Club Events 2004 : 2004-06-05 : COC - Upper Kananaskis Lake Circuit, and Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir

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Upper Kananaskis Lake Circuit

Well, the rain gods were not smiling on our group, and the suggestion to sacrifice a young virgin to appease them was rejected, as this writer was considered too old and there were no other virgins in the group. The rain continued throughout most of the trip with teasing moments of sunshine peering through once or twice, having group members lining up to worship this welcome event! Nonetheless, despite the dampened clothing and the need for emergency blister first aid for one member (who declined the offer to have her appendix removed at the same time!), the hike was an enjoyable event and spirits remained undampened. Our fearless leader Rhonda, kept egging us on, insisting that according to her GPS, we had not moved in the 3 hours since her last reading! There was also some dispute as to whether or not the posted distance (16.6 km) was accurate as we felt we kept up a steady pace for most of the 6 hour duration of the hike. As some of the 'mice' appeared to tire during the course of this event, Rhonda kept pulling out little bits of cheese, holding them just out of reach in an effort to keep certain members moving. One member attempted to clear the trail of deadfall trees (there were many!) for the benefit of others, but misunderstood the offered suggestion of 'use your head!'. No harm was done, as evidently there was nothing up there to be harmed. The 'fast' group (lead by Phillip) made the circuit more than an hour before the 'slow' group (Rhonda kept stopping to take pictures and begging for more cheese!) but forgot to take any car keys with them. Kevin, (from the fast group) made Phillip jog back with him 4 km (rumour is that Kevin carried him!) just to get a little exercise. Then, just before the end of the trail, the group discovered a sign (see photos) which to their consternation, adivsed that there was a bear in the area! One member (to remain anonymous) shrieked "There's f#*^&$# bears out here???!!" but after we calmed Rhonda down and reminded her that she was the only one carrying bear spray, she seemed to be alright. Meanwhile, Kevin, wanting a little more exercise, had completed 14 more loops of the lake. All in all, a rather uneventful and still enjoyable trip. (Note: not all of the information in some of these reports is necessarily entirely factual.).

-- Mark the prevaricator
Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir in Canmore

After getting rained on most of the day hiking around Upper Kananaskis Lake, three weary travelers joined Joel at the Canmore Hotel just before 8PM. The game was already well in progress (boo Tampa), and we enjoyed some not-bad pub food while waiting for the band.

The bar had an irritating sound system with even more irritating canned music in the interim, but at last the band started. We stayed for one awesome set and heard lots of tracks that aren't on the CD we're familiar with. There were lots of young folk there; unusual characters that are either artists or hardcore mountain people - we're not sure. Personally I was very relieved when the blonde dreadlock fellow (from the audience) who thinks that playing a harmonica requires only blowing into it enthusiastically (rather than having any skill, knowledge or talent) mercifully decided after "playing" one song at the table next to us moved across the room. The crowd danced up a storm to the frenetic rhythms much to our amusement, and Philip and I braved the dance floor only once.

A cool show, but probably not a venue (or start time... 11PM eek!) that I'd choose again.

-- Rhonda


Photos

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