On Saturday, January 10th the long hikers walked from Hicks Road on the Woods Trail, up Barlow Road on a 1700 ft. elevation gain and out to Bald Mountain below Mt. Umunhum for lunch. This seven mile hike was led by Nancy Rumple. The Ramblers hiked out and back on the Woods Trail. There were beautiful views of the green hills and abundant flowing water in the many surrounding streams.
Members started the New Year with a warm cup of cider, soup, appetizers, salads, and dessert. plus a surprise treasure on Thursday,Januar​y 8, in the Foothill Center. There was a gift exchange and there were many interesting items. It was an enjoyable evening with good food and good fellowship.
On Saturday, January 3rd the long hikers did a 7-8 mile hike from the Roop Road Entrance with about an 800ft elevation gain over Mummy Mountain led by Nancy Rumple. The ramblers hiked a different trail. It was a crisp day with beautiful views.
On January 1st 2015, the Villages Hiking Club had their annual New Year’s Day Celebration. There were 40 who made it to the mailbox at top of our hill, about a 2 mile uphill climb, and another group of 12, led by Bonnie Preston and Barbara Knight, that met at the halfway point on Skyway and Indian trails at our new table. Champagne was served at both locations and members brought their favorite appetizers and drinks.
A small Hiking Club work party, Jim Beyer, Susan Brown, Quincy Chang, Dan Kato, Amy Meier, Debbie Siedband and John Walker repaired the switchback trail from the mail box down to Rawhide to correct the damage the wild pigs made in preparation for the Annual New Year’s Day celebration at the top of the hill. Carrie Woods from the Riding Club generously donated her time and drove her ATV with the Hiking Club tools to and from the work area so that the work party would not have to carry the tools up and down the hill.
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Laura and Sy Gelman led a group that explored various hidden trails that meander through the villages (about 3-4 miles). Afterwards there was a pot luck luncheon at Vineyard Center.
Nancy Rumple led the Long hikers on the paved Los Alamitos Creek Trail from Lake Almaden south to Mc Keen Rd. and back for about eight miles. Gary and Terry Holmquist led the ramblers on a separate hike in the same area. It turned out to be a comfortable easy day with no elevation gain.
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The holiday party on December 11 at the Foothill Center was well attended with over eighty guests and members. The chicken casserole as the main dish was a big hit and was enhanced by many delicious side dishes consisting of vegetables, salads, potatoes, and rolls. Entertainment was provided by the Villages Ukulele group under the direction of Jim Nielsen. Fun and fellowship enhanced the event with many lively conversations.
Barbara Knight led the ramblers to the new Bair Island pedestrian bridge into the almost completed 3,000-acre wetland site. The renovation began in 2007 and now is a part of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Red Wood City. There was a 2-mile trail around the southern inner island. The sun came out when we found a bench at Pete’s Harbor for lunch. We had a great time playing with the little wooden boat we found at the play ground.
