Club Events 2007

Trip List Calendar

2007-04-01 : COC and TOC April Fool's Events, and CCC - Yodelfest in Airdrie
COC - Snorkeling in Canada's Coral Reefs

Pre-Event Comments:
- We may need extra weights for this.
- Can we dive in instead???? With gear of course...
- I am practising in the BVI, right now saw a ray and a sea turtle on the weekend - wonder what to expect when I get home?
- Anybody got some water wings I can borrow??
- This will be my first time snorkeling Canada's coral reefs. Do I need any special equipment?
- This would be scary! 500 NAKED people in a snowbank!!!
- The Cambrian reefs are well worth snorkeling in.
- Who signed me up for this???
- It shrinks in the cold.. remember that!
- Definitely a beginner ;)
- Too funny, better not forget the sunscreen!
- Prefer back or side stroke!
- I love it! I can't wait to not do this!
- Will bring cat to control any fish.
- Snorkels are for the weak, I'll be sporting scuba tanks to dive the vast, deep wonders of the great northern coral! Is a bathing cap ok? Oh ya, hey Rhonda is a cheque cool?
- There may be shrinkage!!
- Mr. Swan will arrive Naked, as befits my COC nickname...
- Oh la la... is this the Canadian version of the Mardi Gras?!
- I think I "might" be in over my head on this one!!! 'o)
- Will wear bikini bottoms...if permitted...*giggle*
- Wow, a chance to be frost-bitten, windburnt, sunburnt, & embarrassed all in one event!
- Should I bring my dive knife? How 'bout scissors and a pair of dykes. (Dykes is short for diagonal cutters. See, those fancy scissors don't do a quick enough job on big fish-hooks, for my satisfaction.)
- I hope this will count as an "attended event" to help keep my membership current.
- Man, this is just my kind of dive trip! I wonder what kinds of fish we'll see;)
- Remember... a hairy butt is a scary butt!

Pets in attendance:
- Rocky from Toronto - he loves snorkelling!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Oz kitty
- Archie-Farchie, my kitty who loves snorkelling
- No dogs, but will bring a few rats.
- Shasta from Atlanta
- No dog, monkeys okay?
- 3 Baskerville Hounds
- Mayah - looking forward to her fave kind of swim
- Almost a dog: a cat who hates snow!
- Rowdy - Yellow Lab (stuffed)

Apres-Event Comments:
- For next year's event could we PLEASE partner up with tanning salon and/or beauty spa? That is, I found it hard to snorkel as I was either blinded by glaringly white bodies or choking on untamed body hair.
- Thanks Rhonda for exposing me to the wonders of Canada's Coral Reefs. I never knew this even existed?! Wow! That was an exhilarating experience. I have attached a photo, which I captured when I surfaced to the top of the snow. To my surprise... the glorious Canadian reefs are real! Definitely worth a million, and thanks for allowing me to make installments.
- It left me with an amazing feeling of vuja d�, the feeling that I had never been there before. Or was it that I had just never been there???
- I had a blast! What an event;) One more for the Log Book! Photo album from Dick Jetson of Atlanta, who believes there's no such thing as being too prepared (I've added a small sample of Dick's photos to our album): Dick's Album
- Basics of Rolling Naked in the Snow
- Nude Hiking
- Get Naked for Peace

When they got tired of snorkeling, some attendees indulged in some underwater hockey:
TOC - Win A Date With El Rey

Event Coordinator(s): Jennifer M, Stephanie A
Participants: JennP, Rhonda from Calgary, PeggyWitt, Jennifer M, Matt E, Katherine, CalgaryJorinda, Wendy, Rose, kim, Marty S, Fluffy, Jason M

The silence is deafening - no really, it's just really quiet - as the TOC member body waits with bated breath to find out the winner of The Date with El Rey....But first an update, since I actually got to spend yesterday with the eligible desperate man himself, I can assure you that he's 100% committed to this event. Unfortunately inanimate objects were not eligible since those of us "in the know" (anyone who's been on an camping trip with El Rey) will know that he loves his AXE.

It was a tough decision...there were so many great candidates. Special mention goes to Matt, who was really just looking to use El Rey for his truck...can we call Matt a "truck slut" now? A second special mention goes to Kim, who had the best "Notes" response:

Notes: That he is Easy

How did she KNOW? It must have been the fact that he ISN'T WEARING PANTS.

We had two winners, but we want you to know that you are all winners for actually considering going on a date with El Rey and some of you even KNOW him and still agreed to go on a date. Since the dates went national (well, it got leaked to the Calgary Outdoor Club) we had to set him up with a special date to be held when he's out west this summer...the winner of the Calgary contingent is......
MARTY S
Marty entered a completely inside joke between me and him that had to do with hunting bears and using the bear fat to make lovely soap, but really Marty and El Rey are a match made in heaven. I hope Rhonda doesn't mind and I'm sure she can tag along for their date...

However the moment you've all been waiting for: The Toronto Winner is:
our very own JENN M

Hey, she coordinated the event, so she got to pick the winner...and really, was that a sigh of relief I heard from the rest of you? Actually, she also wins for going on a limb and changing her medical concerns to "Syphillis" not realizing that changing it on one event will change your medical status throughout the whole website, giving Julian quite the shocking insight when he pulled up her medical record for Saturday's hike.

Thanks everyone for playing and El Rey will be sure to give you a special thank you when you attend his next event - or when he gets out to Calgary this weekend...

Just when we thought we had a clear winner and happy contestants, the TOC exec has received the following missive!

Dear Coordinators of the "Win A Date With El Rey" event:
Please be advised that I will be launching a civil suit against the TOC due to the obviously rigged outcome of this contest.
In good faith I entered your contest, and I do believe that I was the best candidate to win your contest, being not only female (which, under certain laws of certain gods is the only legal union when the partner is a male) but also 1/8 sasquatch. You made a very forward thinking move in inviting sasquatches to participate in your contest, but I believe that was just a ruse designed to make you LOOK inclusive when in fact, there was no contest at all, and no opportunity for someone of the sasquatch race to win. This was a blatant grab at a date with El Rey for one of the actual event coordinators herself!
Expect to hear from my lawyer, and if I don't get satisfaction through legal means, I know where you live and will come to Toronto personally to take my own justice in the ancient Sasquatch way (ie. I will poo on your front step).

Sincerely, Rhonda from Calgary

It seems that we may have a fight on our hands. I'm sure we can resolve this in a far and reasonable way...suggestions welcome!
CCC - Yodelfest in Airdrie

Miriam and the Mountaineers and Friends at the Bert Church Theatre in Airdrie. We're sorry that's all we know about the show... but COME ON... it's YODELING!!! Sure to be a great time - come on out!

We have already purchased our tickets for this event, but if you still want to come along, you can get your own ticket. If you do that, just add yourself to the waiting list and let Rhonda know you have a ticket and she will add you to the event.



Today was an experience like nothing else. There were performances in western (Miriam Dreher/Coulter and 14-year-old Jessica St. Dennis) and Swiss (Wildrose Yodel Club) styles of yodeling. The Swiss style was a lot slower-paced and harmony-based - very different from the western style that we're used to. Who knew!!?? They were really great. It was very cool to have Niel Gow play a few pieces on his alphorn (in full costume to boot!). I especially enjoyed the accordian-playing style of Alex Schlanka, the special guest of yodeler Miriam Dreher/Coulter. He REALLY got into it... I swear if he had a whammy bar he would have used it!

Thanks to everyone who came out, especially David with his infectious enthusiasm (which, all of Calgary knows, was building for at least two months).

-- Rhonda


2007-04-02 : CCC - Intro To Belly Dance - 3 Weeks
Intro Cabaret-style belly dancing. Begin learning basic moves. No experience necessary. Lessons will include:
Isolations - chest, shoulder, hip
Tension Step, Midriff Breaks
Hip Drops, Hip Drop Circle, Hip Drop Front/Back, Hip Thrusts
Snake Arms, Wrist Circles
Hip Circles - Single Hip Circle, Turning Single Hip Circle, African
Shimmies - Lower, Shoulder, Football

Learn through improvisation and a simple choreography


2007-04-03 : COC - Sulphur Springs/Elbow Valley BACKPACKER TRAINING
To all of you who backed out of the hike today (and you know who you are), you missed a wonderful day. Someone (who shall remain nameless... ok, it was me) got to yakking in the car when she should have been navigating and we ended up sailing right on past Station Flats. Once I realized what I'd done, we were almost at the winter gate, and when we got there we decided that instead of turning around, we would just go walk into Prairie Creek instead.

It was a beautiful winter wonderland in there today, and yeah, I know, most of us are ready to be done with winter wonderlands, but it really was amazingly beautiful, and a great "final fling" with winter. We followed the Prairie Creek trail in and up and down and in for about four kms, then stopped for lunch. Instead of retracing our steps on the way back, which would have involved some slippery downhills that some of us weren't keen on, Jerry decided to lead us through the bottom of the canyon instead. I hadn't thought the creek was still frozen enough to do that, and in a few spots it wasn't, but we had a grand time bushwhacking, creek-whacking, root-whacking, ice-whacking and noodling our way back through the canyon.

Once again I managed to lug my 35 pound pack the whole way. Jerry joined me in pack-loading, and Mike had a bit of extra weight. I think Lila will be ready for some pack loading soon too. This was a fantastic hike for West Coast Trail preparation for me because there was some up and down, a lot of root and rock walking, and so on. Once the snow is gone I'll probably do this again as a loop with Prairie Link and Powderface Creek trails.

Thanks to Mike and Jerry and Lila for not bailing on me today - I had a wonderful day!!

-- Rhonda


2007-04-08 : COC - Bragg Creek Provincial Park-Leisurely Walk
It was absolutely gorgeous out today - way warmer than they were predicting. That was very pleasant and the sun was shining and the sky was blue... and the ground was SMOOSHY. I can't remember a smooshier ground... well, in a long time. We parked and headed out... we smooshed this way, then we smooshed that way. There were a couple of spots with hills where there wasn't enough snow for the ground to be smooshy and that's where Nat entertained us all with his winter hiking skills (welcome to Canada, Nat!). :)

Thanks for coming out - it was a great time!

-- Rhonda


2007-04-09 : COC - Prairie Mountain (afternoon hike)


2007-04-11 : COC - Pool at Stix Billiards Pub


2007-04-12 : COC - Backpacker Conditioning
Quotes from the evening:
- You're WAY easier on us than Ed was!
- I like the stairs when they're flat
- This really puts the "suck" in "fun"!

We did four circuits - up the stairs and down the trail. I wore my fancy new Zamberlan hiking boots from MEC with some bubble wrap stuffed around my narrow heels for blister prevention. Absolute genius - cheers to John Goacher for the idea!

Afterwards, Marty and I stopped for some ice cream at Dairy Queen and paid exactly $6.66 for two medium sundaes. I guess that just goes to show that eating ice cream after climbing stairs really IS evil!

Thanks for coming out - it was a lovely evening and actually quite a bit of fun. :)

-- Rhonda


2007-04-14 : COC - Heart Mountain
This was a first scramble for all but Marty, and let me just start by saying that everyone else who did Heart Mountain today had a lovely time and can't wait to do more scrambling. This, however, is not my personal story. Instead, let me tell you the true story of what happens when an acrophobe goes on a scramble.

I have an intense fear of heights. I was assured by a few people who've done Heart that I would be ok on it... no serious climbing, no serious exposure. Apparently these people do not have a proper appreciation for just exactly how intense my fear of heights is (and, you may rightly say, I did not have the proper respect for it myself when I undertook this adventure). Of the 10km total distance I was scared out of my everlovin' mind for approximately 4km of it and clinging to the frayed ends of my comfort limits for another approximately 2km. To anyone who remembers me crying on my first Yamnuska Scree Indulgence (cheers to Susan, Cam and Mehran), yes I did, in fact, cry today, and even hyperventillated for a little bit. To everyone who has told me that I should at least try scrambling before I write it off as an activity, I have met your requirement and proved to myself, and six lucky companions, why I should not scramble.

Completing this scramble burns approximately 2000 calories. I burned about another 4000 just in sheer terror. In general, I am not able to get closer than 8 feet to any kind of drop-off, and am not able to watch someone ELSE get less than 8 feet to a drop-off without getting uncomfortable. If I do happen to get within the 8 foot limit, I get dizzy, my feet tingle, the world wobbles back and forth, I get butterflies in my stomach, and vivid visions of throwing myself over the edge. Incidentally, my good friend, Ben, 's wife is also afraid of heights and it's her butt cheeks that tingle rather than her feet. Specific moments of terror today included:
- A complete inability to look behind myself at what I had just climbed
- Unease when Marty would point something out that was in the view below us (looking across at Yamnuska and the other mountains on the north side was ok)
- After leaving the first peak (ie. the upper-right corner of the "heart") and finishing the portion of the ridge heading south, there is a short section of traverse that is only maybe three feet wide with sharp drop-offs on either side. Here is where the first whimper was heard.
- For the descent after leaving the highest point (SE corner of the route), I was unable to look ahead or to the sides as there were sharp drop-offs on either side of me, continuing on into an interminable distance. At times I was not able to avoid getting within one or two feet of the side/drop-off, and although I tried to focus on the ground directly in front of me, I couldn't help but occasionally look up at which point I would spot the long LONNNNNGGGG descent in front of me, flanked on either side by those stomach-lurching drop-offs.

Months ago, I struck a deal with Marty. I would do a scramble with him and he would eat sushi with me. Because of my soft heart (or head) I let him off the hook a month or so ago and said I would still do Heart Mountain but I wouldn't make him eat sushi. By the time we reached the first peak today, I had decided that Marty definitely was going to have to eat some sushi and it wasn't going to be the "beginner" kind of sushi. He was going to eat octopus and salmon roe (eggs). By the time we reached the second peak, I decided that he was going to eat blow fish. Wish him luck - he's gonna need it.

But enough about me... everyone else had a great time, including Lynn who did not actually do the scramble with us but who rather turned around early and did Heart Creek a couple of times, plus the first part of Heart Mountain while she waited SEVEN HOURS for us to finish this trip.

Thanks to everyone for putting up with me today and I promise not to torture you with my presence on any other trip this far beyond my comfort and abilities. Thanks especially to Marty for talking (and pushing) me up, and then down, the mountain, for listening to my complaints (which, thankfully were few because I was too scared to talk), and for giving me his shoulder for the noted blubbering and hyperventillating. Honorable mention to Ahmed, Peter and Jerry for assisting Marty in pushing/pulling me up the mountain.

-- Rhonda


2007-04-17 : CCC - Music Appreciation Night
Arrive at 6:30PM for introductions and to get settled in. We'll start the music selections at 7:00 (sorry, but to avoid interruption if you are later than 7:00, the door buzzer will be shut off and you won't be able to get in). We should have one CD of approximately 80 minutes of music (8 people times ten minutes of music). We will have a round-robin in which the first person will introduce their music, and then we’ll listen. After a short break, we’ll continue with the next person, and so on.

My apartment is small, and the atmosphere casual. We'll be sitting or laying around the living room while we listen. Bring a pillow or cushion if you like for maximum comfiness.

Everyone must contribute 6-10 minutes of music for the evening. If the evening has a “theme” (listed in the title), you should (but don’t have to) bring music that fits your interpretation of the theme. Many of our themes are DELIBERATELY ambiguous for maximum creativity!

Person

Artist

Title

 

 

 

Alan

Harry Manx

Don’t Forget to Miss Me

*Not on the CD

Tim

Celtic Tenors

Adagio

Tim

Mick Walsh

German Clockwinder

Tim

Mick Walsh

Bucket of Mountain Dew

Rhonda

Ben Rose

Either You Have it or you Don’t

Rhonda

Gomez

Woman!  Man!

Jeff

Eno/Cale

One Word

Jeff

Maria McKee

My Girlhood Among the Outlaws

Sandy

Finger Eleven

Thousand Mile Wish

Sandy

The Acorn

Brokered Heart

Michelle

Billy Klippert

Wretched Thing

Michelle

Billy Klippert

Lindsay

Emily

Jethro Tull

Bungle in the Jungle

Emily

The Rolling Stones

100 Years Ago

Emily

Starsailor

Poor Misguided Fool

John

Alkaline Trio

This Could be Love

John

Moka Only

Better Days

John

The Crystal Method

P.O.D. Boom

Marty

The Ramonds

Blitzkrieg Bop

Rhonda

Dropkick Murphys

Heroes From Our Past

Marty

Alejandro Escovedo

Break This Time

Marty

Long John Baldry

Digging My Potatoes


2007-04-21 : COC - Quaite Creek Trail to Jewell Pass
This was a great little hike and one that we highly recommend to someone looking for an easier hike, or a good "first hike of the season". The hike from the Heart Mountain trailhead to the junction where Quaite Valley trail meets Prairie View and Jewell Pass is about 12km round trip. If you want more, you can go up and back on Prairie View, or on Jewell Pass, or head back and do Heart Creek as an addition.

The trail itself starts at Heart Mountain and heads west on the Quaite Creek montain bike trail, which is a continuation of the trail that comes from the Heart Creek Day Use parking lot. The trailhead is just a few feet before the yellow "scramble warning" sign for the Heart Mountain trailhead. Follow the Quaite Creek Trail to the junction where this trail ends. Here you will find a very wide, gravel trail which will take you 1.6km east to the Quaite Valley Backcountry Campground. Beyond the campground, the trail once again becomes a proper trail which takes you to the junction for Jewell Pass and Prairie View. This would also make a great beginner mountain bike route.

Anyway, we had a really fabulous day, despite some disappointment when we first saw the wide gravel trail, but after the campground we found a lot of snow and iterated our thanks to Marty, Veronique and Jason for breaking trail for the rest of us wimps up to the trail junction. Because of the deep snow, we did not continue on Jewell Pass or Prairie View, but rather, stopped and had lunch and then headed back. Marty made the first COC snow-woman. Half of us did Heart Creek as an add-on, and some did the requisite Kilkenny add-on as well.

-- Rhonda


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