def self.get_trails_from_api()
        
    #get the list of trails from the api

    trails = []

    trail1 = {}
    trail1[:name] = "Trail A"
    trail1[:length] = 20
    trail1[:summary] = "Trail A summary"
    trails << trail1

    trail2 = {}
    trail2[:name] = "Trail B"
    trail2[:length] = 30
    trail2[:summary] = "Trail B summary"
    trails << trail2

    trail3 = {}
    trail3[:name] = "Trail C"
    trail3[:length] = 30
    trail3[:summary] = "Trail C summary"
    trails << trail3

    trails

end