by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

Come on out and volunteer your time to help the local community.

Mountain View Buddhist Temple is having their annual Obon Festival.

Dates – Saturday, July 18^th and Sunday, July 19th.

This year, the Mountain View Buddhist Temple (MVBT) Obon Festival bazaar committee members had developed an online volunteer sign-up page for the various activities and booths leading up to the bazaar and during the two-day bazaar on Saturday, July 18^th and Sunday, July 19^th.

 Positions available – Will be updated next month https://sangha.mvbuddhisttemple.org/obon/

In the past years Nisei Ski Club members had volunteered at the Obon Festival Beer booth. You know how that goes. A little pour, a little taste on the side. BURP..

Here is the link for the BEER BOOTH- Hurry before it gets filled up. SIGN UP PAGE WILL BE AVAILABLE NEXT MONTH

Thank you for stepping up to the plate to VOLUNTEER!

by Armand Gutierrez, President  

May is here and that means it’s time to bring an end to the NSC 2025-2026 season. This was not exactly a great ski season with less-than-average snowfall in Tahoe, but we did have numerous non-ski events for this season:

• Miniature Golf Event
• SF Giants vs. LA Dodgers (twice)
• Annual Luau and Membership Picnic
• Pickle Ball Event (twice)
• Bike Ride – Alameda Creek/Fremont
• France 12-day trip
• Bike Ride – Tiburon
• Lake Chabot Hike
• NSC Potluck at Miraido Village
• Park City Ski Week
• FWSA Chamonix Ski Week
• Lake Chabot Hike

Upcoming Events

There are numerous events scheduled for 2026 and a few for 2027. Many thanks to Jeanne Katsuro for putting together a Calendar of Events and those events are now on the Events & Ski Trips tab on the website at: https://www.niseiskiclub.org/events-ski-trips/.

There are a several events coming up:

• 9 May, Saturday – Pickle Ball with Tina Woo.
• 20 June, Saturday – Mahjong with Judy Hom
• 20 June, Saturday – Tiburon Bike Ride with Roland Lee

Membership Report

There were no new members and our total remains at 114. June is next month and that marks the start of the NSC 2026-2027 season, and it’s time to restart the upcoming season with a return of our standby events and a few new ones. Beginning this month you can take advantage of the $5 membership discount if you sign up and submit your membership form by May 31^st (there were a few early birds in April). Please submit your application to Armand Gutierrez (Membership Chairman).

2027 NSC Ski Week

Plans for Snowmass for 2027 are in progress, with lodging at the Timberline Condos confirmed (again) for 23-30 January. Yes, there were some changes since we could not get enough units at the Crestwood (6-13 Feb). The Ikon Pass includes Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, and Buttermilk, and the Ikon Base Pass is good for only Snowmass. If you don’t want to get an Ikon Pass then Sports America is offering 5-day (adult/senior) lift tickets that will be good for all four mountains. So, stay tuned for further developments in the coming months.

Use this for Epic passes: https://www.sportsamerica.com/epic-nisei

Use this for Ikon passes: https://www.sportsamerica.com/ikon-nisei (requires a password that was sent earlier as a separate email).

Board Nominations & Elections

The nominations process is complete and the next step is elections. The elections designee (that would be Karen Soo) has indicated that there were no new nominations, and two board members are not returning for this season. Therefore, the slate will consist of the incumbents that are returning to the board. The election ballot will be distributed in the coming weeks.

Questions: contact president@niseiskiclub.org

QotM: Doing what you love is freedom. Loving what you do is happiness. (from a fortune cookie)

by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

Nisei Ski Club’s elections will be held in the month of May and we need you to vote. Most of the 2025 Officers and Board members are coming back for 2026. Sadly, board members Joel Hayashida and Jeff Honda will not be returning. We hope to see you at the NSC picnic in July…

Ballots will be going out next week. Please do your civil Nisei Ski Club duty and VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great news, we have 2 written articles from long time member Haruko Nagaishi and new member Christie Dews. Thank you for your submits. See slide photos below.

By Haruko Nagaishi , NSC Member

On April 4, 2026 19 hikers and 3 dogs went on a beautiful hike at Lake Chabot Regional Park.  It was led by Roland Lee and Judy Fong and Judy’s husband Winston Fong.  It was a 3.8 mile hike on a loop with the last part on the East Ridge Train which was on wooded trails in the shade and overlooking the lake.  This was much appreciated because of the heat.  After the hike, many of us went to either Bass Seafood Express or Canyon BBQ in Castro Valley.  Many thanks to the leaders for a well planned outing.

By Christie Dews, NSC Member

It was a beautiful day for a hike and another memorable event with the Nisei Ski Club—proof that the group offers much more than skiing.  The hike at Lake Chabot drew an excellent turnout and the weather could not have been more ideal.

Participants enjoyed a scenic route with views of the surrounding landscape, rolling hills and the lake itself during the latter part of the trail. The setting provided a perfect balance of sun and shade, making it a really enjoyable and refreshing experience.

The event was well organized and offered a wonderful opportunity to connect with new people. 

There were plenty of good conversations along the trail, including an especially inspiring one with Alyssa. 

We parted ways at the end and went on to two different venues for lunch, rounding out a fulfilling day of activity and connection. 

Fun excursions like this continue to highlight the variety of experiences the NSC and Bay Area have to offer and there is great anticipation for the next outing.

CHECK OUT THE SLIDE SHOW

By Angela Ren, NSC Member

Thirteen Nisei members headed out on Collette’s Painted Canyons of the West trip for 9 days in late April.  We all had a fabulous time immersing ourselves in some of the most beautiful and iconic landscapes in our country if not the world while meeting and spending time with old and new friends.

Here are some of the highlights:

Denver, CO:

Our whole group met in Denver where we began our over 1,000-mile journey to be covered over the next 7 days.

Grand Junction, CO:

We headed out of Denver early the next morning on our way to Grand Junction, CO.  We spent most of the day riding the bus as we admired the gorgeous scenery of the Rocky Mountains and the Glenwood Canyon which was carved by the Colorado River more than 3 million years ago.  Our bus arrived in Grand Junction at a winery called Varaison Vineyards & Winery right in time for us to enjoy a private dinner that was specifically catered just for our group.  Besides being treated to a wonderfully prepared dinner, the winemakers also gave us an incredible lesson in how to choose and drink the different varietals of wine.   We all learned and experienced wine tasting in way that made us realize we have been choosing and drinking the wrong wines for decades!

Moab, UT:

Our journey continued from Grand Junction the next morning to the Colorado National Monument.  We saw sheer-walled, red rock canyons along the twists and turns of Red Rock Drive.  Our bus made a few stops through the park to allow us to take some selfies and ussies with breathtaking views as our backdrops.  As we made our way to Utah on the Upper Colorado Byway, known by the locals as “River Road”, we rode alongside the Colorado River and marveled at the Fisher Towers which looms over spectacular mesas.  We arrived in Moab around dinnertime and had another fabulous dinner at one of the most popular restaurants in town.

The next day, we set out to explore the otherworldly oases of 2 national parks – Arches and Canyonlands.  At these 2 parks, we discovered a world of mesas and canyons.  At the Island in the Sky in Canyonlands, we looked out over a landscape of ethereal valleys and dreamy horizons.  Our last stop of the day was a pilgrimage atop the sheer sandstone cliffs of Dead Horse Point State Park.

Bryce Canyon City, UT

Traveling through the dramatic Utah desert on Scenic Highway 24, we visited the Capitol Reef National Park.  This Park is named for the curved white walls that resemble the US Capitol building.  As we continued on the Million Dollar Road, we took in the stunning views of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, where layers of warm reds and oranges melt into smooth sided peaks. 

The next day, we spent the entire morning at Bryce Canyon National Park where we saw the famous hoodoos – vibrant rock formations likened to fairy chimneys.  Some of us took advantage of our allotted time and did a short hike to get up close and personal with the graceful geology.  We also took in the sprawling vistas walking along Sunset Point, leading into Sunrise Point Rim Trail. 

Springdale, UT:

At Zion National Park, the first item on our agenda for the day was taking a ride on Zion’s open-air tram where we trekked along the Virgin River through the 2,400-foot deep, half-mile wide Zion Canyon.  The rest of the day we were given the time to explore the Park on our own.  All 13 of us had a plan to do some of the hikes that were within our limitations.  Once we reached the banks of the Virgin River, 4 members of our group decided to roll up their pant legs, remove their shoes & socks, and braved the frigid waters of around 55 degrees to hike as far as they could go through The Narrows hike.  The rest of us who decided to keep our feet warm and dry, continued on a few more leisurely hikes and then called it a day.

Las Vegas, NV:

The last full day of our trip ended with an overnight stay in Las Vegas.  A few members of our group decided to try their luck at the casinos, while a few more attended one of the numerous live performance shows. The remaining group members decided to have dinner at a Chinese restaurant.

We all had an amazing trip and many of us want to make plans to visit these parks again in the future.  Although these parks by themselves are extraordinary, this trip was more memorable because we all enjoyed this time together with fellow Nisei members who are all fun and easy to get along with which was the main reason that this trip was amazing!

CHECK OUT THE SLIDE SHOW

by Tina Woo, NSC Member

Saturday, May 9, 2026 from 11:00am – 2:00pm 

Sunnyvale Tennis Center

$20.00 per member

$25.00 for non-members

One of the 4 courts will be designated to teach Beginners how to play

Lessons will be given by intermediate Nisei Players.

Please bring a potluck item to share at 12:30 pm

We’ll play from 11:00-1:00pm – Snack and eat until 2 pm.

The Club will provide pickleballs and water

For more information email Tina Woo pickleball@niseiskiclub.org

Write Check Payable to Nisei Ski Club

Send check to Nisei Ski Club c/o Tina Woo, 21577 Villa Maria Court, Cupertino, CA 95014

by Roland Lee, Board Member

Join Nisei Ski Club for bike ride around the Tiburon Loop on Saturday, June 20th, 2026

Bike riders are welcome to join the event. If you are not planning to ride, you can visit the Museum on the water front walkway path.

The NSC bike ride and museum are all free.

We will meet for lunch after the bike ride. There are restaurants on the main road near the Tiburon Ferry.

Electric bikes can be rented at the Trek bike store next to CHP office in Corte Madera.  They cost $ 100.00 for 24-hours.

RSVP by Wednesday, June 17
Please let us know if you are a Bike Rider or Non-Bike Rider.
Email to Roland Lee Tiburonloop@niseiskiclub.org

by Judy Hom , NSC Member

Email Judy at mahjong@niseiskiclub.org to be added to the wait list..

by Karen Soo, Trip Director

Please join us on Saturday, July 18th at Las Palmas Park in Sunnyvale for our annual Nisei Ski Club Luau Picnic.

Time – 12:00pm – 5:00pm

You will receive your Evite invitation at the end June. It will be sent out from Armand G.

Please RSVP no later than Wednesday, July 15 so we can order the right amount of food for the picnic.

by Armand Gutierrez, President

The Nisei Ski Club has participated in a variety of charitable organizations, and over the past few years we have supported the Asian Pacific Film Fest, Achieve Tahoe, and a one-time donation for the victims of the Lahaina fire in Hawaii in 2023 through cash donations. Now NSC has an opportunity to make an impact on people’s lives by participating in the One Warm Coat Drive. The One Warm Coat organization https://www.onewarmcoat.org/ is a national nonprofit organization that embodies a movement of kindness through the donation of coats to people in need.

This charitable opportunity is now available to the membership and for you to join Jeanne Katsuro and I on this charitable endeavor. So how can you help? Simple. At the Annual Membership Meeting and Luau Picnic on July 18, all you need to bring is one warm coat (or more if you have them). The coats can be for adult or young kids, and should be clean and wearable (no holes or rips). The coats collected at the picnic will be picked up by Jeanne or myself, and stored until October or November when they can then be taken to one of the One Warm Coat designated drop off locations. From there they will be distributed to people in need during the Thanksgiving or Christmas season.

by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

Discover the 2026 AAPI Heritage Month Celebration Guide
San Francisco’s Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month is your gateway to exploring vibrant traditions and diverse cultures. Our carefully curated guide features an array of exciting AAPI cultural performances, workshops, film screenings, community festivals, and author talks taking place throughout May 2026. Consider this guide your passport to experiencing the rich heritage of our community.

https://apasf.org/#guide

by Armand Gutierrez, President  

My week of skiing at Chamonix brought back memories from 2012 and there was plenty of snow. That’s a group photo of us skiing at La Flégère, one of six resorts at Chamonix. After returning from my ski week (and week in Paris/Normandy) I thought I’d be able to get a few more weekends of skiing up at Tahoe. Wrong! After looking at the Northstar, Heavenly, and Palisades webcams it became apparent that my ski season was over. Would it be correct to assume that this ski season was one of the worst for Tahoe? Let’s hope that next season is better than this season.

Here is a list of resort closing dates:

April 12, Northstar

April 19, Heavenly

April 26, Kirkwood

April 26, Mt. Rose

May 24, Mammoth

May 25, Palisades/Alpine Meadows

Keep in mind that the numbers of open lifts/trails are limited.

Upcoming Events

There are a numerous events scheduled for 2026 and a few for 2027. Many thanks to Jeanne Katsuro for putting together a Calendar of Events and those events are now on the Events & Ski Trips tab on the website at: https://www.niseiskiclub.org/events-ski-trips/.

Membership Report

Let’s welcome new member Geoffrey Wong that joined in March and our total is now 114 members.

2027 NSC Ski Week

Plans for Snowmass for 2027 are in progress, with lodging confirmed 6-13 February. The Ikon Pass includes Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, and Buttermilk, and the Ikon Base Pass is good for only Snowmass. So, stay tuned for further developments in the coming months

Use this for Epic passes: https://www.sportsamerica.com/epic-nisei

Use this for Ikon passes: https://www.sportsamerica.com/ikon-nisei (requires a password that will be sent as a separate email).

Board Nominations & Elections

Well, it’s that time again for holding our board nominations and elections for the 2026-2027 season, and an email for making your nominations for the board will soon find its way to your inbox. There is an opening for a regular board member as Joel Hayashida has decided to take a break, so please consider nominating yourself if interested. As you know,volunteers run this club, and without them this club would cease to exist, and it’s been in existence for over 65 years! You are encouraged to take this opportunity to nominate an individual for one, or more, of the board positions. All individuals that accept the nomination(s) will go through an election process in May, and final results will be announced in the June Newsletter. Many of you have served on the board in the past, and your efforts were greatly appreciated and perhaps you would like to join the board again. For those that have never served then perhaps now is the time to consider a board position and provide new ideas and useful experience.

Questions: contact president@niseiskiclub.org

QotM: If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

By Sandy Kiyomura, NSC Member

On February 21, Linda Moran and I joined 70 members of the Hawaii Ski club in Honolulu for their annual trip to Japan. This was my 4^th ski trip to Japan and I had never skied at Rusutsu, (neither had Linda). Hawaii ski club offered the week for $3500, which included air from Honolulu, a 5-star hotel, daily breakfast, 3 group dinners and 5 days of skiing.  I can see why the skiers in Hawaii like Japan. It’s a shorter flight; lift tickets are cheap ($50) and the food Oishi.

Our hotel, the Rusutsu resort was ski in, ski out and had an onsen. These are the requirements for Hawaii ski club when choosing a destination. The Rusutsu resort hotel had a variety of restaurants, and some offered music at night. I especially liked the Hokkaido cream puffs and ice cream. Hokkaido milk is very tasty and makes good ice cream and desserts.

Rusutsu is a small resort made up of 3 “mountains”. I found the skiing challenging, especially since it was icy the first few days. Although there was no fresh powder, the skiing was fun anyway. The views were breath taking and the company better.

Alan Teremura, the group leader provided daily tours. He’s an expert skier and I think my skills improved because of him. Did I mention that there were 8 members from NSC on the trip? Besides Linda and myself, there was Roland Lee and his wife Rosa, Karen Kimura and Sarah Lowe, and Jay Fukuda and Ed Ho from Hawaii.  It was fun skiing with them but also eating and “hanging out”. There was a double decker merry-go-round that Jay and Roland seemed to enjoy. The hotel also had arcade games (for kids big and small). Jay tried out his pitching skills on one and Roland tried “whacking a mole”.

After skiing 5 days, some of us took a trip to Sapporo. The bus ride was 2 hours each way, which gave us only 3 hours to shop and eat. We looked like we were on “the Amazing Race” looking for stores and food.  There was excellent ramen in Ramen Alley.

If you want to ski in Japan, the Hawaii ski club has a trip every year.  Everyone gets a lanyard with their name, a calendar for the week and a yen conversion table.  You also get a Hawaiian print ribbon to put on your helmet so you can recognize fellow club members on the slopes. The members are friendly and I felt welcomed.

PS: I went to Big Sky with them in 2012 and they will be going to Big Sky in 2027.

CHECK OUT THE SLIDE SHOW

by Jeanne Katsuro, Vice President

Meet at Lake Chabot Marina Parking @9:30AM

Please text Jeanne Katsuro 408-569-1415

Join the NSC for a beautiful Bay Area hike at the Lake Chabot Regional Park (East Bay RPD Link), and continue the fun by strolling the Castro Valley Creek Downtown (YouTube Link) zone “après hike” and explore the shops and eateries led by Led by Roland Lee and Judy Hom.

The 3.8-mile loop (396 foot elevation gain) hike that links portions of the Indian Cove, Ten Hills, Cameron Loop, and East Shore trails (AllTrails Chabot3) has gentle hills and refreshing water views.  Along the way, we will see early spring blooms,  trees, the lake, and wildlife!  Park at the Lake Chabot Marina Parking Lot (Lake Chabot Parking Entrance). 

The all-day parking fee is $5 per vehicle and the kiosk accepts major credit cards and quarters.  Carpooling is suggested.  Bring: hat, sunscreen, sturdy shoes, water… 

Downtown Lake Castro activity will be ad hoc with a plan but with a plan subject to change based on group interest.  The plan is to park at the Luckys.

Final details will be provided to signees via email.  Please sign up so that the hike leader can provide last minute fine-tuned details.

by Tina Woo, NSC Member

Saturday, May 9, 2026 from 11:00am – 2:00pm 

Sunnyvale Tennis Center

$20.00 per member

$25.00 for non-members

One of the 4 courts will be designated to teach Beginners how to play

Lessons will be given by intermediate Nisei Players.

Please bring a potluck item to share at 12:30 pm

We’ll play from 11:00-1:00pm – Snack and eat until 2 pm.

The Club will provide pickleballs and water

For more information email Tina Woo pickleball@niseiskiclub.org

Write Check Payable to Nisei Ski Club

Send check to Nisei Ski Club c/o Tina Woo, 21577 Villa Maria Court, Cupertino, CA 95014

by Judy Hom , NSC Member

Do you love mahjong? If you’re looking for somebody to play with, want more practice, or just learn how to play, then sign up for the NSC Mahjong event and potluck! Our coaches can teach newbies the basics and give tips to people who already know how to play.

We focus on the Cantonese style where we play with 13 tiles and flowers. We will explain how to score, both HK and Classical Chinese scoring. If mahjong is on your bucket list, then sign-up! We know that all NSC members like to eat so this is also a potluck event. 

For more information Email Judy at mahjong@niseiskiclub.org

by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

These Italian almond cookies are one of the simplest and most delicious cookies. They’re soft, naturally oil-free, easy to make in just one bowl.

These are gluten-free Italian cookies made with almond flour, which is naturally rich in fiber and protein, gluten-free, and lower in saturated fat—without any added butter or oil.

Best of all, you can make these cookies in one bowl—ready in about 30 minutes, with no special tools required. They’re perfect for sharing with family or guests when you want something quick and homemade. Enjoy!

Bon Appetit – Julia Child and Karen Soo shares the same birthday

Ingredients

Ingredients

• 3 cups almond flour
• 2/3 cup powdered sugar + 3 tablespoons for coating the cookies
• 1 large egg white
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 orange the grated zest

1. Combine Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 340°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper so the cookies don’t stick.

• Put 3 cups almond flour, ⅔ cup powdered sugar, 1 large egg white, 1 tablespoon honey and the grated zest of 1 orange into a bowl.

• Mix the Dough: Stir with a spoon, then use your hand to gently squeeze and pinch the mixture. It will look dry at first—this is normal! Keep squeezing until it comes together into one ball.

• If it still won’t stick after about a minute, add a tiny bit more egg white.

• Shape: Sprinkle 3 tablespoons powdered sugar onto a plate.

• Break off pieces of dough and roll them into small balls (you should get 15 balls—about 1 ounce). Roll each ball in the powdered sugar.

• Press and Bake: Place balls on the baking sheet, then gently press your thumb into the center so the edges crack a little.

• Bake at 340°F for 12 minutes. The cookies should stay pale and soft and will not spread. Let them cool before eating—this helps them set and taste their best.

by Armand Gutierrez, President  

In 2012 Curtis Otaguro and I went on the FWSA Chamonix trip (my first). We stayed at the Hotel Alpina, skied four of the ski resorts, skied the Vallée Blanche, and skied one day in Verbier (where I met my buddy). Well, here it is 2026 and I’m making a return trip to Chamonix, leaving on 26 Feb and skiing Chamonix from 1-6 March, then the extension week in Paris and Normandy (another first). The Hotel Alpina went through a major upgrade and is now the Hotel Alpina Eclectic.

In the past few seasons it seems like I always miss out on big snow dumps. Park City had poor snow conditions. That is, after we left it dumped 2’ of dry, powdery snowflakes. Then Tahoe got the big dump. Again, I missed out because of my upcoming trip to Chamonix. With all that snow in Tahoe I hope many of you will get up there for some great skiing.

Membership Report

Let’s welcome Katherine & Mel Young, Doug Higashi and Shari Fujii; returning members that joined in February and our total is now 113 members.

2027 NSC Ski Week

It was announced at the end of the Park City ski week that next year’s destination is Snowmass, CO, from 6-13 February. Look for details later in the year. Snowmass is on the Ikon pass and includes Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, and Buttermilk.

Questions: contact president@niseiskiclub.org

QotM: You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only option.

By Sally Shimada-Lee and Ski Buddies, NSC Members

From February 7–14, 2026, we had the pleasure of joining our first Nisei Ski Club trip to Park City.

I joined NSC one year ago and invited seven of my ski buddies to become members as well. We all enjoy skiing, playing pickleball and cards, and traveling—and eating—together, so this felt like the perfect opportunity to experience new adventures and meet new friends among the warm, welcoming members of the club.

Bringing together a group of 34 members takes a great deal of planning, organizing, and communication, and we truly appreciate the excellent job Armand did as trip leader.

Thanks to his hard work, the trip was a wonderful success, and we look forward to many more fun adventures with this active group in the future.

The locals even joked that we sunny Californians brought much-needed snow to Utah—and shortly after, our own Sierra Nevada received record-breaking snowfall as well. To all skiers: enjoy this fantastic season, and ski safely.

Tim Hadlock, New NSC Member

The February 2026 Ski trip to Park City/Canyons Ski Mountain in Utah seemed to go by so quickly.  During the week there the weather and conditions included everything from sunny Spring skiing conditions on Super Bowl Sunday to fog and thunder snow storms later in the week.   We all got in plenty of skiing and ended each day sore, tired, hungry, and happy.  The accommodations where we stayed, Snow Flower Condominiums, were conveniently located just next to the Park City Village.

This was my first trip with the club and I was impressed with how well organized everything was and how smooth the trip went.  Pretty much everyone was a new face to me; from our condo leader – Wes, to the others we skied with – David, Greg, Winnie, Wendy, Guy, Mary, and others.  Everyone got along well and we looked after each other on the slopes.  With some encouragement, I took on some new challenges to up my game on moguls and I made some progress. 

After long days of skiing some of us rested up in the heated pool/jacuzzi and then small groups would either go out for dinner or cook in the condos.  I felt lucky to have some good cooks in my group.  Even in an unfamiliar kitchen, they managed to cook healthy and tasty dinners for several nights (kudos to David, Greg, and Wes).  We ate out a couple of nights, one at a local Ramen restaurant which we walked and the other night we took the bus downtown to an Italian restaurant. The walls of the restaurant were covered in framed quotes about food.  One I liked was:

“Fish . . . to taste right must swim three times – in water, in butter, and in wine.

A Polish Proverb”

We had two nights during the trip where everyone got together. The first get together was to watch the Super Bowl and the other was “Pot Luck” night.  At the Super Bowl party there were lots of snacks and at the Pot Luck party every condo brought a main course and a dessert.  There was plenty of great food and everyone enjoyed the get together.

A big thanks to Armand, the condo leaders, and everyone else who helped make the trip a success!

Check out the slideshow….

by Sandy Kiyomura, NSC Member

In January, seven NSC adventurers set off for Crested Butte, joining nearly 150 skiers from every corner of the country for the Far West Ski Association’s annual ski week.

Crested Butte itself feels like it was plucked straight from a storybook — a tiny, gingerbread‑trimmed town tucked outside Gunnison, Colorado, where every storefront looks dusted with powdered sugar and the mountains rise like hand‑painted backdrops. Colorado never skimps on scenery, but Crested Butte has a charm all its own.

The cold was the kind that makes your breath sparkle — minus four degrees — yet somehow it didn’t bite the way you’d expect. A few of us kept warm the old‑fashioned way: skiing fast enough that the wind couldn’t catch us. With the low snowpack closing the double blacks runs, we carved long, easy arcs down the blues, cruising nearly 20,000 vertical feet a day.

At the welcome reception, the NSC crew gathered — Dan Lew, Kathy Fang, Carol Henri, Elaine Graves, Judy Bracken, and Sandy Kiyomura — with Jim Stewart somewhere just out of frame. Along the way we picked up a new friend, Sandra Mirones from LA, who slipped seamlessly into our group and spent the week skiing with us. There’s a great shot of her and Dan under a towering Christmas tree, glowing like ornaments themselves.

And if you ever find yourself in Crested Butte, promise me one thing: go to Secret Stash Pizz. Calling it “pizza” doesn’t do it justice — it’s an experience, the kind you remember long after the snow has melted. https://www.secretstash.com/

Check out the slideshow….

By Xiang Liao MD, NSC Member

Under a cloudy February sky
After the Magnolias have peaked their blooms
After the lovers exchanged their thousand kisses 
The chocolate strawberries have not melted 
Allured by the wilderness, the skiers glided into the rugged Mountains leaving their earthy life behind
Perhaps for a temporary escape
Black bird, Frog Lake, Castle Peak
Mother-nature, tight embrace 
All white, all white
Breathtaking, all encompassing 
All white, all white
They have turned into snow angels
Radiant, bright, beautiful, warm , kind
Snowflakes shivering 
Pine trees weeping 
Sisters hand in hand
Snow Angels sing.

by Joel Hayashida, Board Member

Meet at Lake Chabot Marina Parking @9:30AM

Join the NSC for a beautiful Bay Area hike at the Lake Chabot Regional Park (East Bay RPD Link), and continue the fun by strolling the Castro Valley Creek Downtown (YouTube Link) zone “après hike” and explore the shops and eateries led by former NSC President, Joel Hayashida. 

The 3.8-mile loop (396 foot elevation gain) hike that links portions of the Indian Cove, Ten Hills, Cameron Loop, and East Shore trails (AllTrails Chabot3) has gentle hills and refreshing water views.  Along the way, we will see early spring blooms,  trees, the lake, and wildlife!  Park at the Lake Chabot Marina Parking Lot (Lake Chabot Parking Entrance). 

The all-day parking fee is $5 per vehicle and the kiosk accepts major credit cards and quarters.  Carpooling is suggested.  Bring: hat, sunscreen, sturdy shoes, water… 

Downtown Lake Castro activity will be ad hoc with a plan but with a plan subject to change based on group interest.  The plan is to park at the Luckys.

The target après-hike eatery is Canyons Barbeque (BBQ) as there is a good amount of seating. 

Final details will be provided to signees via email around end of March.  Please sign up so that the hike leader can provide last minute fine-tuned details.