Category: 2014

Bonnie Preston,Katy Peretti,Faye Swanson, Stan Pegram,Suzanne Pham,Nancy Mosher-Williams,Brad Hinckley,Marie Buck, Debbie Siedband,Amy Meier,Susan Brown

On 5/7/14 Eleven Ramblers joined the journey to the Far East tour of the Overfelt Gardens on Mckee Rd in San Jose with a guided tour by Ranger Valeri Heyberger. The 33 acres of land was donated by Mildred Overfelt in memory of her parents, William and Mary to create a peaceful and tranquil park surrounded by natural plants, wildlife and ponds. The park is also known as the Chinese Cultural Garden due to Frank and Pauline Lowe who worked to acquire several historical objects from Taiwan including: a 30 ft bronze and marble statue of Confucious, an ornamental front gate, Sun Yat Sun Memorial Hall, Chung Kai Shek Plum Pavillion, a sundial and the Black Stone which was mined from the Mt. ranges of Taiwan.We also toured the Overfelt family house located in the park. Afterwards, we visited Pao Hua Buddhist Temple on our own which is located also on McKee Rd. Everyone enjoyed a Dim Sum lunch at Creekside Chinese Restaurant on Piedmont Rd before going home.

Johanna Bakker led a rambler hike on Wednesday, April 30th in Calero County Park. They took the Figueroa trail to the, Vallecito trail and the Pena trail and Los Cerritos trail loop back to the car. It was about 3 miles and one of the Healthy trail hikes. There was a nice picnic bench to eat our lunch.

B:Jane Ruona,Eve Gebhardt,Chuck Wyatt, Sandra Walker,Gigi Clarke,John Walker, Nancy Rumple,Johanna Bakker, Katy Peretti,Bonnie Preston F:Amy Meier,Rosa Balderas,Wate Bakker Photographer:John Trudeau

On Saturday, May 3rd, John Trudeau led the long hikers on the Spring Ridge and Hamms Gulch loop for a hike of about 7.5 miles, with an elevation gain of about 1400ft.  Windy Hill is noted for lots of woodland and grassland wildflowers in the springtime. The day was notable for the abundance of wildflowers, good clear views, a variety of environments:  uphill, sunny & warm, cool ocean breeze, level hiking on the ridgline, woods & gulch, shade, big trees, woodland flowers. Ramblers started from the same trail head and left the long hikers at the Meadow trail cutoff to the Betsy Crowder trail around Sausal pond, with elevation gain about 230ft.

John Walker,Eve Gebhardt,Faye Swanson,Marc Siedband,Debbie Siedband, Susan Brown,Jim Beyer,Nancy Mosher-Willams,Bonnie Preston,Brad Hinckley Photographer:John Trudeau

A rambler Hike today was led by John Trudeau to Wilder Ranch on Hwy 1 just north of Santa Cruz which we passed by on our way to Ano Nuevo. The weather was sunny, cool, and delightful with a stiff breeze. We were able to see many sights not available from a car. We were all thankful for our ability to walk in such a fabulous and visually pleasing area. We visited the small cultural preserve area in the park. The trail was mostly level and along the coast side bluffs and coves.

(Notice sign!)

Kneeling:Akiko Giordono,Amy Meier Standing:Eve Gebhardt,Jackie Jones,Dot Armbruster,Sandra Walker,John Walker, Anka Hoek,Debbie Siedband,Katy Peretti, Bonnie Preston,Nancy Rumple, Gisela Pearson,Jim Beyer Photographer:John Trudeau

Nancy Rumple led the hike Saturday, April 19th to the Saratoga Gap into Long Ridge Open Space. The long hikers hiked  9 miles on moderately hilly trails with a 600 ft. elevation gain from Saratoga Gap at Highway 9 & Skyline into Long Ridge. We saw many wildflowers and the Pacific Ocean. We enjoyed lunch at the Wallace Stegner Bench. The Ramblers(Bonnie Preston,Katie Peretti,Wate Bakker,Johanna Bakker,Ellen,Anna) hiked  in another area of the park. It was a pleasant day with light breezes and temperatures.

Katy Peretti,Rajni Bakhda,Gita Bakhda, Pat Rutia,Faye Swanson,Cindy Fuller, Johanna Bakker,Terri Molloy,Debbie Siedband, Jerry Wilk,Karan Foss Photographer:Susan Brown

Terri Molloy led a hike at the Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve in the Los Altos vicinity on Wednesday, April 16th. There was very little elevation for this hike. On the way, we stopped and saw the Deer Hollow working County Park with many farm animals and an herb garden. Afterward we stopped for lunch at Hobees, at the Oaks Shopping Center in Cupertino on Stevens Creek across from De Anza College. It was another beautiful day with cool temperatures and plenty of sunshine.

On our annual Trail Maintenance Day on Saturday,April 12th approximately 26 hardy workers met at Foothill center at 8:30 AM and joined one of the work parties. We wish to thank all those who volunteered and worked on the trails. The well-organized and fun event resulted in the trails now being free of weeds, debris and now easier to transverse.  You can see great scenery, wild flowers and wild animals by using the many trails. There was a tasty lunch provided to the workers afterward at Montgomery center It was another great time with a fun group.

Pam Fuqua,Ann Jackson

Sandra Walker,John Walker,Amy Meier, Gigi Clarke,Jackie Jones,Nancy Rumple, Eve Gebhardt,Gisela Pearson, Jim Beyer,Mike Warfield Photographer:John Trudeau

Nancy Rumple led the Long hikers on a 10 mile hike with hilly switch back trails that had rock scrambling on Saturday, March 22nd. Some of the hikers traveled up over the peak plus some hiked through the caves also. We saw great views, rock formations, wild flowers and the California Condor. It was truly a hike to remember as the day turned out to be sunny, cool, and there was a light breeze. Three ramblers were lead by Sy Gelman and they chose a different trail.

Faye Swanson,Katie Peretti Photographer: Sy Gelman

Observation Point

Condor

Condor

Amy Meier

Cave Entrance

Cave Hikers

Rapplers (Not Club Members)

Mike Warfield,John Walker, Sandra Walker,Eve Gebhardt