News – Page 47 – Villages Hiking Club, San Jose, CA

Rancho Canada Del Oro Open Space

Nancy Rumple led hikers on an 8-9 mile hilly hike in Rancho Canada Del Oro Open Space following the Mayfair Ranch, Longwall, and Bald Peaks trail loop with a 1000 ft. elevation gain.They saw wild flowers and great views.

Brothel and Speak-easy outing

Brad Hinckley led a historical hike into a mansion that was a brothel and speak-easy place during the depression which the mafia ran for a number of years. The private tour of this very interesting home in Mt. View is very difficult to get into since people are still living in it and at one time was on a 5 acre mansion ground. The upper level consisted of madam rooms inter-connected by secret passages that all could hide in if the police showed up. There was a card room on that upper floor that housed a look-out window to watch for police. The basement consisted of several rooms that the speak-easy was operated in. At one time they grew their own barley and operated a still in a separate building in the back.

Russian Ridge Hikes

Johanna Bakker led a 4-5 mile hike in the Russian Ridge. Wate Bakker led a 7-8 mile hike. Both hikes visited areas on Russian Ridge known for beautiful wild flower displays.

Silver Creek Valley Country Club Hike

Gary Holmquist led a “lunch hike” to the Silver Creek Valley Country Club House.This was a hilly 6-7 mile hike (roundtrip) The group wove through the exclusive mansion neighborhoods.

Hill Hike

On Saturday, April 21st. Rich and Wendy led a hike up our hill to the Mail Box, starting at the upper garden. The leisurely hike included lunch at the picnic tables at the top of the hill. 

Coyote Hills Regional Park,

Sandy and John Petrin led a hike to Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont. It was mostly a level paved path along Bayview Trail and curved around Red Hill and back to the park entrance for about 3.6 miles. There was a small museum depicting the lifestyle of the indigenous peoples that lived in the area.

Egret

Red Winged Blackbird

Trail Maintenance Day 2018

Volunteers and hiking club members met at the Foothill parking lot yesterday at 8.30 AM for a morning of work to maintain and upgrade the trails in our hill lands. This is an annual event of the club and helps keep the switchbacks and narrow trails in good hiking order.

Coyote Valley Open Space Hike

Brad Hinckley at led a hike at Coyote Valley open space preserve close to Morgan Hill. The hike was four miles long with 600 feet elevation gain. There were many wildflowers and birds.

Belgatos Park Trail Hike

Ramon and Marianna Reza led a hike on the Belgatos Park Trail in Los Gatos. The hike was through forest land and large estate homes with expansive views of the valley below.

Mount Madonna Hike

Nancy Rumple led a group of hikers on a 9 mile hilly hike on Saturday, March 31st. They went from the Ranger Station at the top, down the rocky Merry-go-Round trail, across Tie Camp trail, down the Ridge trail to Sprig Lake at the bottom. They saw many wild flowers, views of the valley, and the white deer herd. The climb back up to the top was a 1200 foot elevation gain on the Sprig Lake Trail.

White Trillum

Poppy

Wild Iris