~ Da Prez, Armand Gutierrez ~

Summer is officially here and the recent temperatures in the Bay Area  are a testament to the typical summer weather pattern. By now most everyone is enjoying golfing, hiking, biking, and other outdoor events. For me, well I don’t golf, hike, or bike. Instead, I take to the air for some hang gliding and soar with the local hawks and falcons.

Between membership sign ups and the Jackson Hole sign ups, I am really enthusiastic about this season, and our membership has already surpassed that of last year. With new members, former members, and returning members, our club is off to a good start.  Yes, part of that is due to the popularity of the Jackson Hole trip for next year, but I can’t help but think that with the new and returning members, NSC will continue to grow and our scheduled summer picnic will have a greater attendance, and perhaps we can actually have two weekend bus trips this season. Of course, the latter does depend on a bountiful snowfall, and that is being encouraged by the weather forecasters that are calling for an El Niño season.

Mt. View Obon Festival July 19th and 20th

This festival is coming up soon and if you want to participate as a volunteer then be sure to contact Karen Soo (tripdirector@niseiskiclub.org). As a side note, our community and volunteer efforts are made known to BAC so they can recognize NSC in their newsletters and website.

NSC Picnic, August 9th

Yes, this event is next month and the board is already working on the details (food, drinks, etc.). See the Picnic flyer on the club website plus there will be an Evite invitation in your email by mid-July.

Jackson Hole, a Big NSC Ski Week?

What can I say about Jackson Hole? This trip is turning out to be bigger than I expected, which is great news. So far ,we have close to 50 confirmed sign ups and I expect at least another 10 to sign up before the end of the month. That puts us at 60+ people. With the stream of applications coming in, I increased our head count from 40 to 50, and now it’s up to 60. This kind of attendance is usually found in the ever-popular Vail trips. In fact, our membership is just a little over 60, so it’s possible this trip will be attended by 90+% of the membership. Now, when was the last time that happened? If you haven’t signed up yet then look for the Jackson Hole flyer in the newsletter and other details in the Jackson Hole Report.

~ The Prez, Armand Gutierrez ~

Membership Activity

June was like May, a flurry of renewals, former members re-joining, and new memberships.  There were a total of 33 sign-ups, with seven new members joining NSC for the first time, and 13 former member signups plus 13 renewals.  Currently we have 75 members, which also includes a few signups in July. For the past couple of years our membership has been on a declining trend and this year we have already surpassed our total of 52 members for last season. No doubt that it’s due to the Jackson Hole trip, but it is still encouraging to see our membership on the rise again. Hopefully this trend will continue in the years to come.

I would like to welcome the following new members from Fremont, Sacramento and Saratoga:

Carolyn B. 
Joanne N. 
Patrice L.
Judy and James W. 
Debra and Gilbert L. 

In addition to new members there were 13 former members that have returned to NSC, most likely for the Jackson Hole trip in 2015.

Jackson Hole Ski Week (24-31 January 2-15)

The Jackson Hole trip is turning out to be a very popular trip and bigger than I had expected. At the end of June, there were 33 sign-ups and about 14 more who are planning on going. Originally there were spaces for 40 people, then I increased that to 50 when the applications started streaming in. And now? Well, more people have signed up and once again I’ve increased the available airline seats from 50 to 60.  And, at last count we’ve already hit 59, which means there is one space available. Looks like a waiting list will be started and I will  inquire about the possibility of getting additional airline seats. So, if you haven’t signed up for this trip then what are you waiting for? With a lot of former members on this trip this will be an opportunity to re-connect with old friends and have a mini-reunion.

Info & Sign-up link: Jackson Hole Sign-Up

~ by Margaret Wong ~

The hike at the Fall Creek section of Cowell Redwoods on Sunday, June 22 organized by Hoyt was even better than he had promised in the newsletter.  I was apprehensive about going because I am only a wanna-be hiker and the 5 miles round trip was rather scary for me because I didn’t  want to think that they might have to carry me back to the car.  And then I did not know anybody, not even Hoyt.

But I was brave enough to sign up.  I quickly got rewarded when I entered Hoyt’s house and was greeted by a group from Sacramento assuring me that Nisei hikes are just like walking and do not worry.  Some local folks joined us too and it was like we had known each other forever. Hoyt did a great job transporting us south toward Santa Cruz to Felton Empire Road.  There, at near the Bennett Creek trail head, we found another group waiting for Hoyt, this one from San Jose.  In total, there were 14 of us with Sophia whose home (Shanghai, China) was the most far away.

By then, we were pretty anxious to start walking toward the Redwood, Douglas fir, coyote brush, California coffee-berry and manzanita on the trail.  After a few steps, the chaparral faded and we entered a forest with lots of second growth redwoods.   At 0.16 mile, Bennett Creek Trail met Fall Creek Trail where we heard the tiny roar of the creek waterfall. The trail kept a mostly level course, but there were a few short rolling bits.

Before long, we were at an area with 12 foot high abandoned lime kilns where we took our group photo.  Soon Fall Creek Trail came to a stream crossing, the first of many employing simple planks.  We continued straight on Fall Creek Trail.  The grade picked up noticeably.  At 2.26 mites, a sign on the left marked the Barrel Mill site. We continued a few feet down the trail and found our luncheon place. A sign explained how the downed redwoods were transformed into barrels at this spot, with water-driven staves cutting boards, and hazelnut hoops maintaining the shape of the barrel.

It was a wonderful place for lunch.  We each found our own log.  There was such a variety of food for sharing – homegrown tangerines, homemade cookies, Oreo cookies, farm grown apricots and assorted fruits.  After lunch, Hoyt said we were ready for the return hike.  Because I was so engrossed in conversation, I just kept walking and soon I saw the parking lot.

Since the nearest restroom was at the Hallcrest Vineyards & The Organic Wine Works in Felton, we just had to go there.  We had a wonderful time chatting and tasting their different wines such as cabaret sauvignon, Merlot, zinfandel, and pinot noir.

The trip back to Hoyt’s place was rather fast as we continued chatting and learning more about one another.

Four of us got together for dinner at Shaburi Shabu Shabu in San Jose’s Japantown.

I had a great day.  What a treat for all the senses – beautiful scenery for the eyes, delicious food and wines for our taste, hiking for our bodies, roaring creek water for our ears, and most of all, wonderful people for our hearts. It was so lovely meeting such wonderful people.  Thank you Hoyt for organizing the hike.

So, here we are, the beginning of a new membership year.  In this month’s newsletter, we have:

• President Armand Gutierrez’s President’s Message
• Armand’s Membership and Jackson Hole report
• Jackson Hole flyer and sign up form, trip date : Jan 24-31, 2015
  Jake the Ski Fool says “follow me to Jackson Hole for our 2015 ski week trip.” NSC has not been to Jackson Hole since 2001 and it’s time to make a return trip. There’s a new big “Red Tram” to whisk us to the top, Corbet’s Couloir for the insane skiers, the Vertical Foot Club, and perhaps a moose or two on the slopes….
  
• Hoyt Nelson’s Fall Creek Hike in Cowell Redwoods Park on June 22
  Join Hoyt in another of his fun hikes.  Probably no concrete slides on this hike, but lush verdant views! Get in touch with your arboreal self…
• Annual BBQ Picnic and General Meeting at Las Palmas Park, Sunnyvale on August 9
  Renew acquaintances, make new ones, meet your officers at the annual BBQ picnic!
• Mountain View Obon Festival beer booth  – July 19-20
  Volunteer for the beer booth. NSC has some of the most impressive beer drinkers, come help out or buy some beer!

Editor’s Opinion In Armand’s President’s Message for this month, he describes the board composition and the absence of general elections for the 2014-2015 membership year.  Armand surmises that the membership is happy with the board and its management of the club and the direction the board is taking.  I would like to offer a differing opinion.  I contend that one does not know how the membership feels without elections or taking a survey.  While continuity is good, new blood could be better.  Some of the board members have been tirelessly fulfilling for years.

Some of us would like to relinquish our positions and move on.  We don’t really know how the membership feels, or perhaps, you’re apathetic, assuming that the club will take care of itself while you enjoy all that the club has to offer. Hopefully, this has given you something on which to ponder and make the decision to step up and become a member active in the running of your club. ~ your Ed. ~

Snow activities in summer!

So, the day before Memorial Day, I ran another marathon, but I had this urge for snow, so 4 days later, I was climbing to the top of Mount Shasta at 14,179 feet with crampons on my feet, helmet on my noggin and ice axe in hand.  It was an arduous two day adventure, but very rewarding. Read about my adventure here: << Mt Shasta climb >>

A New Season
June marks a new season for NSC and so far it’s off to a great start. As president for a third term it’s a pleasure to announce that we have the same returning board members, which will maintain the continuity we’ve had for the past five years.  Although we have provisions for nominations/elections and we didn’t have any this year, it appears that perhaps the membership is satisfied with the current board and direction the club is taking. But, there’s always room for improvement and the board is going to actively pursue candidates that would be an asset as new board members.

Another highlight for the new season is the addition of four new members (and hopefully more in the coming months), and the return of former members. Most likely this is due to the popularity of the Jackson Hole trip, and it’s encouraging to see former members return to NSC. See the <<Membership Report >> for additional details.

Mt. View Obon Festival July 19th and 20th
This is an annual volunteer event that NSC participates in and is always a fun event. After all, there’s a variety of food, carnival-style games, cultural events, lots of people, and the famous Beer Booth. There’s room for a few more volunteers to work the Beer Booth.  Here’s the link to the << Obon Festival flyer >> or contact Karen Soo (tripdirector@niseiskiclub.org).

NSC Picnic, August 9th
Mark this down in your calendar for the NSC Picnic on August 9th at the Las Palmas park in Sunnyvale (same place as last year). See the flyer  at this link:  <<Picnic Flyer >>  and there will be an Evite invitation in your email sometime in July.

Jackson Hole, a Big NSC Ski Week?
When I first announced on our Sun Peaks ski week that Jackson Hole would be our destination for 2015 there were quite a few positive responses. Later, as news started spreading it came to my attention that this could be a really big event. I also learned that there are quite a few members from the Hawaii Ski Club that are interested. So, in response to the popularity of this trip I’ve increased the 40-person limit to 50. Look for the Jackson Hole flyer in this edition of the newsletter and other details on the Jackson Hole Report.  << Sign Up form & Info >>

~ Armand Gutierrez, President ~

Membership Activity

May was just a flurry of renewals, former members joining, and new memberships as members took advantage of the early sign-up discount.  There were a total of 37 signups, with four new members joining NSC for the first time, which handily beats last year’s 26 early signups.  Currently we have 44 members (including the seven board members), which is a record for early signups. Last year we had a total of 52 members and it looks like we’ll surpass that in June.

I would like to welcome new members Teresa and Warren Miller from Live Oak, and David Schultz and Lieu Lieu from San Jose. I’ve known Teresa and Warren for several years and have skied with them up at Tahoe. We also skied and stayed at the same hotel on the FWSA Zermatt ski week this past March. David and Lieu have been on Hoyt’s summer hikes and have wanted to join NSC for several years.

In addition to new members there were nine former members that have returned to NSC, most likely for the Jackson Hole trip in 2015. The return of former members is exciting because it’s always a pleasure to see familiar faces.

Jackson Hole Ski Week (24-31 January 2-15)

Last month the board met Matt Hollis from Sports America at our May board meeting. Matt provided us with  information about the Jackson Hole trip and I’ve been working with him to finalize the lodging arrangements. For details on this great trip see the Jackson Hole flyer in the June Newsletter. This trip appears to be quite popular and I’ve already expanded the available airline seats from 40 to 50.

I’m also getting indications that the Jackson Hole trip might bring in a few members that we haven’t seen in quite awhile so hopefully that will mean more signups in the coming months.

Sign up form and details link → Jackson-Hole Flyer -SignUp

The week of Memorial Day was a very busy week for me, your newsletter editor.  The day before Memorial Day, I ran another marathon and BQ’d.  It must have been the runner’s high or euphoria of some crazy nature, or maybe just plain craziness,  but 3 days later, I was headed to Mount Shasta to climb to the summit with a group of 10. Of the 10, only 3 were experienced at mountaineering.  We had backpacking experience, but not mountaineering experience.  Heck, we had trouble figuring out how to put the crampons on! Nonetheless, , we enthusiastically set forth on our adventure with the assurance that 2 of the experienced climbers worked with Mountain Rescu! but had never climbed Shasta before. The plan was to hike/climb up on Day 1 from the  at Bunny Flat trail head (6700 feet) and set up base camp at Helen Lake at 10,000 feet of elevation .  On Day 2, the plan was climb to the summit and descend  back to our cars .

Day 1 – The first couple of miles from Bunny Flat (I never saw any bunnies) were your garden variety backpack trail.  

Then it became scree, loose rock.  Loose scree rock gave way to snow.  SOFT HEAVY snow!!!  The stuff you sink into up to your knees at time especially with a 35 – 40 pound pack on your back.  (reminder to self – bring trekking poles next time) The final ascent to Helen Lake was incredibly steep, but little did we know, the climb to the summit was to be much steeper at times. Camping in the snow at 10,000 feet can be bitterly cold, especially if the wind kicks up.  To make this more difficult, Mount Shasta is one of the National Park sites where one  is required to carry out one’s human waste!  So, we had to take time to aim our derrières at paper targets, then collect the results into paper bags, then seal them into zip lock bags and pack it out.  All this with frozen hands and  rear-ends!

Day 2 – The summit climb was unforgivingly cold.  We awoke at 2:30 but our group didn’t get going until almost 5 am.  Other climbing groups set off much earlier, as early as  2:30.  It was so cold that I wore a light base layer, a thick “expedition” weight base layer, a down vest AND a jacket and wasn’t too warm despite the exertion of climbing up a steep icy slope above 10,000 feet.  Virtually everyone’s water froze.  Even those with insulated hoses on their CamelBaks had frozen hoses and bite valves.  I kept my bottle from freezing by keeping it inside my down vest!  Despite that precaution, ice crystals  could be seen forming in those few minutes when I took it out to drink from & share with others.  As I had decided late to go on this climb, I didn’t have time to buy or break in proper mountaineering boots.  My normal lightweight hiking boots gave me frozen toes for the first several hours of the summit climb.  However, despite not having mountaineering boots, I never had the predicted problems with loose crampons. Word of advice – wear warm mountaineering boots!

The first climb from Helen Lake to Red Banks, a wall of red rocks,  was entirely in the dark.  The climb was so steep that our rhythm was to walk only 20 or 30 steps and rest for a few minutes.  We chose nearby “goals” to aim for, rock formations that were only about 75 yards away.  When we reached those goals, we sat down, rested, re-hydrated, ate a little and made crampon adjustments as needed. We were all so grateful when the sun finally rose high enough to warm our frozen bodies.  But the warm sunny slopes meant that the icy slopes gave way to soft deep slushy snow!  This was much harder to climb through than the ice. While easier to walk on, the ice was dangerous, .  We had to learn how to execute an ice arrest with our ice axes in the event of falling and sliding down the mountain, or worse, off a cliff.  In addition there was also the danger of falling rocks.

The mountain began to take it’s toll and only 3 of us  7 newbies made it to the summit.  The rest  succumbed to fatigue, dizziness, nausea, headaches and altitude sickness.  My fellow summiters, Lauren,  Chris and I were exuberant upon finally making it to the 14,179 foot summit.  The summit views were incredible as Mount Shasta is a stand alone volcanic mountain, unattached to other mountains.  Hence, we could see for miles around including Mount Lassen over a hundred miles away!

Descending was also taxing.  The last  picture above is of Lauren (in red)  descending backwards using her ice axe and crampons to tackle this steep section.  We learned this technique thanks to our mountain rescue fellow climbers, Todd and  Joe.  Thankfully, Todd and Joe accompanied us on the descent until we were within sight of our tents when they were certain we wouldn’t be stranded on the mountain. After descending back to Helen Lake in the heat of the day, we broke down our tent, rested and ate some, then descended back to Bunny Flat.  It was a really tough day.  We finally arrived at our car  at 9:40 pm, the last portion of the descent in the dark by head lamp, of course.  19 hours after we woke up that day, we were finally done. It was a rewarding close to a strenuous and rewarding week.  

Next climb – Kili! (I hope) Anyone who is reasonably fit and a lot of determination can do this climb! ~ Ed. ~

~ da N.E. ~

Happy May Day! Did you dance around a Maypole in grade school??  I did!  This pagan ritual is still performed in parts of the United States and Europe. In many European countries, May 1, May Day, is celebrated as labor day, as we do in September here in the U.S.

Don’t confuse “May Day” (2 words) with “Mayday” (one word), the international distress cry for help! Etymologically, “Mayday” is thought to have it’s origins en Français.  In French,  “aider” is the infinitive verb for “to help”, but in French, aider is a reflexive verb, hence (without explaining reflexive French pronouns), “help me” is “me + aider” and is always abbreviated as “m’aider” and is pronounced as “may + day”!!!

Onto club business….

May marks the last month of NSC’s 2013-2014 membership year. So, it’s time to renew your membership for the 2014-2015 year.  See President Armand’s Membership Report + Jackson Hole Report for membership renewal details and the $5 early renewal discount!  You can also glean some preliminary information about next season’s week long trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, home of the Big Red tram where your’s truly has skied some incredible runs in deep powder.  It was also at Jackson Hole where I saw a porcupine waddling along under a chair lift!

NSC in the news; A New Season, Same Old NSC; Code of Conduct – these are topics covered by Armand’s “May, 2014 President’s Message“.  Armand describes how his trip to Sun Peaks, British Columbia, is featured in the National Ski Club Newsletter.  More importantly, Armand discusses issues facing the future of our club and how we might be able to increase our membership and hence, the longevity of our club.  Finally, his President’s Message provides an update on the development of a “Code of Conduct” for NSC.

July 19-20 Mountain View Obon Festival Beer Booth – call for volunteers 

This year’s Mountain View Obon festival will be held on the weekend of July 19-20.  We need volunteers for the beer booth. Come on, all you NSC beer drinkers, time to step up & volunteer!
See Karen’s sign up schedule here : Mountain View Obon Festival.

Fall Creek Hike – date to be determined
While the hike date has yet to be determined, start thinking about Hoyt’s next hike along Fall Creek in Felton’s Henry Cowell State Park. As soon as the date is finalized, it will be published in the NSC website.  In the meantime, here is the hike description: Fall Creek Hike.

Until next month, Happy Trails to You!
Your N.E.

~Da President, Arman Gutierrez ~

Ski season is officially over (unless you’re planning on a trip to Valle Nevado or Bariloche) and June marks the start of the 2014-2015 NSC membership season. As usual, you can take advantage of the $5 membership discount if you sign up and send in your membership form before May 31st.

NSC In The News (Again)

Last month NSC was featured in the BAC website with an article about our ski trip to Sun Peaks, BC. Well, NSC has done it again! In the May-June 2014 issue of the National Ski Club Newsletter (NSCN) there was a short article about our Sun Peaks trip in the “Ideas from other clubs” section. This is not the first time NSC has been featured in the NSCN.  The other time was when we were featured with a two-page write-up for our 2007 Panorama, BC trip. The purpose of the NSCN is to provide a forum for sharing ideas amongst the nation’s ski clubs and the publication is sent to the officers of approximately 2,100 ski clubs. I try to submit relevant articles to BAC and NSCN in order to showcase our trips and get publicity for our club. Alas, a confession must be made because I did not submit this article to NSCN, but a big Thank You goes to whomever did submit it.

A New Season, Same Old NSC?

Some may consider that NSC has reached a point of stagnation with the same board, no new ideas, and a declining membership. Well, it’s hard to dispute those notions, but I would like to think that there are opportunities for NSC to consider that could affect the club.

I’ve been told, and recognize, on many occasions that NSC needs new blood and younger members if the club is to be self-sustaining. As our membership gets older we need to focus on getting younger members that are interested in skiing & snowboarding and participating in NSC events (e.g. hikes, potluck picnics, etc.). On our last weekend ski trip to Tahoe we had a family from the Monterey Ski & Social club join us and they brought their teenage son, and since they hadn’t been to Alpine Meadows before I gave them a morning tour of the ski area. Although the parents preferred the groomed runs it was obvious that the young boy was interested in something a bit more challenging. So, the parents were directed down the groomed runs and their son joined me down several black runs, which he handled fairly well. The next day at Northstar he managed to find all the black runs on the backside and enjoyed skiing so much that he was one of the last ones to return to the bus at the end of the day. So what does this tell me? Perhaps the club should consider allowing parents with kids to join NSC and bring them on our ski trips and other events. This might get more people on the trips and introduce the young folks to NSC, and potentially they would become future members. This subject will be brought up again at one of our future board meetings and I would like to invite anyone interested in joining the discussion to attend that board meeting. Can’t wait that long? Very well, please send in your comments and ideas to any of the board members. Incidentally, our next board meeting will be held at the Texas Roadhouse in Union City on May 18th at 11:30am. Join us for lunch if you can.

Code of Conduct for NSC

Last month there was a discussion about creating a Code of Conduct for NSC. This effort is still in progress and once it gets to a final stage it will be presented to the membership.

~ President Armand Gutierrez ~

Membership Activity

There was no activity for April, which was no surprise. However, May is upon us and it’s time for you early birds to download a membership form and send it to me and be eligible for a $5 discount on the membership. Last year we had a great ski week at Sun Peaks and a great weekend trip to Tahoe. This upcoming 2014-2015 winter, we’re going to Jackson Hole and I’m hoping to get 40 members to go on this trip. Although Tahoe was weak on the snowfall, Jackson Hole had plenty of snow. So get your forms in now and be a part of the 2014-2015 season.
Use this Membership Form link

Jackson Hole Ski Week (24-31 January 2015)

Arrangements for the Jackson Hole ski trip are well on its way. I’ve received preliminary costs from Sports America and once those are finalized look for a flyer in the June newsletter.

~ Karen Soo, Trip Director, Head Beer Barmaid ~

Hello NSCers and friends!  The Mountain View Obon Festival will be upon us before we know it, on the weekend of July 19-20.  NSC will staff the beer booth and we’re looking for volunteers who love beer, meeting people, and enjoy  having a good time!

Below is the current schedule.  If you want to volunteer, please contact me, Karen via email at: tripdirector@niseiskiclub.org

Come on, you NSC beer drinkers!  There are many of you out there!

~ President Armand Gutierrez ~

Membership Activity

There was no activity for March. Since the club season is coming to an end any new memberships will probably take place in May.

Jackson Hole Ski Week (January 24-31, 2015)

The last time NSC was at Jackson Hole was Feb 24 – Mar 3, 2001 when Douglas Higashi took NSC with 64 participants. A Thank-You to Judy Hom for sending me the brochure from that trip, which lists a schedule of events, condo list, rental info, etc. Perhaps some of those participants would be interested in a reunion at Jackson Hole next year?

Arrangements for the Jackson Hole ski trip are well on its way. Due to the early and enormous airline bookings by travel agents I was unable to secure any seats at a reasonable price. So, in order to level the playing field I’ll be working with Matt Hollis from Sports America. Flight arrangements have been made so the next order of business will be to secure lodging and ground transportation. Stay tuned for the JH flyer coming soon in the newsletter.

Karen Soo – Trip Director

Is your ski season over yet?  I know we barely had fresh snow in the months of January and February but don’t call it quits yet. Take those skis and snowboards out of the closet. The Tahoe area is finally bombed with fresh snow this past week. Most of the Tahoe resorts reported 1-2 feet of new snow.

In February, thirty Nisei Ski Club members went on their annual weekend trip to Alpine and Northstar. We thank our 7 members from Monterey Ski and Social club for coming along for the ride. We had Grady as our driver and a new bus service. For the most part, we had good conditions and we had a great time skiing together. Thank you Amy Tsuhako for being my co-tour leader. We had plenty of food, drinks, snacks and good company.

The San Jose group had a new departure site. Due to a new property management, we are no longer allowed to park over night at Fourth Street Bowl. Thanks to Jennifer Kaneda, 17 of our members were able to park in a secure location near the Specialty Bakery at North 1^st Street and Trimble Road.

Nisei Ski Club had a successful trip to Sun Peaks where our President, Armand Gutierrez, guided 23 people. He’s doing a repeat performance on planning at trip to Jackson Hole for the 2015 week trip. If you never been on a week long trip, it’s good to save up your vacation days and take advantage of it.  There’s plenty of people to ski with and a good way to know your fellow members.

What does the future holds for us? Do I plan 1 or 2 trips for next year? Well I guess its all depends on the snowfall and how many of you are can go on both trips.

There’s still a few more weeks before the resorts close. So let me know if anyone wants to go to Tahoe for the weekend.

By Rick Dumlao

The California Senior Winter Games is held every year at Bear

Valley Ski Resort and I’ve been participating for about four years now.  I enjoy it with lots of other “mature” skiers and snowboarders and you don’t have to be good skier or a competitive skier.  If you are an intermediate or better skier over 50 years old, then you can do this!  The age divisions are in 5-year increments starting at 50 years old, and the oldest competitor this year was 74.  The divisions are split up for men and women, and the events are giant slalom, slalom, and dual side by side slalom.  All of these races occur over the two days of the weekend.

This year I managed to win a gold medal in the giant slalom, but then got eliminated in the dual side by side slalom.  I like the format of the races because you’re up against people your own age and you don’t have to compete against some hot-shot kid in his/her 30’s or 40’s.  There is usually a lot of joking around at the top of the course while waiting your turn to run the course.  At the award ceremonies, you get to stand on the podium for a picture suitable for hanging on the refrigerator, and bragging rights amongst your fellow skiers/boarders.   The races are fun, you meet lots of like-aged and like-minded people, and you get to challenge yourself and ability, which is always good for improving your skiing/boarding.  If you decide to go next year, bring your families and friends for support to cheer you on and make it an enjoyable weekend.

OK gang, tax filing deadline is almost upon us – get those number 2 pencils sharpened!

Mother Nature is teasing us again!  After a very dry winter, the last couple of weeks has seen a generous dumping of snow in the Sierras!  So, it’s not too late to bash some bumps, shred some runs and schuss the slopes.  Who wudda thunk!!??

Presidential Affairs

Speaking of spring skiing and riding, President Armand skied in late March and makes reference to “Magical March” in his monthly President’s Message.

Did you miss the Sun Peaks trip?  Don’t miss the next week trip to Jackson Hole in the Grand Tetons.  Armand is industriously planning next year’s trip.  Read about it here in his  ” Membership and Jackson Hole”   report describing the plans for next year’s return to Jackson Hole after a 14 year absence.

Jackson Hole website: http://www.jacksonhole.com/

Why are your skis and snowboards tucked away in the closet? ~ Karen Soo, Trip Director ~

Is your ski season over yet?  I know we barely had fresh snow in the month of January and February.  Don’t call it quits yet. Take those skis and snowboard out of the closet. The Tahoe area is finally bombed with fresh snow this past week. Most of the Tahoe resorts reported 1-2 feet of snow….

 Read the rest of Karen’s article here :  << April 2014 Trip Director’s article >>

SENIOR GAMES

Are you a “mature” skier or snowboarder, but junenile at heart?  Want to show your younger cohorts that you can still rip it up???  Well, each year, there are Senior Winter Games held  at Bear Valley ski area.  For the past few years, NSC member, Rick Dumlao has been shredding the light fantastic (apologies to John Milton) at the games.  This year was no exception.  Check out his reportage here : << 2014 California Winter Senior Games >>.

Cherry Blossom Festival San Francisco – April 12-13; 19-20

This year marks the 47th anniversary of San Francisco’s Japantown Cherry Blossom Festival.

From the festival’s website  ( sfcherryblossom.org/WP/ ):

 This year’s Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival® will be held on Saturday and Sunday April 12-13 and April 19-20, 2014. All are welcome to join in the festivities as we celebrate Japanese and Japanese American culture in San Francisco’s Japantown!

The festival will be held on Post Street between Laguna and Fillmore Streets. There will be food booths, cultural performances, martial arts, live bands, the annual Queen Program, and more. The Grand Parade will be held on Sunday, April 20, beginning at City Hall and concluding in Japantown.

Until next month…
N.E.

~ President Armand Gutierrez ~

April is here and this usually means the end of a ski season and the start of baseball, biking, hiking, camping, golf, and other spring activities. My last visit to Tahoe was at the end of March, with many people calling it “Magical March” because Mother Nature indeed blessed the Tahoe region with a good snowfall and fresh powder!

BAC recognizes NSC! Although the Sun Peaks trip has passed, the April BAC Newsletter is showcasing our Sun Peaks trip. You can view it here :  BAC0414newsletter .

Board Nominations/Elections

At our March board meeting we discussed the upcoming nominations/elections for the next season. Although our policies provide for nominations/elections, it has become apparent that this process has not been fully implemented in the past few years. There have been no nominations or write-ins and then the election slate is comprised of just the incumbents. Although being on the board is strictly a volunteer effort we’ve managed to retain the current board members for several seasons due to their commitment to running the club. Well, it appears that the 2014-15 season is no different and the current board members have all indicated they would serve again and that nominations/elections would not be formally held this year.  However, we do encourage all of you to be more active members by serving on the board or tour leading a ski trip or other activity. It would be reasonable to assume that some members might want to be nominated or elected. Therefore, if anyone has an interest in joining the board for the next season then just drop a note to any of the current board members.

Code of Conduct for NSC

I’ve been participating in several FWSA functions over the past few years, including their international ski week trips, and as I learn more about how FWSA functions, I noticed that they have a Code of Conduct (CoC) that attendees of their ski trips must abide by. I discussed this with an FWSA member and she told me that the Code of Conduct was put in place so that all members that are part of a FWSA-sponsored event would adhere to the Code of Conduct and any “bad behavior” that could reflect negatively on FWSA could result in being barred from any future FWSA-sponsored events. Although NSC is comprised of good-natured people that are willing to help others and exemplify good behavior on NSC-sponsored trips, the board came to the conclusion that perhaps we should adopt our own Code of Conduct to ensure that all members are aware that any “bad behavior” that could reflect negatively on NSC could result in being barred from NSC-sponsored events. Brian Hess is working on a draft proposal, patterned after the FWSA CoC, and the board will be reviewing it at future board meetings. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding an NSC Code of Conduct please contact me (  president@niseiskiclub.org ) or any board member.

Welcome to Daylight Savings Time 2014!

Enjoy the extra sunlight hours!

The сочи Olympics are over and congrats to all the competitors, American and others.

Lots of ski & snowboarding news this month.  First off, we have President Armand’s Membership and Sun Peaks report  and President’s March Message  which includes highlights of the Sun Peaks week trip. Armand and Curtis are in Zermatt, Switzerland this week skiing with Far West Ski Association of which Nisei is a member, and by the transitive property, so are you!  I expect a full report from our Swiss Matterhorn skiers next month’s newsletter.

NSC Sun Peaks Members with Olympian Nancy Greene
Photo credit : Bill Pseudonym

Sun Peaks

Speaking of Sun Peaks…. David “Lambo” Miura has provided us with this Pulitzer Prize caliber report, perchance that’s a bit hyperbolic, how about Great Bathroom reading worthy report, the “Lambo Sun Peaks Report”.

It’s been rumored that anytime Armand leads a trip, someone gets injured. Well…. I’ll let you read Dave’s report and see the pictures and you can see if this is a fair assessment.

Skiing Français

Your’s truly, your intrepid N.E., spent a week at Serre Chevalier in the French Alpes in mid February.  Luckily for me, it had snowed considerably just before I arrived, so there was an abundance of deep snow.  Lots of “hors piste”, trees and out of bounds skiing with a guide was done. Just to whet your appetite for Alpes skiing, here are some mountain stats: 63 lifts & a vertical drop of 5,249 feet.  That’s almost twice that of Squaw Valley’s 2389′ and more than Jackson Hole’s 4105′ – Did I mention Jackson Hole???? See Armand’s President’s message for the big red tram connection! And, I don’t mean Heavenly Valley’s tram.

Grady and 2/3s of the Langs

Tahoe Weekend Trip (Feb 28-Mar 2)

“Social” Club

Last weekend, 30 some odd ( and I do mean “ODD“) Nisei and Monterey Drinking and Social MSSC Link), endured a 7  hour plus bus ride to Reno on Friday night due to the lots of traffic and chain controls – Thank You Grady!!!. Fortunately, there was plenty of food and drinks (particularly beer) on board as well as scintillating conversation with acquaintances, new and old.  Tour leaders, Karen Soo, NSC Trip Director, and Amy Lew (no relationship) as always, outdid themselves with scrumptious dinners and breakfasts.Saturday, we skied and rode on surprising good snow coverage at Alpine Meadows.  We had such a good time, one or two members stayed on the mountain until, I believe, the lifts closed!

Sunday, we went to Northstar which, except for the lowest elevation runs, also had good coverage, albeit sometimes icy as there it was snowing at the upper elevations and sometimes raining at the lower slopes.  Nonetheless, we had a wonderful weekend playing in the snow! Sooooo, those of you who didn’t go, you missed a snowtastic weekend.

Bill “Pseudonym” L. took the following  pictures  [Photos Link ] and videos [Videos Link].

April 6 – Saint Joseph’s Hill Hike –

Last but not least, don’t forget about Hoyt’s Saint Joseph’s Hill hike on April 6.

Great views of Lexington Reservoir to the West at the start and a sweeping view of the Santa Clara Valley to the East at the top.  There will still be monkey flowers, Scotch broom and remnants from the vineyards that supplied sacramental wine for the Novitiate in Los Gatos many years ago.

For details, see Hoyt’s hike description.

~ Until next month – “Happy Trails to you” …~

~ the Grand Poobah, President Armand Gutierrez ~

As we are now entering March, the ski season is beginning to wind down for many. Ski shops are starting their “clearance sales”, and we just completed our NSC Weekend trip to Alpine Meadows and Northstar. But, that doesn’t mean the ski season is over. If Mother Nature cooperates perhaps there will be more rain in the Bay Area and snow in Tahoe, so don’t put your skis away just yet. I’ll be joining fellow NSCers on the FWSA Zermatt Ski Week from 6-15 March and hopefully return to Tahoe for a few more ski trips.

Sun Peaks Ski Week

The NSC Ski Week at Sun Peaks was a great trip and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the three mountains that offered a variety of runs. This was new territory for everyone as this was the first time NSC had visited Sun Peaks. One of the highlights of the trip was skiing with Canadian Olympian (1968 Winter Olympics, gold and silver medalist) Nancy Greene.

Olympian Nancy Greene

Every Sunday she invites skiers to join her on an informal tour of the mountain, and most of the NSC members were there to join her on the first day of skiing. Incidentally, Nancy is 70 years old, a Canadian Senator for British Columbia, and I’m sure she could out ski most anyone in our group. During the week we finally figured out the shortest route to the ski lifts (Morissey was the closest) and the shortest route back to the condos. Additional details of the trip can be found on the Sun Peaks Ski Week Report and David Miura’s Sun Peaks Report.

Board Nominations

Now that it’s March it’s time to think about Board Nominations for the 2014-15 season. If anyone has an interest in joining the board for the next season and has questions about what it entails then just drop a note to any of the current board members, or perhaps you have someone in mind to nominate for the board. Please keep in mind that the Nisei Ski Club relies on volunteers to be on the board and undertake the running of the club. It’s not all work and no play. Board meetings are fairly informal and afterwards we usually go out for lunch and talk about skiing or upcoming club events.

~ Presidente Armand Gutierrez ~

Membership Activity

Like January there was little activity for February, although we did get one new member that needed to join NSC so he can be on the FWSA trip to Zermatt, Switzerland. Our membership currently stands at 52 members.

Sun Peaks Ski Week

The Sun Peaks ski week was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone that went. Although there was not as much snow as I had hoped for, there were several days with new powder on the ground, one morning that had a freezing rain that froze on our goggles, and plenty of days with blue skies and shadows on the ground. The weather was very cooperative and temperatures where in the low-mid teens most of the time with a few days in the 20’s. This, in contrast to the previous two weeks when temps where in the below zero range.

After our introductory tour of the mountain on the first morning, the group did ski with Canadian Olympian Nancy Greene as she showed us the mountain and gave us a few tips on where the best snow was to be found. There was one injury one the trip where David Uyeda, on his last day of skiing, successfully handled a black diamond mogul run only to fall onto the cat track at the bottom and suffer a dislocated shoulder. The Farewell Dinner on Friday was held at the Cahilty Creek Bar & Grill and everyone enjoyed the dinner offerings as well the complementary first round of libations thanks to the boys in Condo 40.

I would like to thank every one of the Sun Peaks participants for the great gifts (winter fleece pullover, Sun Peaks T-shirt, and a 49er jacket) bestowed upon me at the dinner and rest assured they will be used often. This was a memorable trip for me as I think I managed to ski with just about everyone on the trip at one time or another.

Many people are inquring: “where are we going next year?” Well, looks like a return trip to Jackson Hole is in the stars since NSC last graced the slopes there in 2001.

~ byline: David “Lambo” Miura ~

Twenty-four intrepid skiers led by President Armand Gutierrez traveled to Sun Peaks Resort in eastern British Columbia, Canada for a week of skiing. The flights to Kelowna were uneventful (other than Gary Yee’s flight that got cancelled, forcing him to arrive a day later) as was the slightly heated bus ride to the resort. When we first arrived, it was terribly cold but the weather warmed up during the week.

Sun Peaks is composed of three mountains, and many took advantage of the free Mountain Host Tours divided into ability levels and led by local volunteers. On our first day of skiing we took advantage of the Host Tour in the morning, and in the afternoon we had the opportunity to ski with the resort’s celebrity champion, Olympic gold & silver medal winner Nancy Greene. She is a sitting Senator representing British Columbia in the Canadian Parliament and travels weekly between Sun Peaks and Ottawa. But don’t be fooled by this enthusiastic little 70-year-old lady. She skis very, very fast!

Unlike the sunny conditions that greeted us the day before, Monday was cold and overcast with a steady snowfall. What was most unusual about that day was the new experience of having ice coat one’s goggles after a few seconds of skiing. Everybody had to stop frequently to scrape the ice off with their fingernails, or for our richer members, with their platinum credit cards.

In the evenings, several condo groups ventured out to try the local restaurants in the village. People gave positive reviews for Powder Hounds (German), Cahilty Creek Bar & Brill, Oya (Japanese), Mountain High Pizza, and Bottom’s Bar & Grill (a favorite watering-hole), but thumbs down to Bella Italia (Italian). The mid-mountain Sunburst Lodge and Bento’s Day Lodge at the bottom of the hill both served fresh and delicious cinnamon buns that were so big that four people could easily share one.

Can You Find Frank & Lansing?

This year, instead of a custom Marmot fleece pullover with the NSC logo, Karen Soo arranged for people to be able to choose between that and something else from the catalog. Frank Chang and Lansing Lee both chose a yellow daypack, and with their grey helmets, blue jackets, and black pants, they looked like brothers skiing down the mountain. Judy Hom and Winston Fong joined us for the first time in many years, and it was a welcome sight to see Winston’s bright trademark yellow jumpsuit on the slopes.

Before Treatment

After Re-Setting

Armand claims that there is always at least one injury on the trips that he leads, and unfortunately that was the case at Sun Peaks. A group of skiers made their way down the Agitator (a black diamond mogul run between Static Cling and Spin Cycle), and David Uyeda successfully negotiated the bumps but then at the bottom fell onto the cat track and dislocated his shoulder. After being examined at First Aid, he was transported to Kamloops to have everything put back into place. Thanks to Roland Lee, who accompanied David to the hospital and back.

Before we knew it, Friday had arrived and we were enjoying our farewell banquet at Cahilty Creek Bar & Grill. Armand announced that the club is considering going to Jackson Hole next year, which was well received. Thanks to Armand for leading a successful trip, to Karen Soo for securing the trip souvenirs, and to all of the NSC board members for their support.

For more pics – click this link : Sun Peaks Pictures