ANNUAL CLIMB UP EL TORO
“I have heard about a yearly hike that takes place in Morgan Hill each spring. The hike’s destination is the top of El Toro. I haven’t seen any advertising for this event and wonder if the hike will happen again this year?”
RED PHONE
Dear Caller, the timing of your question is impeccable. A volunteer for the sponsor of this hike, the Morgan Hill Historical Society, stopped by the Times’ office Tuesday and left us a flier for this event.
The annual spring hike up El Toro will happen April 21. The first group of hikers will leave the City Hall/Library Plaza, at the corner of Main and Peak avenues, at 7:45am. A second group of hikers who need a little extra time to get warmed up for this moderate-to-difficult climb will leave at 9:45am.
This Morgan Hill traditional event has been going on for the past 20 years. The first organized hike was held Oct. 25, 1987. It might have been a little chilly for some folks because the hike now always takes place in April. The number of enthusiastic walkers has grown from 50 in 1987 to more than 150 participants last year.
The hike in 2003 was dedicated to the memory of Easter Lily Bailey who made her first climb up “Murphy’s Peak” when she was 9 years old in 1916. She made her second trek when she was 80 years old during the inaugural hike in 1987. She wanted to see if her name her father carved in an old oak tree in 1916 was still visible. Easter Lily was so exhausted near the peak, she was literally crawling on her stomach to finish her quest, but she completed the climb and found her name still waiting for her at the top.
Hikers are not allowed to climb El Toro on their own without getting prior permission from private landowners, which the Historical Society kindly does for participants of this event.
Local geologist Peter Anderson will be on hand to give a talk about geological events that have occurred in our area in the past 100 million years and how El Toro mountain was subsequently formed.
Boy Scouts from Troop 799, as in years past, will scale the mountain early and install rope handrails used to help assist hikers as they approach the summit where the path gets rather steep. If you care to join one of the expeditions, the Historical Society reminds you to bring gloves, wear sturdy shoes, and don’t forget to bring a bottle of water. Stay on the trail, there’s poison oak in the rough on El Toro. Oh, yes … this event makes for a perfect Kodak moment, especially at the summit on a clear morning, so bring the camera along. Refreshments are served after the completion of the hike. If our readers have further questions, call (408) 779-5755 or e-mail mh*****@*****er.net.
GOODWILL OUT ON ITS EAR?
“I was surprised on a recent trip downtown to find the Goodwill Store closed. What happened and are there plans to reopen? Thanks.”
RED PHONE
Dear Caller, thanks for bringing this business closure to our attention. It’s one of few thrift stores to shop in the area, so we’re glad you made us look into it.
When an employee at the Goodwill store, 17630 Monterey Road, reported hearing timbers making noise and a crack forming on the ceiling of the building, Morgan Hill building official James Fruit was called in to figure out what was going on. Fruit determined that the rafters and ceiling joists needed to be inspected by a structural engineer for possible weakness caused by age.
Goodwill has hired an engineer to do just that and, even though there is no estimated time for coming up with a remedy for this situation, Fruit told the Red Phone that Goodwill, which owns the building, intends to stay in business and will reopen when repairs have been made.
As an advocate for the public, the Crimson Crusader’s mission is to always have a speedy answer for those needing help in our community and address their concerns and inquiries. Red Phone is here to help you, always. You can count on that.
Contact us at (408) 779-4106, ext. 206, or e-mail re******@*************es.com. Remember to leave a name and phone number when you call or e-mail. The Red Phone will not publish this information and will only use it for verification purposes.
