Author: Jim Beyer

Susan Brown and Jim Beyer led a self-guided walking tour of the Stanford University Campus. They visited the 285 ft. Hoover Tower and museum, where the Hoover Institution and archives are housed but the tower wasn’t open. They did view an exhibition of the Vietnam conflict and then proceeded to the Memorial Church, considered Stanford’s architectural “crown jewel”. Afterward they ate at the Tresidder Student Union. The tour ended at the Cantor Art Museum, which houses one of the largest collections of Rodin sculptures outside of Paris.

Hoover  tower

Memorial Church

Group at the Gates of Hell Sculpture

 

Guy Hoover led a leisurely hike around the perimeter of Treasure Island on Saturday, September 29th. The distance was approximately 4.5 miles over flat terrain. Panoramic views of San Francisco, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Island, Oakland and the Bay Bridge were seen. The group visited the monthly outdoor market and had lunch at the fest.

 

John Petrin led a hike from Oak Meadow Park, east along Los Gatos Creek to the Purple Onion Cafe, (for coffee/treats) and back. The round trip was about 4 miles and passed by Los Gatos Lake/Dam.

 

The club traveled to Point Reyes a prominent cape and popular Northern California tourist destination on the Pacific coast from Tuesday, September 18th through Thurday the 20th for the fall outing. It is located in Marin County approximately 30 miles west-northwest of San Francisco. The term is often applied to the Point Reyes Peninsula, the region is bounded by Tomales Bay on the northeast and Bolinas Lagoon on the southeast. The headland is protected as part of Point Reyes National Seashore. On Tuesday the group traveled north to The Presidio National Park at the Golden Gate Bridge. From there, they enjoyed a leisurely hike along the Ecology Trail.  In addition to the fauna and flora, the Ecology Trail also boasts access to arguably the best viewing area in the Presidio (it’s hard to choose – there are so many!) At Inspiration Point Overlook they enjoyed an eyeful of the bay, Alcatraz (or “The Rock”), Angel Island, and Andy Goldsworthy’s imposing Spire sculpture to the west. From there they took a connecting trail to  El Polín Spring, a wildlife hotspot, where hummingbirds and butterflies dance. 

At Point Reyes, Rich Bainbridge led a 6 mile round-trip hike on the Tomales Point Trail through the Tule Elk Reserve with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, Bodega Bay, and Tomales Bay to the stock pond at the site of the Lower Pierce Point Ranch. 
Blackie’s pasture trail was the second hike available. Blackie was a celebrated, swaybacked, retired cavalry horse that once roamed here. Soon after beginning the group passed the coastal mudflats of Richardson Bay, transition zones between land and sea that host a wide variety of plants and wildlife. A bird—and birder’s—paradise, Richardson Bay hosts more than 1 million migratory birds every year, along with a diverse mix of year-round residents, including great blue herons, snowy egrets and red-tailed hawks. Breathtaking views of the bay started here, and they stayed for the remainder of the trail,

 

 

The Hiking Club held their fall BBQ at The Gazebo on Thursday, September 13. The Goat Hill Girls performed for the club to a record crowd of 120 guests. Their uniquely American music bluegrass sound was performed by five talented musicians. Wendy Ledamun did a great job along with her talented helpers that made it all possible.

 

Hikers took a 8 mile hike with 1000ft elevation gain through the Redwoods led by Nancy Rumple. They hiked down the rocky Loop-Merry-go-Round trails, across Tie Camp, up Ridge, Contour and Blackhawk Trails to the Azalea picnic area for lunch.They also visited the Giant Twin Redwood Trees as they wound their way back up to the Park headquarters.

 

Rich Bainbridge and Wendy Ledamun led a hike along Coyote Creek Trail. The trail was flat and easy hiking.

 

Al Girolami led a hike to Calero County Park.  They took the Access Trail and then did a Loop consisting of the Figueroa, Pena and Los Cerritos Trails. Distance was less than 4 miles and less than 300 ft. elevation gain. This hike is one of the 2018 Santa Clara County Park’s Magnificent 7 (Google: #PixinParks for further information).  

 

Susan Brown led a hike in Alum Rock Park. Some of the hikers went up to moderately hilly Sycamore Switch Back Trail to Inspiration Point and some went a shorter distance. They parked the cars at Noble Library on 3355 Noble Ave which is a mile from the park. They then hiked part of Penitentia Creek Park to Alum Rock Park and back. Total mileage for long hikers was about 9.6 miles and about 5 for the Ramblers.

 

Sy Gelman led a hike on the Los Alamitos Trail. The hike began at the south end of Almaden Lake Park and followed the Los Alamitos Creek Trail to the Camden parking lot,for a distance of approximately 3 miles.