Author: Jim Beyer

Johanna Bakker led a hike in the lower hills on Wednesday, March 21st. They met at the upper gardens at 8:30 for a 8:45 departure. The hike was up Sky to Cougar, to Richter, to Oak, up Oak to Buffalo, then Buffalo to Thistle, Meadow to Farm and then Richter and Cougar back to the parking lot.  The hiking distance was about 3 miles.

Amy Meier led a hike in Windy Hill Preserve of approximately 7.5 miles with a 1,200 ft. elevation gain on Saturday, March 10th, starting at the Portola Road entrance and hiking a loop on Hamms Gulch and Spring Ridge trails. There were fourteen people that hiked the ridge and gully at Windy Hill. They saw purple, pink and white trillium. Other wildflowers are starting to bloom also. 3 people hiked the ridge both ways. Excellent views everywhere.

Trillum

Hounds Tooth

Brad Hinckley led a hike to Santa Teresa County Park on Wednesday, March 7th.  The hike was about 4 miles with a 800 foot elevation gain. There were wild flowers along the trail.

 

A large Rambler contingent enjoyed a morning hike through the Villages hill lands on Wednesday, February 28th.  Many of the hikers were experiencing our open spaces for the first or second time.  Two groups were formed.  One group took a short 2 mile hike with moderate elevation; the second group charted a more challenging and longer hike. 

The hike scheduled today was rescheduled to our hills trails due to lack of participation. The group had a pleasant hike with great weather.

Gary Holmquist led a hike to Evergreen Square for a cup of coffee . The hike was along sidewalks and gravel trails with a round trip distance of about five miles.

Dan Kato led the long hikers at Butano State Park on Saturday, February 17th.  They took a clockwise direction around the valley, starting at the Jackson Flats trail and continuing on the Canyon, Indian, Doe Ridge and Goat Hill trails.  The challenging hike of 10 miles had climbs up and down.   Wate Bakker led a Rambler hike in Gazos Creek. The hike was mostly flat along a beach with dunes and a rocky coastline and coastal plain.

Ramon and Marianna Reza led a loop hike of about six miles from the Villages to the nearby Bel Air and Hillstone Estates via Shadow Ridge Way (Larkspur/Bently/Canyon Hills/Shadow Ridge/Hillstone/Yerba Buena).They stopped at the Starbucks/Le Boulanger on the corner of San Felipe and Yerba Buena for coffee and snacks.  

Nancy Rumple led hikers on a 8-9 mile hike with a 1,000 foot elevation gain from the San Martin Ave. entrance. The group hiked up to and looped the Ed Wilson Trail. There were good views of the Coyote Dam and Valley. There were a variety of beautiful wildflowers.

Johanna Bakker  led a hike along the Coyote Creek Trail.  The hike started from the parking lot of a small park on  Baskin Ridge Avenue (a continuation of Hellyer) after the light at Tennant/ Silicone Valley/Bernal. Hikers followed a  Baskin Ridge route to Metcalf Bridge, cross over Coyote Creek, and then followed the Coyote  Creek Trail back to the starting point. The hike was a flat loop hike of about 4-5 miles.