Villages Hiking Club, San Jose, CA

New Leaf Store Hike

Cookie Hunley led a walk to New Leaf and stopped to have tea or coffee at Starbucks on Wednesday,July 31st. They met at the tennis courts at 8:30 A.M. and walked across San Philippi Road and up to the park near Canyon Road and on to Starbucks. They hiked home along Farnsworth.

From L to R: Dan Kato, Susan Brown, Arlyn Unruh, Suzanne, Katy Peretti, Pam Pierson, Eric Pierson, Cookie Hunley, Clint Lindseth , Barbara Knight

Down in front: Victor Kelaita, and Brad Hinckley. (Photographer, Linda Kelaita)

Other hikers not pictured:

Bonnie Preston, Gary Holmquist, Arlene Murphy, Jerry Simms, Lois Lindseth, Stan Pegram

Hiking Club Summer Outing 2013

The hiking club completed their summer trip to the Sierras, July 10 – 12th, with a total of 21 going on the trip. We all visited Calaveras Big Trees state park on the first day, of course, to see the big trees and do some easy hiking. On the second day, the long hikers did about 9 miles of the Pacific Crest Trails at Ebbitt’s pass. The Ramblers took a lower elevation route with fewer hills but more mountain lakes. Walkers did a stroll around Lake Alpine. We lunched by a beautiful mountain stream and met a number of young very fit and healthy looking hikers along the way, some of which were doing the entire length of the Pacific Crest from Mexico to Canada (don’t they have jobs?). In the evening we all ate a salmon dinner personally prepared and served by Tracy and her family at the Dorrington Inn where a number of us stayed in the 1960’s style A-frame chalets.

Nancy Mosher – Williams, Brad Hinckley

A great time for all who are now looking forward to the fall trip to Jack London park.

Eve Gebhardt, Jackie Jones, Nancy Rumple,
Katy Obringer, Susan Brown,
Karen Kosmala, Wate Bakker

(back row) Johanna Bakker, Wate Bakker, Debbie Siedband, Bob Hunley, Cookie Hunley, Eve Gebhardt, Ariene Murphy, Brad Hinckley, Nancy Mosher- Williams.

(middle row) Bonnie Preston, Susan Brown, Nancy Rumple, Katy Obringer,Jackie Jones, Gigi Clarke, Akiko Giordono, Beverly Wharton, Sita Kern.

(front) Dan Kato, Karen Kosmala.

Photographer-Mike Warfield

Debbie Siedband, Katy Obringer, Jackie Jones, Karen Kosmala

Debbie Siedband, Nancy Rumple, Susan Brown, Karen Kosmala

Dan Kato

Susan Brown

Karen Kosmala, Eve Gebhardt, Mike Warfield

Susan Brown

Karen Kosmala

Johanna Bakker,Bonnie Preston, Nancy Mosher-Williams

Susan Brown

Nancy Mosher-Williams, Dan Kato, Bonnie Preston, Johanna Bakker

July 4, 2013 Parade

The hiking club was proudly represented by a hardy group of members in the annual July 4th parade. The day was warm and sunny.

Gisela Pearson,Dan Kato, Susan Brown,
Nora Adriano, Nora Chang, Debbie Siedband,
Jackie Jones, Quincy Chang, Manolo Adriano,
Nancy Rumple

Susan Brown, Debbie Siedband, Eve Gebhardt,
Jackie Jones, Nora Adriano, Nancy Rumple,
Nora Chang, Quincy Chang, Manolo Adriano

Jackie Jones, Nora Adriano, Nora Chang,
Quincy Chang, Debbie Siedband, Dan Kato,
Susan Brown, Manolo Adriano

Katy Obringer, Nancy Rumple, Dan Kato,
Nora Chang, Quincy Chang, Eve Gebhardt,
Susan Brown, Debbie Siedband, Manolo Adriano

Castle Rock Park Hike

This shady hike in the northern part of Castle Rock State Park along Highway 35 and the return along the mostly level Achistaca Indian Trail made for a very pleasant day. Wednesday, June 19th Cookie Hunley, Karan Foss, Susan Brown, Terri Molloy, Bonnie Preston, Faye Swanson, and Dan Kato participated.

Big Basin State Park Hike

Nancy Rumple led a hike for the long hikers to Big Basin State Park. We stopped for lunch here.

The weather was perfect, and a good time was had by all. Thank you, Nancy, for leading us so well.

Flag Raising At The Top

Several members participated in a flag posting at the top of Sky way trail near the mail box this past Wednesday, June 12th . This was done in commemoration of flag day to remind us of the greatness of this country.

Jackie Jones, Carolyn Tornay, Mary Wu, Nora Chang, Gisela Pearson, Gigi Clarke, Jim Beyer, Carol Begley, Jane Ruona, Nancy Rumple(Quincy Chang-Photographer)

Wine Tasting Event

The wine tasting event was held on May 9th and enjoyed by all
that attended. A slideshow of the vineyards and the surrounding hiking areas was viewed as everyone nibbled on cheese and crackers. Next, three wines from a local winery were paired with the appropriate food courses, prepared by some of the best chefs in our community. Dessert and coffee followed. It was an excellent culinary experience as well as an enjoyable evening.

Uvas Canyon Waterfall Hike

We had a good turnout, and Jackie Jones not only led the hike, but baked snicker doodles for us to enjoy at lunch! As promised, there were waterfalls…and a curious little newt

HELLO HOLLYWOOD

Karen Kosmala & Rod Murry

The Hiking Club’s last social event was HELLO HOLLYWOOD on March 14^th at Vineyard Center. It was a successful event enjoyed by many. Participants were encouraged to dress up as celebrities. The First Place winner of the contest, were voted unanimously by members, Sonny (Rod Murray) and Cher (Karen Kosmala). As Sonny and Cher arrived on the Red Carpet they had a recorder playing “I’ve Got You Babe” which added a lot to their costumes. The Second Place winner was George Burns (John Laws) and Gracie Allen (Karen Carlson).

Karen Carlson & John Laws

The Third Place winner was Brad Hinckley and Nancy Mosher-Williams playing Rhett Butler and Vivian Leigh from Gone with the Wind. Runners up in third place were Cary Grant (Wate Bakker) and Elvis (Jack Stednitz).
Academy Award trivia was played during the dinner as a table activity. The table that won was awarded small Oscars, by Barbara Orlando, co-social chair of the Hiking Club. The Dazzling Diva’s and Mr. B, a tap dance group from Southside Community Center danced two dances; “All That Jazz” and “Razzle Dazzle” during the event. Wate and Johanna Baker, the President of the Hiking Club dressed as Cary Grant and Audrey Heburn.

Brad Hinckley & Nancy Mosher-Williams

Tony & Barbara Orlando

Victor Kelaita

Bonnie Preston

Katy Obringer

Jack Stednitz

Wate Bakker

The Dazzling Diva’s and Mr. B

Marion Hawkins

New Hiking Trail

A new trail on our hill has been created ending with a beautiful panoramic view of Silicon Valley. The trail can be accessed by first headingup Rawhide to Tower Trail. At Tower turn right and go up that road. Before you get to our property line you will see the trail on the left, starting at the dirt steps, to a series of switchbacks that go to the top of the knoll. There is still a little work to do to level off the trail in spots so be careful. There are also some fairly large “fox holes” on the hill that one can step in so it is best to stay on the trail and not venture into the grass and weeds. We plan to do a little more work on the trail, probably during our maintenance day in April, to make it more level. Also, there is a picnic table on order that will be placed at the top.

Thanks go to those who supplied the sweat equity including Katy Obringer, Alan Waltho, Chuck Wyatt, Deb and Marc Siedband and Dan Kato. Also, thanks to Phil Grote who came up with the idea.