Wate and Johanna Bakker led hikes from a newly opened trail head in the western part of the Russian Ridge open space area . Johanna led the Ramblers on a partially shaded 3-4 mile hike with about 400ft elevation difference. Wate led the long hikers on a 7.8 mile hike with about a 800 ft elevation difference. It was a hot day with most of the time spent in the open space. The views were spectacular and the trails were well maintained.
Gary and Terry Holmquist led a rambler hike on Wednesday, September 16th. The group traveled the valley trail in Alum Rock Park which was mostly flat and predominantly in the shade. The trail was 4 to 5 miles long. There was an optional lunch at Lee’s sandwiches.
Saturday, September 12th, the planned hike was cancelled due to heat concerns and was rescheduled to head up our hills from Stables –> Rawhide –> Tower –> Oak –> Turkey –> Rawhide –> Stables.
Amy Meier led the ramblers on a shaded hike inside the Cribari Village of approximately two miles. It was a hot day but the trees helped make the hike enjoyable. Faye and Pam brought their dogs to make for a cute hike.
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.
Johanna Bakker led a rambler hike in Monterey. The group visited the Mirada museum and saw a great exhibition of California Impressionists from 1895-1970 and the works of Pedro de Lemos, an Art teacher of Stanford. He worked in multi media, block printing, etchings and wood and leather work and oil painting watercolor etc. The group walked to the Monterey Mission then to the other museum on Pacific street, with more of the “Impressionists​”. Then we walked to fisherman’s wharf and ate at Albalonetti, an excellent restaurant with good seafood and patio with a view.
Gary Holmquist on Saturday, August 29th led a five mile hike with approximately an 800 foot elevation gain in Wunderlich County Park in Woodside. The trail was mostly shaded and not too strenuous. The weather was overcast but very humid making for more of a challenge. There was an optional lunch at Max’s in San Mateo.
Wate and Johanna Bakker led long and rambler hikes along the coast, north of Santa Cruz, from the Gazebo Creek coastal access to the Anno Nueva state Park The hike was mostly flat along beaches, through sand dunes and coastal prairie. There were some rocks and steps to manuver. The ramblers did 3-4 miles and long hikers did 7-8 miles. The weather was cool and overcast making for an excellent hike day.
