Category: News

Gary and Terry Holmquist led a rambler Hike to Silver Creek Country Club for lunch. The hike was roughly 3 miles one-way. The overcast sky provided a cool hiking experience.

 

Amy Meier,Sandra Walker,John Walker, Debbie Siedband,Peter Nicholls,Dan Kato, Frances Wilson,Wate Bakker,Faye  Swanson,Gigi Clarke,Jackie Jones Photographer:Jim Beyer

Wate Bakker led the long hikers and Johanna Bakker led the ramblers hike to the Saratoga Gap and into Long Ridge Open Space on Saturday, November 8th. The long hikers traveled approximately 9 miles with some going a couple miles longer. There was moderate elevation gains. Ramblers started at a different location. We saw views of the coastal range and Pacific ocean as it was another beautiful day on the trails.

Trish Smith  led a rambler hike on Wednesday, November 5th of three to four miles that went along the bluffs of Half Moon Bay above the beach coast. It was a warm pleasant day.

Brad Hinckley led a rambler hike to Almaden Quicksilver Park, north end. It was a moderate loop of five miles and 1,000 vertical feet. It was a scenic hike past mine ruins to the reservoir and back. Lunch was at Olive Garden Restaurant afterwards.

Dan Kato led a long hike of about 10 miles at Botano State Park on Saturday,October 18th. We started near the park entrance and first ascend the Ano Neuevo trail, a long and steep climb. A beautiful view awaited at the top. After that, things got a little easier but there were still some up and down climbs. We hiked along one side of the valley and came back on trails and on the fire road on the other side of the valley. The trails were mostly shaded with a few sunny stretches.

The Hiking Club Ramblers had its first geocaching trip. Geocaching is a real-world treasure hunt that’s happening right now, all around you. There are 2,478,102 active geocaches and over 6 million geocachers worldwide. While geocaching you hunt for hidden caches that can vary greatly in size and appearance. You may find anything from a large, clear plastic container or a film canister or a fake rock with a secret compartment.

John Trudeau led a hike on Saturday, October 11th  up Black Mountain starting at Hidden Villa in Los Altos. It was about an 8-mile hike with about an 1,100 ft elevation gain. We took the Adobe Creek trail from Hidden Villa (1.0 mi) to intersect the Black Mountain trail, then took that to the first power pylon (1.6 mi). We returned to Hidden Villa via the Hostel trail (1.5 mi). The trail features some very nice woodlands and some of the best views of Silicon Valley of any trail in the Skyline Ridge area. The trail was mostly wooded, with no traffic noise and few trail intersections.

Gary and Terry Holmquist led a hike to Sierra Vista Open Space in San Jose. The hike  started from the newly opened parking lot/trail head on Sierra Road. We walked approximately 3-1/4 miles on mostly level trails. Most participants participated with an optional lunch at Lee’s Sandwiches on Berryessa Road.

On Saturday,October 4th all levels of Hikers and Walkers assembled at Jane Ruona’s  Seascape condo for a day of fun and viewing on our beach walk. Cameras and binoculars helped reveal shorebirds, dolphins, and whales. We saw many dolphins only a few yards out swimming parallel to the shore and through the incoming waves.