Saturday, September 5, John Trudeau led a hike in the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve near Lexington Reservoir and Los Gatos. We took the Limekiln Trail from Alma Bridge Road to Priest Rock and return via the Priest Rock trail for a distance of 7.8 miles round trip and about 1100 feet elevation gain. Although the beginning of the trail was shaded, most of it was exposed. The Sierra Azul OSP has the beauty and ruggedness of an unspoiled wilderness. There are great views of serpentine grasslands, hard, rocky, and steep chaparral, dense stands of bay trees, or quiet, shaded oak woodland forests.
