in Hawaii. Jackson’s son, J.P., who is a backpacking enthusiast and guide, received notification from Napali Coast State Park in Kauai, Hawaii, granting him and two others permission to spend four days and three nights camping and backpacking in the park, a long sought-after goal.
“He had been applying for the permit by lottery for 10 years,” Jackson said. “He has been working for the past 12 years as an outfitter and backpacking and rafting guide, leading groups of people interested in outdoor adventures in national parks all over the country, such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Sequoia, and Death Valley.
Jackson also said, proudly, of his son, “He is a wilderness first-responder. Presently he works at the Alisal as a naturalist, working as a hiking guide and star gazer, and is in the process of researching a local outdoor venture.”
Once J.P. had the permit in hand, Jackson and son started getting ready.
“The permit was for three people, so I immediately volunteered to go on a father/son adventure,” Jackson said. “We had roughly 90 days to prepare for the 23-mile hike on a four-day/three-night campout. My son made all the arrangements and preparations and acquired the needed gear. I started wearing my 40-pound backpack on my walks with Richard.”
The day arrived for father and son to fly to Hawaii and begin their adventure. But their adventure took an unexpected turn for the worse.
“We landed in Kauai and spent two days in advance of the hike sightseeing on the island, which was beautiful,” said Jackson. “On the day of the hike we were told that it had rained the night before and early that morning, and they warned us about the slippery red clay. But we were prepared. I was wearing the best equipment and shoes and carriedpoles, so I felt secure to begin the hike. We got about a mile and a half up the trail before I slipped and fell on my back. The backpack broke my fall but unfortunately my left foot got lodged between two rocks, and I tore my quadriceps. If I had not lodged my foot between the rocks, I would have just gotten up and continued. I wanted to continue anyway, but my son, being a wilderness first-responder, said absolutely ‘no,’ and he was in charge. It was heartbreaking that we couldn’t continue the hike. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. Who knows, I could have slipped and fallen on my face further up the trail and been in a worse position.”
The hike back took twice as long, and Jackson said he remembers every painful step of the way.
“My son had to carry both our 40-pound backpacks, and I was able to walk back on my own, but I can remember every single step of the hike back,” said Jackson. “We went to a nice little critical access hospital that diagnosed my situation, and we sadly flew back home. My son can reapply for a new permit to hike the trail in six months.”
Despite the disappointment, Jackson chose to put a positive spin on the Hawaii trip.
“Initially I had wanted to use my story at the Alisal for the guests, but I realized the ending didn’t quite fit the story I had planned on telling,” he said. “It was then that I realized there was another story to be told about my journey to better health that everyone needed to hear. It’s never too late to start to get in shape, all you need is the desire, determination, willpower, and friends who support you on your journey. I was fortunate that I was surrounded by people and resources that enabled and supported me on my journey to better health — and of whom are specific to our Valley.”
Jackson’s training buddy agrees.
“Occasionally C.J. and I will meet in the parking lot of the River Golf Course, readying for our walk, and one of us will say, ‘If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here this morning,’” said Crutchfield. “It’s really important to have the support of a friend.”
For those who are inspired by Jackson’s story to get fit and healthy again, no matter your age, his advice for the first step is to find a friend and start walking, and then, don’t stop and be consistent. There are also many exercise and nutrition podcasts available on the web that can help you achieve your goals.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the full version of the story. An abridged version of the story can be found in the July 15-Aug. 4 print edition of the Santa Ynez Valley Star.
