Category: News

The Villages Hiking Club Helps Maintain Local Park Trails

Nine  members of The Villages Hiking Club joined with other volunteers to help maintain the trails of one of our favorite parks, Alum Rock Park on Saturday, November 5th.  Sponsored by REI, The City of San Jose and the Ridge Trail Council, volunteers helped in repairing trail tread, improving drainage,  and pruning overgrown vegetation.  All tools were provided for together with a free lunch from Chipotle and a raffle where volunteers could win valuable prizes (which one lucky hiking club member did).  Debbie Siedband,  one of the member volunteers noted  “We got a lot done, & that was really satisfying.  As always, we met nice people & received some atta-boys from those who noted our age.  We continue to inspire wherever we go.”  The Villages Hiking Club leads hikes on most Wednesdays and Saturdays together with social activities every other month.  For more information about the Hiking Club and our hikes and programs contact Sy Gelman 408-532-1239.  Also please check out our web site http://villageshikingclub.blogspot.com.

Johanna Bakker and Bonnie Preston led a rambler hike to Montgomery Hill off of Yerba Buena and in back of Evergreen College on Wednesday, November 2nd. The hike went back to the Villages by way of Starbuck’s Coffee Shop.

On Saturday, October 22nd Jane Ruona again graciously offered her Seascape condo for the day.  All level of walker was welcome whether they were a short casual stroller, rambler, or a long hiker. Everyone joined in our fall potluck and beach walk.

On Wednesday, October 19th  Sy Gelman led a 3 mile hike around Alviso Slough where there were lots of birds flocking together.

Gary Holmquist led a rambler hike in the northern section of Santa Teresa County Park on October 12th. It was approximately four miles with an elevation gain of about 500 feet.

Johanna  and Wate Bakker led  rambler hikes on October 5th in the Village hill lands. Both hikes started at the upper garden parking lot of village view drive  Johanna led a 3 mile hike with a 300 ft elevation gain on the Richter, Oak, Buffalo and bay trails. Wate’s hike was about 4 miles long with a 700 ft elevation gain  on the Richter Oak, Tower, Rawhide, Indian and Sky trails.

September 27th – 29th a group of hiking club members went to Bass Lake for the fall outing. It was a beautiful large lake with lots of water activities and only 17 miles from the entrance to Yosemite National Park. Some of the group hiked in Yosemite also.

Nancy Rumple led the long hikers on a 7 mile hike under the shady Redwoods with a 900ft. elevation gain on Saturday,September 24th. Cool breezes made the day pleasant.

On Saturday September 17th, 2016 six hardy hikers did a 12 mile hike at Butano State Park.  This time we took the clockwise direction around the valley, opposite of our usual direction, starting at the Jackson Flats trail and continuing on the, Canyon, Indian, Doe Ridge and Goat trails.  Driving home along the coast we were greeted by a plethora of kite surfers.