They’re scientists and teachers, boaters and pilots, curious wanderers and hard-core adventurers. They’re Santa Barbara families, couples from the Midwest, and lone wolves on a mission. They’re all members of the elite All 8 Club, a group of 176 people who have set foot on every one of California’s Channel Islands — “set foot” being the operative term; underwater scuba touches don’t count.
Created in 1994 by Marla Daily — President of the Santa Cruz Island Foundation and the reigning queen mother of all things Channel Islands — the club may be the most exclusive geographic company in the world. By contrast, there are more than 800 members of the 7 Summits Club, who have climbed the continents’ tallest peaks.
Daily was first on the list and accepted 11 new inductees last year. She said it takes an average of 10 years to reach all the islands. Photographic proof is required. It’s not easy becoming an All 8-er, Daily explained — San Clemente and San Nicolas Island are controlled by the U.S. Navy, which doesn’t take kindly to unannounced visitors, though occasionally allows access to researchers and restoration volunteers.