NEWSLETTER | October 2020 | ACTION SEZ
This September, Action joined forces with the nationwide awareness campaign, Hunger Action Month. Designed to mobilize the public to take action on the issue of hunger. In these difficult times 10% of San Diego County residents experience food insecurity. Action Ski Club set a team fundraising goal for Feeding San Diego of $2500 to help those in our community. The overall campaign fundraising goal was $20,000. Thanks to the generous donations of our club members, we raised $1,222, almost 10% of the overall $13,291 campaign funds raised! At an average cost per meal of $3.52 in San Diego, Action Ski Club alone raised enough to provide 350 meals, while the overall campaign raised enough to provide 3,775 meals to those in need in San Diego County. Your generous donations will help the lives of many in our community and are greatly appreciated!
Add these dates to your calendar and check the action calendar on our website of all activities.
1) General meeting at Olive Grove Park on 10/7 - 5pm Same format as last time (BYO, masks, etc. - please check the website)
2) General meeting at Olive Grove Park on 11/7 ***NEW DAY AND TIME***This is a Saturday and the meeting will be from noon to 2pm — Same format
3) Hike, followed by a BYO happy hour on the beach, led by Roger, Saturday 11/14 at 11am, Torrey Pines State Park — Details to follow soon
Important Notice: Given the current COVID-19 situation, by attending this event, you are accepting the terms of Action Ski & Snowboard Club Waiver including Covid Addendum. Details can be found here: Action Waiver Form with Covid Addendum
We hope to see you out there.
| OCTOBER GENERAL MEETING + HAPPY HOUR
Olive Grove Park - San Diego
6075 Printwood Street, San Diego, CA 92117
Confirmed Date: Wednesday, October 7th
5:00 - 7:30
Important Notice: given the current COVID-19 situation, by attending this event, you are accepting the terms of Action Ski & Snowboard Club Waiver including Covid Addendum. Details can be found here: Action Waiver Form with Covid Addendum
Please bring the following items, as we plan to sit around a larger circle that will allow us to see each other, while meeting the required distancing rules
• Camping Chair
• Beverage and Food of choice for yourself only
• Jacket or blanket (in case is gets cooler)
• Flash Light (if you plan to stay after sunset)
• Happy Face wearing mandatory mask
• Bring your well-behaved dog
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Action Activity Chairs, Cindy + Carolyn hosted Ski Trivia Night via Zoom on Thursday, September 24th. A handful of Actioneers had a great time trying to outwit their fellow ski + board buddies. Winners received Action beverage coolers. Cindy put together a lot of great questions, with a wide range of difficulty, having to do with our favorite winter activities. If they decide to host put on another Trivia Night — Don't miss out!
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I Love a Clean San Diego Coastal Cleanup Day
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Thank you to everyone who participated in the I Love a Clean San Diego Coastal Cleanup Day on Sept. 26. It was a beautiful day and we collected approximately 25 lbs. of trash and recyclables during this socially distanced event. Overall, there were 336 different cleanup sites with 1209 volunteers and over 6700 lbs of waste collected. Sadly, some of the most commonly collected items were plastic bags, cigarette butts, plastic and Styrofoam cups, aluminum beverage containers, plastic wrappers, and personal protective equipment.
Remember, every day is Earth Day and you don’t have to wait until our next cleanup in the spring. If you are looking for things to do during quarantine, check out ilacsd.org for other cleanups and wastefreesd.org for tips on recycling, composting, bulk purchasing, and DIY hand sanitizer, cleaning products, and even sunscreen. If you are looking for ways you can take action to make sure we all have plenty of powder days ahead, check out protectourwinters.org.
| Mission Trails Regional Park Hike
by Tom Walters |  | | A bright mid-September Saturday morning collected 15 Action members and friends (and three dogs) for a sunny hike through a portion of the CIty of San Diego's Mission Trails Regional Park. The hike was organized by long-time Action Treasurer John Thomas, but hours before the September 19th, 9 a.m. meet-up time, John was hospitalized with extremely painful gallstone symptoms and was unable to lead. He asked me to stand-in. I'd signed-up and was planning to attend the hike, but really hadn't paid much attention to the route John had planned. Both John and I had completed the training to become Mission Trails docents, but that was 25 years ago. I generally remembered the trails but it had been several years since I'd hiked John's planned Oak Canyon and Grasslands trails.
Our group met at the Bushy Hills parking lot and hiked along Father Junipero Serra Road stopping at the Old Mission Dam. From there we crossed the San Diego River (actually a trickle of a stream during the summer heat,) through some brush and into the shade of several Coast Live Oak oases. Arriving at the canyon, we did some minor boulder-hopping hoping to meet the grasslands trails. But my memory fell short and we continued hiking a bit further along the northern part of the trails and ended-up backtracking (with more boulder-hopping) to pick-up another grasslands trail. Everyone in the group was kind to me for my much less than Garmin-like GPS brain and bestowed their Action hiking wanderlust as we rejoined Fr. Serra Road back to the parking area and said our good-byes.
Thanks to Roger, Greg, Margie, Dan, Melinda, Nancy, James, Gary, Carmen, Tom, Carolyn, Charles, Carole, and Linda for attending a fun hike through one of San Diego's hidden gems!
[Update - as of October 3rd:] John's gallbladder/pancreatitis returned him to the hospital where he underwent a procedure on Friday, October 2nd to help relieve the pain he was continuing to experience. He's feeling better but will be hospitalized for a few more days as he regains his strength. We all certainly wish him a speedy recovery!
| Normally at this time of year I’m just finishing up my annual ski trip down south, recovering from the wine, late night dining, dancing, and of course, the skiing. Part of the ritual is the planning: checking the weather, contacting my friends and seeing who’s going this year, organizing pre- and post-trips to places like Valparaiso and Curacatin, and organizing social activities in Santiago. This year, of course, is different. Even if I could have gotten to Chile (or Argentina for that matter), the ski resorts are closed, and like us, life it not normal. So instead I’m here in San Diego, reminiscing about prior trips and setting up Zoom happy hours with my far-flung Portillo friends.
My first trip to Chile was over 20 years ago, and was going to be the Trip of a Lifetime. The next year I couldn’t resist the lure of summer skiing, and I went again. After a couple of more trips to Chile, I realized I’d fallen in love with the place and vowed to continue to go every summer. Instead of one Trip of a Lifetime, I’d found so much more. I wanted to share some pictures of my most favorite times in Chile, both skiing and touring. Enjoy, and I hope to ski with you again soon!
|  | | At the top of Garganta, when the snow at the entry had burned away and the ski resort staff used old carpet from the hotel to cover the rocks so you could get into the good snow below. |  | It’s called a sling-shot and it’s how you get up the steep couloirs in Portillo. Yes, it comes with an instruction manual!! | | |
 | | The road where Portillo is located is a major access road between Chile and Argentina, and goes up the face of an ancient marainne. It’s so steep, there are 39 switchbacks, and it’s often closed during a storm. Once the road opens, the trucks, which have been held in the valley below, start coming through and look like a train going up the road. |  | Heli skiing is very affordable in Chile, and I go often. Here are some sweet heli turns from 2014. | | |
 | | The on-mountain restaurant is called Tio Bob’s, and is where we meet each day at about 4:30 to catch the sunset over the Inca Lake and have a glass of something before heading back to the hotel for apres. The views are AMAZING! This picture is from 2013 when I went with fellow Actioneer Nancy Harrison. |  | There is only one restaurant in Portillo, and it is EXCELLENT! In 2014 I was there with Cindy Luchetti and Deb Reid, and we celebrated Cindy’s birthday with a custom-made birthday cake. | | |
 | | There are some GREAT steeps at Portillo, and if you’re lucky Diego, the resident photographer, will capture a shot of you in action, like he did with me in 2017 on Roca Jack. |  | In 2015 we had quite the Action crew in Portillo, including Julie Menas, Cindy Luchetti, Deb Reid, and Susannah Sunderland. We had a great time! | | |
 | | View of Aconcagua mountain from Ojos de Aqua, the valley adjacent to Portillo, on one of my heli days. At almost 23,000 feet, Aconcagua is the highest peak outside of the Himalayas, and is just over the border in Argentina. |  | First ride up in the morning on the Laguna chair, with my friends Javier (from Miami) and Julian (from Mendoza). The three mountains in the background are called Los Tres Hermanos. | | |
 | | A pre-trip to San Pedro de Atacama visiting the altiplano lakes, at about 4000m, before heading to Portillo and skiing.
|  | Sunset at Portillo comes in many colors. These are from my iPhone. Same view, different days.
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 | | Camping 2009 |  | | Camping 2020 | | |
| Margie's Story:
I met Alexis through mutual friends on a bike ride. I asked her what other fun activities she did to meet new friends. She asked me... “Do you ski?” She suggested joining Action Ski Club and take a few trips and invited me to join her on the upcoming Aspen trip.
Well, the next thing I knew we were carrying all our ski equipment and suitcases to a great condo in beautiful Aspen! We walked inside and then appears Greg... with that to-die-for smile!! Greg says “come on in” and gives Alexis a hug and introduces himself to me... then offers to show us the room. He laughs and runs ahead and jumps in the middle of our queen bed and said “this is where I am sleeping!” They had a great laugh and I was thinking... who is this crazy guy?!
Immediately everyone in our condo was talking, laughing, telling jokes and getting snacks and drinks out. Seemed like we all became fast friends immediately.
*** Guess you could say that crazy guy with the amazing smile swept me off my skis!! ⛷🌞❤️
| | Greg's Story:
I knew Alexis for quite some time before the Aspen trip and when we were assigned a condo together I thought it was going to turn out to be a fantastic trip. My roommate was Dave …. don't remember his last name but he was a lot of fun and I had roomed with him before.
I first met Margie on our meet and greet meeting before the trip. I had seen her on a wine tasting trip with the ski club back in October, the previous year, and thought to myself that this is a woman I would like to be with in the future. Lo and behold, she is assigned to the Condo with me in Aspen.
On our arrival, I thought it would fun to tease Alexis and jumped into the queen bed. I believe Margie was taken back a bit but Alexis took the jest in stride.
The next day, we all agreed to ski together. We all clicked. Margie was a bit hesitant at first. I learned that she hadn't skied in a while. A day or two later, Alexis wasn't feeling well, and not sure what happened to Dave, but Margie and I went to Snowmass and were finally on our own. I loved giving her some tips and especially following her down the hill. She had these very tight ski pants and back then, had and still does have a great butt. Following her made my day!!!
At the end of our trip, I asked her if she would like to go out sometime. She said yes and I was in heaven. I called her the following week to set things up but she said that she couldn't due to a death in the family of a close friend of hers. I said to myself, yeah sure, another blow off. She said to call her later which I did (I wasn't one to give up that easily) and we finally got together and from then on fell in love and got married.
We now have been married for eight wonderful years. Skiing is our passion along with enjoying the company of all of our close friends.
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Action Ski Club
Camping Trip
Memories
Part 2
| | | Hello Actioneers, here is the second half of my photo essay of past Action Ski Club camping trips.
Note: I did my best to name people in the pics but I’m afraid I was unable to remember everybody…
In 2015 and 2016 Action camped again at Burnt Rancheria. Both years many of us drove over to Paso Picacho campground in Cuyamaca State Park for our hikes. We climbed up Mt. Cuyamaca (6,512 ft),
the 2nd highest peak in San Diego County. Since it was a paved road all the way to the top, it wasn’t too tough but it did get steep!
|  | | L-R: Martha Way, Denise Lidell, Ken Hodge, Anna Marie Sorriso, Marvin Errickson, & Jeff Myerson.
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Cuyamaca Peak summit. L-R: Tom Sullivan, Denise Lidell, Ken Hodge, Me, Jeff Myerson? | | |
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View from Cuyamaca Peak. |  | |
n my tree stump chair. | | |
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Back in camp the talented Bob Ryan serenaded us with his guitar and singing. Great fun! |  | |
In 2016 some of us stopped by a secret location near Paso Picacho campground where there is the greatest number of Native American morteros I have ever seen. Really spectacular! | | |
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L-R: Tom Sekreta, Tom Sullivan, Barb Perkins, Urszula Orlinska, & Martha Way. |  |
These were formed by pounding and grinding acorns into a mush or porridge which they would heat over a fire. The preferred acorn was from the Kellogg Black Oak tree which only grows at higher elevations, not at sea level.
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Then we climbed up Stonewall Peak.
L-R: Tom, Urszula, Martha, me, Barb, & Tom.
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Janet Katz and Stella on the Pacific Crest Trail.
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 | | Dinner line! L-R: Pat Klaasen, Chris Polta, ?, ?, Susannah Sunderland, Annette Behrman, Dorian Markham, Carolyn Geissinger?
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In April 2017 Action ran its first trip to Joshua Tree National Park in the Mohave Desert.
It was windy and kind of cold, but beautiful!
Frank S., Tess Zwicky in our Joshua Tree camp. | | |
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Tom Walters, Joshua Tree |  |
In April 2019 Action went to Bow Willow again and this time Tom Sullivan, Laurie Singsaas, and I drove over to Canyon Sin Nombre for a hike in a slot canyon.
Figure 14 There was a train derailment in 1953 and the cars were just left on the steep slope. | | |
 | | Laurie in the slot.
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The canyon wall formations are beautiful! | | |
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Laurie next to a blooming Ocotillo with the Carrizo Badlands and Fish Creek mountains in the distance. |  | |
Above Canyon Sin Nombre. | | |
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Back in camp at Bow Willow for Happy Hour. L-R: Tom Sullivan, Margie & Greg Pytanowski, and Gary Jahns reading “War and Peace”. Just kidding… |  |
In September 2019 Action camped at Mount Laguna in the Big Sage El Prado group campground.
It is a very shaded, pleasant campsite located in a big stand of pine trees which is much appreciated during warm weather.
It's Marguarita Time! L-R: Margie Pytanowski, Kathy Strege, Carmen Jahns, & Tom Walters.
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 | | Daphne Elvendahl and me.
The breakfast crowd. |  | Tom Walters & Tom Sullivan cooking breakfast (as always). | | |
 | | A group hiked on the Pacific Crest Trail to Foster Point which overlooks the desert. |  | At the desert overlook. | | |
I hoped you enjoyed these memories.
They were some great times and I hope for many more with Action in the future!
John Thomas
| Purchase or Renew your IKON Pass for next season, and save big time!
Purchase your IKON pass at the same price and terms from IkonPass.com, or Action Ski Club recommends purchasing from Ski.com, which will extend club discounts that are passed on to Action Ski trip participants.
Use this link to purchase from Ski.com
https://action-ski-club-passes.events.ski.com/ikon-passes
Buyers can choose the deferral option before December 10, 2020
(Defer your IKON Pass to the 2021/2022 season)
Click here for instructions
| | | ACTION AND OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT IN 2020! | Leave No Footprint!
We have a limited number of wine (12 oz) and beverage (20 oz) tumblers that you will want to use over and over again. Available for purchase at the next General Meeting and at Action Events.
Many colors available and sizes are shown in the picture above. Keeps beverages cold for 8-12 hrs and hot for 3-5 hrs. Comes with tight fitting lid. Tumblers are $9 each, $10 with Action Sticker (limited).
Choose your color and size, Reuse and Lower our Carbon Footprint. | |