The Prowler
After exercising these feline haunches by prowling about the great outdoors lately, this cat is in the mood to share some other ideas for outdoor adventuring. It so happens both take place practically at our doorstep--in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
First up is an Aug. 17 hike in the Saratoga Gap area, organized by the nonprofit Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. Led by docent Dick Gehrer, it's a 5- to 6-mile foray down yesteryear's Saratoga Toll Road. Folks who, like this cool cat, worry about overheating can rest easy: the hike is mainly through woods full of firs, redwoods, madrones, oaks and bay trees. Still, bottled water is like a certain credit card--don't leave home without it!
The hike lasts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., so feel free to bring munchies or a bag lunch! Hikers should meet at the vista point at the intersection of Highway 9 and Skyline Boulevard (Highway 35). For more info, call 650.691.1200 or visit www.openspace.org on the Internet.
Another Bay Area nonprofit dedicated to land conservation and preservation, and to raising people's environmental consciousness is the Greenbelt Alliance. It's organized a 4 1/2-mile walk among the redwood and meadows of St. Joseph's Hill Open Space Preserve, in the mountains above Los Gatos. Following a picnic lunch at the summit--which has awesome valley views--hikers will visit nearby J&P Farms and taste the fruits of one of our dwindling independent orchards. This is the Greenbelt Alliance's last outing in Santa Clara County through the fall, so don't miss it! Call 415.255.3233 for reservations or more information, or get online at www.greenbelt.org.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
