Club Events 2002/2003

Trip List Calendar

2003-08-20 : COC - GlobalFest Fireworks Competition
Event Coordinator(s): Rhonda S
Participants: Rhonda S, Lora Risk, Joel W. (SquarePants), Mandy

We left the social a bit early, took the LRT to Franklin, and then used the Global Fest shuttle. It was a slow, long, and cramped ride on a city bus to the venue, and the fireworks started before we got off the bus, although we didn't miss much.

The fireworks themselves were AMAZING!! I am a bit jaded when it comes to fireworks, and it's been a long time since a display left me grinning and speechless, but this did it - it was SO worth the shuttle rides (and our $5... or Joel's $10, as the case may be). The only bad thing about it was that it ended so soon, although 20 minutes is pretty long for fireworks.

One of the coolest things about it was how well the competitor (we saw the guy from the USA) choreographed his display to his music choices. When we stepped off the bus, he was starting with "Bohemian Rhapsody", which is about as fireworks-ey of a song as you can get - very cool! He used mostly 70's classic rock songs, which are oddly well suited to fireworks (or maybe that's just the "Red Deer Girl" in me speaking), and I was very impressed with how well he timed his explosions to the lyrics of BTO's "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet".

After our 20 minutes, it was back on the bus for a mercifully shorter trip back to Franklin. While we waited for the train, I pulled out the last of the "miracle bubble" wands that I'd picked up at Calaway Park and Mandy and I amused ourselves (and a few other waiting passengers) blowing bubbles.


2003-08-24 : COC - Canoeing at Chestermere Lake
Event Coordinator(s): Lora Risk, Rhonda S
Participants: Jennifer Martin, Duncan C, brandee bates, Farideh Jalilehvand, Lora Risk, Rhonda S

Nobody fell in.

What kind of introduction is that, you say? Well, I know you're just going to skim down through the write-up to look for the part where someone fell in, but no one fell in, so I'm saving you the trouble.

Canoeing on Chestermere Lake today was perfectly lovely. We started on the north end, circled that, then went under the highway and paddled around in the south end for a while. We never did get the food boat or the beer boat come out to service us, though, which disappointed Duncan and Graeme to no end. We even had the lake practically to ourselves, in spite of the fact that the weather was pretty much perfect - warm, but not scorching, with a beautiful clear sky.

So, the true adventure from today's trip lay not in the canoeing, but in the equipment. We met at the U of C Outdoor Program Center, where we were given all of our equipment, but alas, between the 8 of us, we had no real knowledge as to how to tie canoes to cars, and the rental guy "wasn't allowed" to help... it's a "liability thing", you know. Additionally, none of us really had cars suited for carrying a canoe, and none of us had a trailer hitch to use a trailer instead. Duncan and Brandee had the best canoe car. Graeme's Dad's truck with the topper on it, believe it or not, was second best. MY car... yes, the 1990 Ford Festiva, was quite respectable itself, and the most troublesome was Anne's car. With its sloped roof, the foamy things that the canoe sat on kept sliding around and falling out. If the U of C had had foam blocks to go around like they'd promised us, we probably would have had a much easier time of it.

As it was, loading up the canoes was quite harrowing and took about an hour. Then, it was driving from the U of C all the way out to Chestermere, with our precariously perched canoes. Miraculously, we, and our equipment, made it out without too many problems. Then, the relaxing paddle around the lake. Upon our return, loading the canoes back up was more like a 15-minute job since we are now all experts in precariously attaching canoes to our vehicles. The drive back in was a bit sketchy because the traffic was heavier, but we all made it back in, in spite of the irreconcilable differences between Anne's roof and the foamy things. Even the U of C guy seemed surprised that he got all of his equipment back, and all of our people and vehicles seem to have returned unscathed. He probably thinks we spent the day hiding around the corner in shame, and just pretended for his benefit that we actually made it to Chestermere and back with our ragtag convoy.

Of course, after all that ordeal, we had to reward ourselves with a snack and a drink at Moose Maguire's.

The whole day, actually, was quite enjoyable - a great time, and a great bunch of people (who didn't even try seriously to make good on their threats of murdering me).


2003-08-26 : COC - Douglas Fir Trail
Event Coordinator(s): Fran Buchanan, Rhonda S
Participants: Dana Winkler, Bridget, Rhonda S

This was a GREAT hike! Who knew Calgary had such a wonderful trail right here within the city. It was *almost* like being in the mountains, except for the part where we could hear the traffic and see the Riverside apartment towers.

This is a great up-and-down trail, through the woods, with lots of wooden stairs and a great lookout point that sticks out over the river. Absolutely wonderful!


2003-09-07 : AOC - Tubing the Chattahoochee in Helen, GA


2003-09-18 : COC - Bear Safety Lecture
Event Coordinator(s): Rhonda S
Participants: Rhonda S, Joel W. (SquarePants), Sandy Bruce

This lecture, put on by the U of C Outdoor Program Center was very good. Joel and I did not attend the companion field trip on Sunday, although I believe Sandy did, and hopefully one of these days we'll get his feedback on that part of it.


2003-09-27 : COC - Sulphur Springs
Event Coordinator(s): Rhonda S
Participants: Rhonda S, verna crowther, Lana T, michelle p.

What started out as a search for some stinky springs turned into a Fall Foliage adventure.

Let me explain…We were feeling really bad about some trailhead confusion that left us a person short. We parked the car next to a cow, and set out on the trail, sans Verna. We quite naively thought that since the trail was named Sulfur Springs, that there would be some, um, Sulfur Springs. We plodded along for about 45 minutes prior to encountering a lone hiker, a woman; it couldn’t be Verna…could it? Well, it was, and she informed us that the springs had all but dried up.

Slightly disappointed by the lack of stink, we convinced Verna to double back the way she had just come, and join us on our loop. She suggested a trail that hadn’t occurred to any of us, called the Riverview Trail.

Off we went in search of the river. Not only did we find the Elbow River, and a choice place for lunch, we found an amazing family of rock people, and some of the best light infused, coloured leaves. They can only be described as juicy…check out the photo’s, you’ll see what I mean! This unexpected detour was fantastic, the scenery truly best around.

Our only real regret was that the hike back to the car, involved a rather relentless uphill battle. Although the view back over the trees and the amazing depth of yellows and greens made the huffing and puffing all worth while.

After dropping Verna back at her car, the rest of us set out on a tourist type quest, Elbow Falls. We enjoyed the view with a couple of hundred other people, including the Christian Harley Riders, then happily made our way back the city.

Upon awaking the next day, my muscles were just a little tight - a perfect reminder of a perfect day spent, even if we never did find any stinkin’ springs!

-- Lana


2003-09-30 : COC - Twelve Mile Coulee


2003-10-01 : COC - Grotto Canyon
Event Coordinator(s): Rhonda S
Participants: Marlis *, Lana T, Rhonda S

This afternoon hike into the canyon turned out to be a real treat. From the moment we pulled into the parking lot and saw only one other car, we knew we’d have the canyon practically to ourselves. We weren’t too sure how much water there would be in the creek, and as it turned out there wasn’t much.

Rhonda entertained us with tales of a previous trek in which the creek water was so high, they had to give up after a short distance. That wasn’t the case for us, and we marched right in barely getting the soles of our shoes wet.

Entering the narrower parts of canyon is an almost spiritual experience, as you wonder about the forces that created it. The natives found this a spiritual place too, and we did manage to find some of the pictographs they’d left behind for us to ponder, shellacked but not overly well preserved.

Beyond the narrow bits, the canyon opens up into a glorious valley, complete with a very cool cave and hoodoo-like rock formation that we imagined was a medieval castle. We of course were in the moat!

Back in the canyon, we did encounter a few souls, and some very friendly dogs. But mostly we were left to enjoy the sights, and sounds of our own very entertaining discussion about how far technology has come in our lifetime. Imagine a TV remote with a cord, a microwave with push buttons, and a VCR that cost $1000 and was huge!

All this and an amazing late afternoon sun to really light up the mountains in the background.

On the way home, we discovered how Heart Mountain got it’s name, and encountered a “Cow Crossing” that involved the cops, a renegade cow, a stodgy old lady with a stop sign, and a lot of Mooing…clearly the highlight of the day for the city girl giggling in the front seat!

-- Lana


2003-10-04 : COC - Fall BBQ
Event Coordinator(s): Rhonda S
Participants: Rhonda S, Tina Praught, Lana T, Lora Risk, Joel W. (SquarePants), danielle, Brent Patton, eunhee shin, hyunhui lee, Graeme

We had a good turnout today, and an interesting mix of "regulars" and "newbies". I say interesting because all of the new folks weren't really "new" - just new to me and Graeme (they'd attended the Chester Lake hike). It was great to have them out again and meet them.

We didn't even fire up Graeme's barbecue... we used his fire pit instead, and everything turned out great! Had some extra special goodies come our way, too, including a homemade (by Brent's grandma) apple pie, potato salad from Tina (who wasn't able to attend, but still send potato salad... mmmmm... potato salad) and special um... Korean "sushi" from Annie and Sophie.

When we started planning this get-together, it was supposed to be an end-of-season bash, but so far our season is showing no sign of slowing down! Lots more great stuff coming up, and hopefully enough "Indian Summer" to get us through a few more hikes and mountain bike trips.


2003-10-05 : COC - Race City
Event Coordinator(s): Rhonda S
Participants: Rhonda S, Joel W. (SquarePants), Juliana Wadia

Cam Wheatley is the "darling" of Race City, and it's no surprise - the man is a genius, who has obviously sold his soul to the devil for the talent to recognize and exploit the opportunities to find his way through the other cars on the track, especially on the corners.

Wheatley started the race today with a two-lap handicap because of his last win - the only driver given a handicap. Car 89 took the lead early on and held it until lap 100, at which point, Wheatley (in 20, "Go Baby Go") finished closing the two-lap lead and joined the race.

At about lap 160, Wheatley had lapped all the other cars - yet again - to overtake car 89, who fought hard to keep his lead, but eventually couldn't hold Wheatley back any longer, as he moved into first. He briefly let it go, but in the end, regained the lead and held it for the final lap to take the race, his muffler dragging for the final ten laps.

A great race, and a terrific win for one of Race City's most popular drivers.


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