The Villages Hiking Club held its annual Summer BBQ on Thursday, July 12th, beginning at 5:30 pm at Gazebo Park. There was a Cornhole Game set-up and ready for action plus a few “surprise” games. BBQ included your choice of a hamburger, salmon burger or veggie black bean burger with all the trimmings, baked beans, cole slaw and dessert.
Liz Giarratana led a relaxing, walking, talking and gawking urban hike through the historic older part of Willow Glen in central San Jose on Wednesday, July 11th. The three-hour history walk took us through architecturally unique neighborhoods of Victorian, Craftsman, Spanish Mission, and many other home styles. Liz’s presentation was very interesting and informative.
Rich Bainbridge led a group on Saturday, July 7th on a 6 mile hike starting at the first parking lot and hiking along Coyote Trail to the PGE Trail to Wildcat Loop and return. The elevation gain was 700ft.
Nancy Rumple on Saturday, June 30th led the long hikers from the park headquarters at Big Basin on a moderate 8 mile hike up to the Mt. McAbee Overlook for views of the Pacific Ocean and on the Sequoia Trail to view the Sempervirens Falls.
Katy Peretti led a hike to Montgomery Hill off of Yerba Buena and behind Evergreen College. They hiked back to the Villages by way of Starbuck’s Coffee Shop. The walk was approximately 3-4 miles.
Susan Brown led a hike along the shady South Rim Trail of Alum Rock Park. The hike was 4-5 miles long with an elevation difference of about 500 ft., but trail grades were generally very gentle.
Randy Cisneroz and Ramon Reza led a loop hike from the Villages to and across nearby Bentley Ridge: Cribari Center/San Felipe/Larkspur/Bentley Ridge Drive/Yerba Buena/Hounds Estates/Cribari Center. They stopped at the Starbucks on the corner of San Felipe and Yerba Buena for coffee and snacks. Hike length was about 5 miles with modest and gradual elevation at the beginning of the hike.
Rich and Wendy led a hike in our Hills from Foothill Center to the Mail Box on Saturday June 16th.
Wate and Johanna Bakker led hikes on the trails around Mt. Umunhum. Both Long Hikers and Ramblers started at the top parking lot where they were able to visit the nearby exhibits, and enjoy the panoramic views before descending on the trail towards Mt. Baldy. Ramblers hiked to the first observation deck before returning to the parking lot, a distance of approximately 3.5 miles. Long Hikers hiked to end of the trail and returned, a distance of approximately 7.5 miles. Trails were engineered to maintain a consistent 10% grade. Total elevation for the long hikers was approximately 1150 feet, less for Ramblers.
Wate Bakker led six long hikers in Long Ridge Open Space . The hike consisted of eight to nine miles with 1500 ft. elevation The ramblers hiked about five miles.
