The leaves are starting to change their colors. The air is getting cooler. Football season is on. A good indication that fall is here and the best part… The Giants are heading to the World Series. It’s time to start planning our 2015 weekend trips.

Putting all the holiday obstacles aside (Presidents Day weekend, Daylight Savings, Easter Break) I had narrowed down the weekend dates for 2015. We will have 2 weekend trips. We need 35 people to make our weekend trips happen.

Trip 1 – February 27 – March 1^st (Alpine / Northstar)

Trip 2 – March 13 – 15 (Squaw Valley / Sugar bowl)

Due to rising cost of gas these days, the cost of the weekend trips will go up slightly. We will do our best to keep the prices down.

The weeklong trip to Jackson Hole led by Armand G is at its full capacity with 74 people on the trip.   If you are interested in going, we can only put you on the waiting list.

There are a couple of ski shows coming up in the bay area. Snow Bomb Festival will be held at the following areas.  http://www.snowbomb.com/ski-board-festivals/

• Fort Mason during the weekend of Nov 1 and 2
• San Jose Convention Center weekend of Nov 8^th and 9^th
• Sacramento – Cal Expo Center Nov 15 -16

If you like to attend these shows for free and get the freebies with it. You only need to volunteer for 2 to 3 hours and promote the clubs who are members of BAC. More info to follow.

New Benefits: Nisei Ski Club is a member of the Bay Area Ski Council, which is a member of the Far West Ski Association. With this being said, Sugar Bowl will offer a free CORE pass ($20.00 Value) to all club members who show FWSA membership cards for the 2014-2015 season. I will distribute these cards at the Jackson Hole weeklong trip and weekend trips.

The core pass will help you save on your lift ticket purchases and skip the ticket lines.

All Daily CORE tickets include free membership in the CORE Rewards Program, offering special perks, deals and discounts. Plus Daily CORE pas holders enjoy direct-to-lift convenience so you’ll never have to wait in a ticket line again!

Please email Karen Soo at tripdirector@niseiskiclub.org for more information.

Oy Vey, it’s been a hot start to October. With local temperatures reaching the 90s, it has been hard to think about snow sports, but never fear, winter will arrive.  Outdoor and ski/snowboard stores are actively bringing in snow equipment and clothing.

Speaking of snow gear, the annual SnowBomb festivals will be held in San Francisco’s Fort Mason on November 1-2 followed by the San Jose Convention Center event on November 8-9, concluding in Sacramento on November 15-16.  The SnowBomb festivals are a treasure trove of resort and gear information as well as gear and clothing for sale.

Want to attend for free?  Did I say FREE???, then see President Armand’s October President’s Message for details on volunteering to get a free admission!

MEMBERSHIP and JACKSON HOLE – Want to know how large our memebership has become? Want to see whom are the lastest new members? Updates on Jackson Hole?  Well don’t miss Armand’s October Membership and Jackson Hole Reports.

ROCKRIDGE HIKE RESCHEDULED

New Date Oct 26, 2014

ROCKRIDGE Hike – and last but not least, don’t forget the upcoming Rockridge hike in the Oakland Hills stairway hike on October 26.  See : October 26 Rockridge Hike  for details.

NON NSC EVENTS:

• HOCKEY – San Jose Sharks vs Vancouver Canucks on November 6.
  Ticket purchase deadline is looming – October 9 ticket deadline
  Details in the BAC announcement:  2014 BAC Sharks Game 

  For more info, contact Dennis Heffley (bac.president@skibac.org) or 925-998-4415

• Far West Ski Association 2015 Whistler trip  – for those of you not going on the Jackson Hole trip, consider the FWSA Whistler trip from January 31 through February  7, 2015.  Actually, it would be possible to do BOTH trips as they only overlap by 1 day!
  Details here in : Whistler BAC Flyer – Complete

Happy Halloween to All!

Google 2013 Halloween Doodle

~ President Armand Gutierrez ~

Fall is here and despite the warm-to-hot weather in the Bay Area, there have been winter-like conditions at the various ski resorts in Tahoe, Colorado, and Wyoming (think Jackson Hole). Although the early snowfall has only been a slight dusting of that fine, white powder at least it’s a start for what hopefully will be a good winter season. It’s too early to predict and even the weather-gurus can’t seem to agree whether El Niño will be a factor or not.

BAC Focus Meeting

Last month’s BAC meeting was a Focus Meeting on how to make our clubs stronger. Dennis Heffley, BAC President, gave a presentation on how to make clubs stronger, identify our strengths and weaknesses, and, surprisingly, to concentrate on attracting the 30-40 year olds for membership. Why the 30-40 year olds and not younger? Well, it turns out that the younger generation is busy with securing good jobs, trying to afford an apartment/condo, and generally have less disposable income. This makes sense because after graduating college my focus was on getting a job and finding an affordable place to live. Of course, back then finding an affordable place to live was much easier than it is today.

Snowbomb Festival

The annual Snowbomb Festival is coming to town and if you have a chance to go then this is the place to see new equipment, ski/snowboard gear, and winter clothing. The first Snowbomb will be at Ft. Mason on 1-2 November, and the second Snowbomb at the San Jose Convention Center on 8-9 November.  If you would like to attend for free then all you have to do is volunteer to work at the BAC booth at either location. Working the booth consists of talking to people about joining a ski club (like NSC), answering questions about FWSA/BAC, and getting to know volunteers from other ski clubs. If you’re interested in being a volunteer then contact either me (president@niseiskiclub.org) or Karen Soo (tripdirector@niseiskiclub.org).

~ Da Prez, Armand Gutierrez ~

Membership Activity

Like August, membership in September dropped off quite a bit as most members joined in the previous months. However, there was one returning member and one former member that that signed up for the Jackson Hole trip.  Currently we have 90 members.

I would like to welcome the following members:

• Ken Kato
• Mike Ryall

Jackson Hole Ski Week (24-31 January 2015)

Interest in Jackson Hole is still there and we now have 73 signups. Currently, I’m making arrangements for our Farewell Dinner and finalizing our condo arrangements. To get everyone stoked on Jackson Hole there is a free mobile app called JH Tapped. This app provides a comprehensive all-season guide to Jackson Hole and includes webcams, trail maps, dining, weather conditions, and lift status just to name a few.

You can download this app for your tablet or smartphone from the Jackson Hole website (http://www.jacksonhole.com). Click on “mobile app” in the top row for a complete description and how to download. Jackson Hole has started to receive some snowfall so check out the webcams.

Karen Soo is finalizing work on the souvenir gifts, so be sure to make your selection as soon as possible to ensure you get the right color/size.

~ by Freeman Wong ~
(with a few edits by Hoyt)

Sacramento Group

We five from Sacramento met Hoyt and about 15 other Nisei Ski Club members and friends at the Sutro Baths Visitor Center in San Francisco. We planned to hike to the old Sutro mansion site across the road, but since the fog was too thick for good views, we hiked down to the bath ruins before starting the headlands hike.  The weather was cool and the fog layer was just high enough to reveal most of the views along the headlands – perfect weather for a hike.

We took a spur off the main trail down to a labyrinth for some fun. Some of us tried to follow the large labyrinth. I heard one person say she got dizzy
trying to get to the center but was very excited to get there.

We also hiked along El Camino Del Mar in the Sea Cliff district where we saw many multi-million dollar homes with views of the Golden gate Bridge from their backyards. We saw Robin Williams’ old home where fans had left flowers and candles in his memory.  As we stopped at the Palace of the Legion of Honor*  on the way back, we were lucky enough to see 60 plus vintage motor scooters drive up and park for a meeting to display their scooters in front of the museum.
(* editor’s note- did you know that the Palace of Legion of Honor is modeled after the  Musée National de la Légion d’honneur in Paris?)

Just before ending our four hour hike, we stopped at the USS San Francisco Naval Memorial where we saw part of a damaged warship and signs about its history in WW II.

Thanks to Hoyt Nelson for leading us on another scenic and informative hike. Looking forward to another one soon!

Welcome to the End of Summer / Back to School edition of the NSC monthly newsletter!

Lots in store this month for your reading pleasure.

From the President’s Desk

First off, we have our club president, Armand’s President’s Message and for an update on our current membership and the Jackson Hole trip. Speaking of the Jackson Hole trip, don’t forget to send you your final payments by September 15!!

Jackson Hole

For those of you whom have not been to Jackson Hole before, the town will offer lots of non-snow attractions.  I have fond memories of my two trips to Jackson Hole.  One of the attractions are the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar with its bar with embedded silver dollars! Here are a couple of pictures of the bar.  There’s no time like the present to brush up on your line dancing steps!

Another memorable attraction is the arch of antlers at the Jackson Hole town square.

~

Annual Picnic

We had another successful annal picnic and BBQ!  Melissa Wong (a.k.a. Fanatic A’s Fan) desribes the picnic and her fortuitous luck at the Left/Right/Center game that netted her almost $100!!!  Our ever present paparazzo, Bill Pseudonym, has supplied a plethora of pictures and a video of the Left/Right/Center game.  Read Melissa’s recounting and see Bill’s photographic oeuvre here: NSC Annual Picnic August 2014.

~

SJ SHARKS vs VANCOUVER CANUCKS

The first ever Bay Area Snow Sports Concil’s (BAC) San Jose Sharks Hockey night is coming up!!!

When : Thursday, November 6, 2014
Game Time : 7:30 pm
Where : San Hose Shark Tank,, AKA SAP Center , 525 W. Santa Clara St San Jose, Ca
Cost : $43 / ticket

Ticket Ordering DEADLINE : October 9, 2014

Details in the BAC Flyer:  2014 BAC Sharks Game FLyer 

For more info, contact Dennis Heffley (bac.president@skibac.org) or 925-998-4415

Sharks Home page: http://sharks.nhl.com/index.html

~Nota Bene – this is NOT an NSC event~

~

Far West Ski Association Whistler 2015 Trip

Just in case you didn’t get onto Armand’s Jackson Hole trip, here’s an invite from the Far West Ski Association (FWSA) to go to Whistler, British Columbia.

~Nota Bene – this is NOT an NSC event~

Hello Fellow BAC Skiers!

The FWSA Ski Week to Whistler BC is coming up next year, and it is going to be an AWESOME trip.  Whistler is the largest ski resort in North America with the longest runs, and a new “Peak to Peak” gondola connecting the twin peaks.  It is consistently rated the #1 Ski Resort in North American by Ski Magazine, so this will be a trip you do not want to miss.

We already have over 70 people from 8 different ski clubs in the BAC signed up, but we couldn’t help but notice that no one from your club is signed up!  We have attached the announcement flyer and a trip preference form here.  Could you please circulate these to your members and put them in your newsletter?  Thanks for helping get the word out.

~

49ers Levi’s Stadium Visit – Assessment of Interest~

Any one intersested in visitiong the new 49ers Levi’s stadium? Trip director, Karen Soo, would like to know.  If there is enough interest, she wll pusue the next steps for a visit.

If you are interested, let her know by dropping her an email at: tripdirector@niseiskiclub.org

That that that’s All Folks – until next month…

~ Armand Gutierrez, President ~

Are You Ready for Winter?

Now that Labor Day has passed, summer is giving way to fall and the next thing we know it will be winter. Are you ready for the upcoming snow season? I’ve got a new pair of skis/bindings and boots that I picked up at the end of last season. So, yes, I am ready. Well, almost ready. The bindings still need to be mounted on the skis and the boots adjusted to the bindings. Then, I’ll be ready.

If you need new equipment then starting in October is when the ski shops start having some sales for last year’s inventory. And then, in November, there are the annual Snow Bomb shows in San Francisco and San Jose. These events offer great deals on ski and snowboard equipment, clothing and accessories, plus it’s like attending a great big party. There will be more details on the Snow Bomb shows in future newsletters.

NSC Picnic

Was that a great picnic we had last month? There must have been at least 50 people wandering around sampling a variety of foods, talking with old friends, and enjoying what turned out to be a beautiful, sunny afternoon in Sunnyvale. Many thanks to Karen Soo for organizing the event and to Curtis Otaguro as chef extraordinaire on the BBQ. And a special Thank You for all of the members that attended and made this a great event.

~ President Armand Gutierrez ~

Membership Activity

As expected, membership in August dropped off quite a bit as most members joined in the previous months. However, there were two returning members who signed up for the Jackson Hole trip. Currently, we have 88 members.

I would like to welcome the following returning members:

• Elizabeth Slocum Jensen
• David Jensen

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

Is everyone excited about Jackson Hole? We’re up to 70 people and I’m expecting a few more signups before the end of the month. This has turned out to be a very popular trip and let’s hope Mother Nature does her part.

Some members have inquired about trip insurance and it is available through Sports America. Download the Travel Guard Flyer : TravelGuard_flyer_2014  and the Travel Guard sign-up form : Travel Insurance Signup and submit them to Sports America. Since there was very little interest in the SJC departure, those seats have been released.

Please be sure to make your final payments by September 15th.

Karen Soo is still working on the souvenir gifts, so be sure to make your selection as soon as possible to ensure that you get your preferred color/size.

~ By : Melissa Wong aka Fanatic Oakland A’s fan ~

On a mildly warm day on August 9th, about 50 NSC members and their families and friends gathered in Sunnyvale’s Las Palmas Park for the annual NSC picnic.

Immediately upon arrival, Karen got the setup crew (Wes, Armand, Frank, Curtis) going with assignments.  After setup, Head Chef Curtis started the grill and his rotation of sous chefs kept the mostly prompt arrivals fed with hot dogs, hamburgers and ribs.  I was given the task of greeting each attendee with a personalized name tag and a raffle ticket for wonderful prizes.  Attendees generously provided a variety of salads and chips/dips, fried chicken, egg rolls, tamales, sushi and lots of sweets.  An adequate amount of adult beverages were also consumed.

In the second half of the party, Karen drew the winning raffle tickets.  The lucky winners were given items from Trader Joes (Cookie butter, Jo Jo Cookies and Chocolate Bars). Soon after, the final anticipation of the afternoon came  – the popular dollar dice game (LEFT/ RIGHT / CENTER) .  Every adult was encouraged to participate.  Some appeared eagerly awaiting this game all day long while others who were unfamiliar needed encouragement.  As the inaugural and 2nd year champions, Amy and David T excused themselves from this year’s contest.  Amy was later seen being a babysitter to little Kai while Mommy Michelle played on.

As many rounds of rolling took place and $1 bills were slowly thrown onto the center bin, Joe, Armand’s nephew from L-o-n-g Island, needed a couple of timeouts and dipped into the beer cooler.  We witnessed the quick timeouts since the beer cooler was also used as a leg to elevate the bin.  As the contest finally came down to four and then two gamers, Melissa (that’s me again!) was the last person standing, holding TWO $1 bills in hand.  I became the champion of the 3rd annual dice game of the NSC picnic.  My winning tally was $96.00!  I also have the pleasure of writing this lovely article for the monthly newsletter.

I hope everyone had an awesome time.  Obviously, I did!

More pictures & videos, courtesy of Bill “Pseudonym” (what a nom de plume!) –

Yes, this is not really a missive, but close enough, I’m taking poetic license ….

PICNIC PICNIC PICNIC PICNIC PICNIC PICNIC
PICNIC PICNIC PICNIC PICNIC PICNIC PICNIC PICNIC PICNIC

Don’t forget that this Saturday’s BBQ and picnic at Las Palmas park in Sunnyvale!
Date: August 9   ~ Place: Las Palmas Park

For details, see this link: 2014 Picnic and Membership Meeting

JACKSON HOLE 2015 Participants

Those intrepid skiers and boarders who are going to on the Jackson Hole trip, don’t forget to choose your trip souvenir!  Many thanks to Karen for procuring such a wide variety of choices!  There are jackets, fleece sweaters, vests and ¼ zip tops!  Thou who tarry risk the loss of choices!

Oh, don’t forget that your 2nd payment is due by August 15!!

Those not going on this trip, well, you’ll miss out…

Speaking of Jackson Hole…..

President’s August Message and Membership & Jackson Hole reports

Here is President Armand’s Membership and Jackson Hole report, and, of course, we have his August 2014 President’s Message.  The President’s Monthly Message gives thanks to those who volunteered at the Obon Festival beer venue.

If you are interested in a San Jose airport departure for Jackson Hole, read the details in Armand’s Membership + Jackson Hole report.  A minimum of 10 San Jose departures are required to get the group rate which will have a higher cost than the SFO departure.

I, for one, am studying videos of Corbet’s Couloir in mental preparation!!

San Francisco Headlands Hike

And don’t forget about Hoyt’s August 17 Sunday hike through San Francisco’s Headlands where Hoyt will lead you through verdant trails, the old Sutro Bath ruins and the old Sutro Mansion site.  If the fog cooperates, you will have some spectacular views!
For more info, see: SF Headlands Hike.

White Water River Rafting with the Monterey Ski and Social Club

NSC members Fern Uehara Chan and her husband recently joined the Monterey Ski and Social Club on a white water rafting trip on the American River.

Fern reports:

What a lucky break that we were able to join the Monterey Ski and Social Club on their summer getaway weekend.  A big thank you to Amy McDonald and her team for planning this great weekend event.

Our final Saturday in June was the perfect window of opportunity between 100-degree days in the central valley. My husband Kevin and I who are Nisei Ski Club members drove through the rural hills between Placer and El Dorado counties. We wondered with a tiny bit of anxiety on my part. What quaint Georgetown and its beckoning outskirts has to offer?….

Read the rest of Fern’s report here : Nisei Ski Club Back Paddling with the Monterey Ski and Social Club

Until next month, your N.E.

~ President Armand Gutierrez ~

Can you believe that August is here and summer will soon turn to fall? Where did the summer go? Seems like there were a lot of chores I was going to do during summer and here it is August and they still haven’t been taken care of. Well, at least some chores are in progress: our Summer BBQ picnic is in the works, and the Jackson Hole ski week trip is progressing well.

Memberships went well for July, as well did the signups for the Jackson Hole trip. For details take a gander at the Membership and Jackson Hole reports.

At our last board meeting, held on Sunday, August 3, discussion mainly focused on our usual financial status, ski weekend trips, memberships, and the Jackson Hole ski week. Rest assured that NSC is financially sound, memberships is doing well, and there are a lot of signups for Jackson Hole. Yes, the club is doing well.

Mt. View Obon Festival

I would like to recognize and thank the following NSC members for volunteering their time to help out at the Mt. View Obon Festival held last month. Our volunteering effort is a reflection of our club members, which also gets recognized by FWSA/BAC.

1. Jenni Kaneda
2. Tom Ryugo
3. Haruko Nagaishi
4. Karen Soo
5. Curtis Otaguro
6. Hoyt Nelson
7. Frank Chang
8. David Uyeda
9. Ken Kato
10. David Miura
11. Tony Moy
12. David Schultz

NSC Picnic, August 9th

Don’t forget the NSC summer BBQ this month and we’ve got a great crowd showing up (new members, former members, and the usual regulars). Karen Soo has arranged for the food and beverages, and Curtis Otaguro will be in control of the grill. Bring a friend, bring an appetite, bring 3 one-dollar bills, and let’s have some fun at Las Palmas Park in Sunnyvale.

~ President Armand Gutierrez ~

Membership Activity

July continued in the tradition of the previous months with a good signup count.  There were a total of 24 signups, with two new members joining NSC for the first time, and 18 former member signups.  Currently we have 86 members, a membership count we haven’t had in years.

I would like to welcome the following new members:

• Gary Nordahl
• Mariana Guerrero

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

The Jackson Hole trip is progressing well. At the end of July there were 67 paid signups and I’m holding out for one more who is planning on signing up.

If anyone is interested in departing from San Jose then, please let me know. There are 20 San Jose seats available, but to secure the group rate, we need a minimum of ten people. Also, departing out of San Jose will cost an additional $80.  

The flight schedules for SJC are:

DL4570 24 JAN  SJC-SLC   6:10A-8:58A
DL4546 24 JAN  SLC-JAC  11:05A-12:08P

DL4546 31 JAN  JAC-SLC   1:15P-2:12P
DL4855 31 JAN  SLC-SJC   4:50P-5:56P

Karen Soo is already working on the souvenir gifts, so be sure to make your selection as soon as possible to ensure you get the right color/size. Also, the next order of business is for submitting your second payment if you originally paid a deposit. Second payments are due by 15 August.

~ Fern Uehara Chan ~

What a lucky break that we were able to join the Monterey Ski and Social Club on their summer getaway weekend.  A big thank you to Amy McDonald and her team for planning this great weekend event.

Our final Saturday in June was the perfect window of opportunity between 100-degree days in the central valley. My husband, Kevin, and I who are Nisei Ski Club members drove through the rural hills between Placer and El Dorado counties. We wondered with a tiny bit of anxiety on my part. What will quaint Georgetown and its beckoning outskirts have to offer?

With an expected 45 minute drive one-way, we decided to make it a day trip foregoing the overnight stay at the American River Inn.  Pulling into the parking, I felt intrigue with a tinge of regret; it was obvious what a special place this was.  Situated on the upper level of Main Street at 6600 Orleans, the American River Inn would prove charming not only in ambiance but also in service.  As I wandered through the Inn’s lovely welcome area and gift shop, the hubby began his usual ‘Meet & Greet’ with members of the Monterey Ski Club and assured me that the 15 minute ride down to the banks of the American River with our new found friends/saviors is a simple feat.

So thus began my adventure on the river.  Having never experienced rapids upwards of a level 2, and never on the American River itself, I hoped to return intact and not too soggy.  Due to the unlucky drought we are going through, the river offered perfect conditions for the faint of heart.  My companions with their intrepid spirits, yearned for more, but the river was on my side this day.  In one rapid instance, we were careening toward an out-jutting boulder, and Shirley held me back into the raft.  If not for the skill of Steven our guide, perhaps we’d have found our way out to the blue Pacific.  Still, for me, it was all a delightful whirl!

Needless to say, back at the Inn, I was grateful for some leisurely time to freshen up before the wine tour bus would return with my husband.  We soon made our way to the back lawn and patio where scrumptious appetizers accompanied by reds and  whites would welcome us – followed by a summer buffet supper of chicken, ribs, corn on the cob, salad, and luscious chocolate lava cake!  Then a quick stroll down to the corner bar with some die-hard MSSC friends allowed us time to share a few more stories & drinks and karaoke voices which either impressed or fizzled…depending on the ears of the beholder ….or how many drinks were had.   All too soon, it was time to say our goodbyes and take our leave of Georgetown heading back through the hills bound for home.

Thanks to Bob & Lucy for the safe transportation , Shirley for helping prevent my meeting up with the rock, Steven for his guidance, and to both Amy McDonald  and Karen Soo for their joint effort in reuniting the 2 clubs for such a lovely day/weekend in the hills.  Aloha & Mahalo to all until we meet again!

I trust you all had a great Independence Day!

In this month’s newsletter, we have Armand’s  monthly President’s Message and his regular Membership & Jackson Hole report.  Armand’s Jackson Hole trip is proving to be very popular – WELL DONE ARMAND!!!  As a result, our membership numbers are on an upward trend! Perchance, this portends better things to come!

Also in this month’s reportage, we have a Margaret Wong’s write up of Hoyt Nelson’s latest hike, Fall Creek Hike in Cowell State Park on June 22.   Read Margaret’s report  here: Making New Friends at the Fall Creek Hike.
(Editor’s note – seems like they ate more calories than they hiked off in true time honored NSC fashion!)

Don’t forget to volunteer for or attend the Mountain View Obon festival where NSC will be staffing the beer booth – but please, don’t drink up the profits!!!

And last but not least, don’t forget to mark your calendars for the annual NSC picnic at Las Palmas Park in Sunnyvale on August 9th.  Practice your ability to keep mustard and ketchup off your shirts! An Evite to members is forthcoming.  Keep your eyeballs peeled and glued to your email!

 Until next month, happy trails…
N.E….

~ 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 >>