Villages Hiking Club, San Jose, CA
Our mission is to promote an active and healthy lifestyle through hiking.
Nine Club members saw first-hand how Big Basin Redwood State Park’s forest is recovering after the distructive August, 2020 CZU Lightning Complex fire. Almost all of the tall redwoods have green branches emerging, amazing since a docent said flames were sometimes twice as high as the trees! Jim Koski led the 3.2 mile Rambler hike with about 500′ of elevation gain. After the hike, we enjoyed lunch at the Big Basin Cafe in Saratoga.
On 18-October-2023 Gary Lohr led a hike along the Alamitos Creek in Almaden valley. This trail is the continuation of the Lake Almaden trail. The hike was about 3.5 miles with both sun and shade and mostly flat.
It was perfect underfoot, and the right length of walk – All thoroughly enjoyed it, also as it was mainly flat.  The hotel  was excellent – they went out of their way to accommodate us, to include the reception on Tuesday. It was in a lovely setting by the marina. A good location to go back there again.
John and Sandy Petrin lead a hike on October 4Â to nearby Cottonwood Lake at Hellyer Park. We walked about 4 miles round-trip along the Coyote Creek Trail from the Silver Creek Valley Road Staging Area. San Jose Fire Department was mopping up a small brush fire on the west side of Coyote Creek when we arrived.
On 27-September-2023 Jim Koski led five hikers that spent two hours exploring three miles of redwood trails at The Forest of Nisene Marks in Aptos. We followed the creek upstream, crossed over and looped back to the lower parking lot. Afterwards we enjoyed lunch at the nearby Aptos Street BBQ.
On 25-September-2023 a group of eight walkers traversed our golf course.
On 21-Sptember-2023 the Villages Hiking Club had for our annual End of Summer Potluck Picnic, 4.30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 21 at the Gazebo. There were some games including, French bocce, croquet, cornhole, giant Jenga, etc. Music for the evening was provided by well known Villager DJ Ed Knott.
On 20-Sepember-2023 a small group of members had a nice hike in Seacliff and New Brighton Beach parks. The pier and old cement ship were battered by last winter’s storms and the pier was removed last spring. We pretty much stayed on the paved trail at Seacliff and then on the firmer damp sand to New Brighton. We had our snack at the campground and got an interesting tour of a beautifully restored small trailer from the 1960s. We returned via the abandoned railroad track and streets with cottages above Seacliff. Lunch at the nearby Pixie Deli was amazingly good.
On 19-September-2023 a group of members walked the golf course. Another great day.
On 11-September-2023 eight members walked the golf course. Awesome weather and good conversations with friends.