Villages Hiking Club, San Jose, CA

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General Membership Meeting

Roaming High and Low in South America

If you’ve ever wondered about going to South America without visiting Patagonia, then please join Gordon Carbonetti who will talk about his 2025 trip to South America during the Hiking Club club’s meeting on Monday, August 31 at 7 p.m. at Foothill Center. Along with wife Loretta and daughter Courtney, their 19-day adventure involved stops in Peru, Bolivia and Chile, with many spots above 10,000 feet elevation.

Many sites visited were archaeologically and historically significant, and of cultural interest. Highlighting Peru were visits to Lima, Cusco, Ollantaytambo, and Machu Picchu all with much Inca history. Travel to Bolivia focused on the capital of La Paz (world’s highest capital city) and the Tiwanaku/Puma Punku World Heritage Site. Lastly, stops in Chile were the capital Santiago, Vina del Mar and Rapa Nui (Easter Island), which is famous for its massive stone statues called Moai. Easter Island, in the Pacific 5 hours by air from Santiago, is also one of the most remote and isolated places on earth. Happily, Easter Island returned us to sea level.

Gordon also plans to talk about how they traveled to and around South America, including some information on the tours and accommodations, as well as showing many photos.

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Hiking Schedule

Click on the link to get the updated hiking schedule for the next month.

Grant Ranch County Park Hike – July 16, 2026

Fifteen intrepid hikers headed for the backcountry of Grant Ranch County Park on July 16th. We all met at the Smith Creek CDF Fire Station at the base of Mt. Hamilton, then proceeded up the Foothill Trail and south on the Manzanita Trail for a 3-mile round trip. The weather cooperated, and we had a comfortable stroll through oak woodlands and grass meadows. From our halfway point, we could see the backside ridge top of the various Villages Hillside trails and Transmission towers.

The second part of the hike was along Smith Creek, a bucolic shaded trail of 1.5 miles round trip. We all returned to The Villages safe and sound before 2 pm.

Golf Course Walk – July 13, 2026

Hill Hike – July 11, 2026

Half Moon Bay July 10, 2026

Thirteen Ramblers enjoyed a beautiful 6-mile coastal hike at Half Moon Bay on July 10th. Although much of California was experiencing summer heat, we were treated to a pleasantly cool day along the coast.

The trail was especially scenic, with large areas covered in blooming evening primroses and scattered California poppies adding splashes of color to the landscape.

Along the way, we met Hanne, a former club member, who shared a couple of local sayings about Half Moon Bay weather: “no-Sky July” and “Foggiest August”–reminders of the unique coastal climate that keeps the area cool during the summer months.

About halfway through our hike, we stopped for a simple and tasty lunch at The Barn, enjoyed a short rest, and then completed the second half of our journey refreshed and energized.

Thank you to everyone who joined for another enjoyable Rambler adventure along the beautiful Half Moon Bay coast! Weny, Michele, John, Theresa, Phil, Mary, Ali, Matt, Joan, Wendy, Hanne, Pam, Mimi, John Zhang.

Golf Course Walk July 6, 2026

First Villages golf course walk after the 250th USA Celebration, July 6, 2026…15 Villagers enjoyed the walk and awesome weather!!!

Leader: Guy Hoover, Sweep: Chery Allmen, Photographer: Helen Ware.

Happy Hollow Zoo – June 25, 2026

On June 25, Kathy Tanaka led a group of Villages through Happy Hollow Zoo for Senior Safari where they saw an anteater and other animals and rode the carousel. They also toured the beautiful Japanese Friendship Garden and learned some history of the gardens.