Club Events 2004

Trip List Calendar

2004-02-15 : COC - Party for Dave B
This does not seem to have been a club party - just an unofficial gathering.


2004-02-26 : COC - Pool at Stix
We met up at Stix at about 7:00, and had a couple of new members (Tara and Marc) as well as an out of town visitor (Cheryl's sister, Lori).

We had our own little tournament on two tables with:
1a) Scott and Cheryl against Dana and Lori
1b) Tara and Marc against Rhonda and Betty
2a) Scott and Marc against Tara and Cheryl
2b) Dana and Betty against Rhonda and Lori
3a) Scott and Betty against Rhonda and Marc
3b) Dana and Cheryl against Tara and Lori

Each round was a best out of three. We were a pretty evenly matched group overall with no real "sharks" (although a few of us had a moment or two), and no real novices.

Stix is a great venue for pool, and their food is REALLY good. My cheeseburger was to die for (as cheeseburgers so rarely are), and everyone else raved about their food, too.

Dana's friend, Roy, and Merv and Cynthia stopped by to visit for a bit, too.

- Rhonda


2004-02-28 : COC - Kananaskis Village: Tobogganing and/or Ice Skating
It couldn't have been a better day for tobogganing! The sun was shining and the air was warm. Rhonda, Cheryl, Michelle and Scott all drove up from Calgary and were met on the road by Jon, Dave, and Rob who had just come from ice climbing Troll Falls. We pulled into the parking lot and Rhonda and Michelle decided to go skating on the pond while everyone else went tobogganing.

Dave and Jon pulled out their Snow Boogie Thunder! boards and applied what the third coat of Pledge wax! Everyone headed for the so-called "Suicide Hill" and the fun began. We screamed down the hill at speeds of at least mach 2 and over the bumps at the bottom. Rob on his Crazy Carpet set the distance record for the day. We decided that their was better "Alpine Sliding" to be found at Nakiska so we rallied and headed out. We got distracted by a slippery slope off Hwy 40 and made a few tracks there before hitting Nakiska for a few runs, only a few though because the groomers were coming out to work.

The day ended with a few pints a Kilkenny, as all good days do. Thanks to everyone for an enjoyable day.

- Jon


2004-02-29 : COC - Ice Skating at Chateau Lake Louise
It was a very casual event. We all got to Lake Louise at different times, and some left earlier than others. Some skated and some just hung around by the fire taking in the scenery and meeting other folks. Some did a bit of both.

Officially, the core skating group met up at the ice castle at around 1pm. The day was sunny and clear and the temperature was just right. The ice sculptures were on display for all of us shutter bugs to snap a few shots. The crowds were in control and no one took out anyone else on skates! (although there was a dog out on the ice for awhile on a leash that was a bit of a concern...) We logged about 3 and a half hours of "ice time" punctuated by coffee runs, skate rental returns, photo ops (both other people's photos as well as our own), fish bite admiring, and snack breaks. And, just like a group of teens at the mall, we did some standing around in a circle *gossiping* and chatting about nothing in particular. That's what we were up to when Karen and Leesa found us. I guess we were obviously a group and Karen figured we might be the Calgary Outdoor Club, so came up and joined us. We're glad they found us 'cause we just love meeting new people. They might not have been so keen to join us earlier when we were posing poor Cheryl by the blood spatter for the new promo photo for future skating events!!

It was a great day overall. There's something about skating, especially outside on a lake, that brings out the kid in you...complete with rosy cheeks! And as an added bonus, all of our gear that we left on the bench, smells like camp fire, and there was slight hint of sun on our faces the next day. It simply doesn't get any better than that now does it?

A few of us continued our day at Kilkenny's (quelle surprise!!). Things got interesting when we figured out that pints of Sleemans were $2 after the Flames won 4-2 over Phoenix. Thanks Michael for that extra round...you big spender you! At the risk of sounding like a beer commercial, some good company, good food, good beer - it was the perfect ending to a perfect day!

-- Lana


2004-03-05 : COC - The Arrogant Worms at Jack Singer
The Arrogant Worms rock! I've seen these guys close to about ten times now and I never get tired of them.

I have to kind of wonder, though, if they're not getting a bit big for their britches... I mean, this was the first time they brought an opening act with them. A guy named Ben Something-Or-Other who was really good and funny, too.

Of course, I'm hoarse this morning from yelling out all the right stuff in all the right places (like a true uber-fan should... yes they did SO write "Creepy Stalker Girl" for me).

-- Rhonda


2004-03-07 : COC - Beginner Snow Shoeing at Pocaterra in K-Country
Being the first timer on the Calgary Outdoor club Sunday snowshoe hike I have been nominated by my colleagues to file the event report.

The day was windy with some cover in Calgary but the wind left us once at Pocaterra hut and although the skies had a white snow cover the light filtered through and it was comfortably warm.

The group of six started off in the meadow below the hut for my benefit, never having put a pair of snowshoes before, and then we trekked off to the woods that flank the meadows side. The trip was published as being easy and doable for beginners and it was.

Rhonda’s friend Bridget said that the snow had a crust and wasn’t the greatest – I was just wondering how far you could sink in!! Five minutes into the woods a steep descent appeared and the question for me was- do you do this vertically or just slide ungracefully to the bottom of the decline – I chose vertical. Signs of wildlife- a big fat grouse off the path that looked like a football with a head.

As a newcomer to the group I find it amazing that a total stranger can pick up the phone and arrange to get to one of the most magnificent areas of the country, have a minimal cost and meet a gang of friendly and helpful like minded people. Thanks everyone for a great Sunday.

-- Jacqueline


2004-03-12 : COC - Winter Weekend in Nordegg
This was the Calgary Outdoor Club's very first 'overnight' event. First off, I would like to thank Dave Biesbroek for organizing it... in spite of his 'real life' being thrown into utter chaos just a couple days before, Dave found a way to make sure everything to do with this event still came off fabulously.

A handful of folks headed up to Nordegg (3 1/2 hours Northwest of Calgary, near the east border of the Banff and Jasper National Parks) earlier in the afternoon on Friday, and some followed later in the evening. Most of us stayed in a dorm style cabin, which holds a maximum of 20 people. There were ten of us in the dorm, and Debbie got her own cabin which she generously shared with the group for partying on both Friday and Saturday evenings.

Unfortunately, it wasn't very wintery in the Nordegg area this weekend, so we weren't able to do a few of the things we'd hoped to. We had planned on some snow shoeing, cross-country skiing, and ice skating, as well as ice climbing. The ice climbing went ahead as scheduled, but the rest of us did a couple of hikes, and we all played floor hockey instead of doing that other stuff.

On Saturday, we (the non-ice climbers) hiked Crescent Falls. The weather was absolutely beautiful, and the hike had some terrific views. Once we got past the falls, our safety officer, Rob, tested out the ice on the river by tromping out, jumping around a bit, and writing his name in the snow (no, just with his feet, silly!). Once the rest of us were satisfied that it was safe to go out onto the ice, we ventured out and walked a ways further down the river. We found some very odd tracks, which we determined were made by amphibious, gravity-defying bigfeet (bigfoots?) who made the curious outward impressions by walking around upside down inside the river.

Sunday we hiked up Allstones Creek with the climbers, where they proceeded to climb the icy gorge wall. We watched for a while and then headed back out. This was a very nice, albeit short, winter hike up a frozen creek. Beautiful and interesting rock formations, and some funky spanish moss (note the "moss-taches" on the "bush people") were some of the visual highlights.

An unexpected highlight of the weekend was playing floor hockey in the Goldeye's little gymnasium. My team, which consisted of more of the 'older' folks in the group, kicked some big young-folk a$$. Our goalie, Debbie, did a stellar job of keeping the ball out of our net, and the rest of us, powered by enthusiasm and beer, soundly whupped the whippersnappers on the other side (or at least that's how I remember it)!

Another high point for myself was the Goldeye's enormous crib board/table in their rec room where Scott and I played our early morning crib tournaments while waiting for the rest of the gang to get up each morning. I'm sorry to say I lost every game, and at a nickel a pop, I will have to take a second job soon to support my crib-playing habit.

-- Rhonda


2004-03-13 : COC - Winter Weekend in Nordegg


2004-03-14 : COC - Winter Weekend in Nordegg


2004-03-20 : COC - Grotto Canyon Ice Hike
Today was a fabulous day! The sun was shining; it was warm and we got to try crampons for the first time!

We met at the usual spot, the Brentwood LRT station. Luckily, Alan and Rhonda knew what kind of equipment was needed because a couple of us had to return to the UofC for another type of crampon. Once the proper equipment was on hand, or foot, we were off.

The drive was spectacular. We took Hwy 1A and got to enjoy the wonderful views. Those of us that haven't seen that sight before, or very often, were (almost) speechless with the grandeur.

The walk up to the creek bed was easy and clear and the fun soon began once the crampons were put on. There were some equipment difficulties but that didn't deter any of us from trying out the crampons to the max. Those things are way too much fun! It is such a novelty to be able to walk on ice comfortably without a worry of slipping. I highly recommend it to everyone to try.

We watched some folks climbing up a ice fall, then carried on up the creek. Alan and Ichiro climbed the hill to look in the cave while the rest of us watched from below.

Our return was just as much fun with some barbs exchanged (they started it!) with some ladies we passed that were trying to walk up in running shoes. Oh well...poor them...

Of course we went to the Kilkenny upon our return to Calgary. Bridget met us there and we allowed her to sit with us because she wasn't "too" tanned from her recent holiday.

-- Cheryl


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