Category: News

On Saturday, July 21st Rich and Wendy led a hike starting at the upper gardens.

Wate and Johanna Bakker led long and rambler hikers along the S.F sea shore, starting at Lands End and ending at Bakers Beach. The ramblers hiked 4-5 miles on a largely flat trail with some steps and sandy areas. The long hikers did about 7 miles.

The Villages Hiking Club held its annual Summer BBQ on Thursday, July 12th, beginning at 5:30 pm at Gazebo Park. There was a Cornhole Game set-up and ready for action plus a few “surprise” games. BBQ included your choice of a hamburger, salmon burger or veggie black bean burger with all the trimmings, baked beans, cole slaw and dessert.

Liz Giarratana led a relaxing, walking, talking and gawking urban hike through the historic older part of Willow Glen in central San Jose on Wednesday, July 11th. The three-hour history walk took us through architecturally unique neighborhoods of Victorian, Craftsman, Spanish Mission, and many other home styles. Liz’s presentation was very interesting and informative.

Rich Bainbridge led a group on Saturday, July 7th on a 6 mile hike starting at the first parking lot and hiking along Coyote Trail to the PGE Trail to Wildcat Loop and return. The elevation gain was 700ft.

Nancy Rumple on Saturday, June 30th led the long hikers from the park headquarters at Big Basin on a moderate 8 mile hike up to the Mt. McAbee Overlook for views of the Pacific Ocean and on the Sequoia Trail to view the Sempervirens Falls.

Katy Peretti led a hike to Montgomery Hill off of Yerba Buena and behind Evergreen College. They hiked back to the Villages by way of Starbuck’s Coffee Shop. The walk was approximately 3-4 miles.

Susan Brown led a hike along the shady South Rim Trail of Alum Rock Park. The hike was 4-5 miles long with an elevation difference of about 500 ft., but trail grades were generally very gentle.

Randy Cisneroz and Ramon Reza led a loop hike from the Villages to and across nearby Bentley Ridge:  Cribari Center/San Felipe/Larkspur/Bentley Ridge Drive/Yerba Buena/Hounds Estates/Cribari Center.  They stopped at the Starbucks on the corner of San Felipe and Yerba Buena for coffee and snacks. Hike length was about 5 miles with modest and gradual elevation at the beginning of the hike.