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

Wate Bakker,Johanna Bakker,Bonnie Preston, Katy Peretti,Caryl Swinyard,Cookie Hunley, Barb Buehrer Photographer:Suzanne Pham

Johanna Bakker led a rambler hike along the Steven’s Creek reservoir in Cupertino, along the Tony Look trail. It was a moderate trail of 5.8 miles and an elevation change of 400 feet each way. It was a beautiful sunny day.

Katy Peretti,Toby Katzman,Marian Wyatt, Susan Brown,Chuck Wyatt,Jim Beyer, Mike Cohen,Judy Israel,Eve Gebhardt, Bonnie Preston,Dottie Armbruster,Ruben  Israel,Peter Nicholls,Faye Swanson, Cookie Hunley,Arlyn Unruh Photographer:John Trudeau

Bonnie Preston led a Rambler trip today to Ano Nuevo(the largest birthing area in the world)  to see the elephant seals in their birthing environment. This is the place where these giant creatures arrive every winter and come ashore to fight, mate, give birth, and rest from long sea voyages. The beaches, sand dunes, and nearby offshore island provide the ideal place for safety and security. Males can weigh up to 5,000 pounds, females weigh up to 1600 pounds and the babies weigh 75 pounds at birth and grow to 230-300 pounds in less that a month. Seventeen club members enjoyed a remarkable day with sunshine and a cool light breeze. Our guide was informative and knowledgeable.

John Trudeau,Bonnie Preston, Mike Cohen,Peter Nicholls

Two on right end are elephant seal skulls compared to other animals such as bears,etc.

Our guide

Chuck Wyatt,Eve Gebhardt,Judy Israel, Jim Beyer,Ruben Israel, Dottie Armbruster,Marian Wyatt

Male Elephant Seal

Young Males Sparring

Amy Meier,Suzanne Phem,Toby Katzman,Faye Swanson,Cookie Hunley, Wate Bakker,Jackie Jones,Jim Beyer, Johanna Bakker,Gisela Pearson, Nancy Rumple,Phil Grote,John Trudeau, Laura Gelman Photographer: Sy Gelman

Wate and Johanna Bakker led a rambler and a long hike in Harvey Bear Ranch County Park around Coyote Lake on Saturday, March 9th.We were originally scheduled to hike in Henry Coe State Park but changed plans. When we arrived there was a youth event happening that caused us to change locations. Johanna lead a rambler hike of about 4 miles with n elevation gain of about 500 ft and Wate lead a long hike of 8 miles with an elevation gain of about 1000 ft. It was a great day to be outside with friends from the club.

Toby Katzman,Sy Gelman,Laura Gelman,Faye Swanson,Suzanne Pham, Johanna Bakker

Suzanne Pham,Johanna Bakker,Faye Swanson, Toby Katzman,Laura Gelman,Cookie Hunley

Rock  covered with Crustose Lichen

Laura Gelman

F:Laura Gelman,Amy Meier.Gisela Pearson, Wate Bakker B:Sy Gelman,Jim Beyer,Eve Gebhardt, Jackie Jones,Debbie Siedband, Nancy Rumple,Gigi Clarke,Karan Foss

Gigi Clarke & Jackie Jones led a group of twelve long hikers on an  8-9 mile hike in Grant Ranch to Deer Camp/Line Shack. They discovered that the line shack had burned down two weeks earlier according to the park ranger that met them. Johanna Bakker lead the ramblers  on a 2-21/2 mile loop via the Hotel trail and Lower Hotel trail in Grant County park. This was a practically flat trail, and Johanna was joined by Rajni and Gita Bakhda and Suzanne Pham. The ramblers starting point was at the main entrance to the park. It was a beautiful, sunny.warm day for both groups with no fog or haze in sight. The crisp air made for a delightful experience.

Mt. Hamilton observatory

Line Shack