2011 - Golden Ears Park, Arizona and New Mexico

My Flickr site for more pictures - 

Golden Ears Park Hikes
Location of entrance to Golden Ears Park

To have places to enjoy and savor so close by, and friends to go with is a very enjoyable thing.

Arizona and New Mexico - - A Photographic Road Trip

- UTube Video of the Trip

Ken Willis, Chuck McCafferty, and I had such a good time last year in Utah and Arizona, we decided to go again, but this time we decided to fly to Phoenix, rent a car, and visit some sites in eastern Arizona and New Mexico. Just south of Tucson, we visited the San Xavier Mission (picture 2) the Titan Missile Museum, the PIMA Space and Aviation Museum, and the Saguaro National Park

We then drove into New Mexico and went into the White Sands National Monument. It is next to Holloman airforce base, and is also close to the White Sands Missile Test Range, so hearing sonic booms is just another interesting feature to this amazing landscape of gypsum dunes. We had a very good time in the late afternoon light doing photography , learning a little about the local yucca plants, and meeting a couple from the eastern states.

Ken and Chuck meet a kindred spirit at the White Sands

We spent the night in Alamogordo and the next day we drove to southern New Mexico to see the Carlsbad Caves.  The walk down from the surface to the depths of the cave was very much worthwhile. That afternoon we drove to Roswell to get a motel and see the alien museum. The only thing that Roswell has going for it is the museum. Housed in an old theatre, the museum contains an assortment of newspaper articles, an ongoing movie based on the "Roswell Incident", and various other displays that sometimes do little more than make one even more skeptical. Then again, you never know. 

Ken points out proof of alien life, ..... or something

Since we had all seen the movie "Contact" and both enjoyed Carl Sagan's books and Jodie Foster's acting, we had to go and visit the "Very Large Array".

One of the many dishes used in the array, in for repairs.

From there, we drove to Albuquerque to find a motel. We didn't get there until after dark. We got our motel sorted out and found a good Mexican restaurant. The next morning, we wandered down the street from our motel to the old part of Albuquerque and found it an interesting place. 

Old Town Albuquerque

From there we drove highway 14 - the "Turquoise Trail" to Sante Fe. The town of Madrid, yes Madrid, made for an interesting stop. It seemed to offer a mixture of old mining town artifacts, very old buildings worn down by time, an artistic community, and aging people who have found that the 60s and 70s have finally caught up with them.
We knew this was going to be a long day so after a short stop, we drove on through Sante Fe to Taos. After checking into a tourist information office, we drove west to the Earthship community west of town. It is interesting to see a group of dedicated people trying to live "off the grid". 
We made our way back to Taos, checked out the San Francisco de Asis Mission Church there, and decided we should drive on to Farmington in north western New Mexico if we were going to keep to our schedule. Needless to say it was a long drive into the night made entertaining by a driving snow storm on the high plateau highways east of Farmington.

The bridge crossing the Rio Grande west of Taos

From Farmington, we wanted to visit the Bisti Badlands and Shiprock. The weather was bright, but chilly as the elevation was still around 4000 ft.We had a very enjoyable day, bundled in our jackets, photographing the strange shapes.

Chuck enjoys the Bisti Badlands

Shiprock is the inside of a volcano.
The ridge to the left is the result of lava pushed up through a narrow crack in the earth.
Quite the sight!

We then pushed on to "Four Corners" where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona meet. The actual sight is surrounded on four sides by souvenir vendors. But tacky they are not. Being on native land, the souvenirs are sold by native Americans and the crafts they were selling we often beautiful and of very high quality. Well worth the visit. I got another reminder of how good Chuck and Ken are at getting to know other people when I was talking to a couple of women at a stall. When I explained that I was with two other guys, they immediately responded " You mean Chuck and Ken?", like they were long time friends. You have to know Chuck to really appreciate what I am getting at. :-) The next sight on our list was Canyon de Chelly National Monument just east of Chinle. We wanted to see "Spider Rock" in the eastern part of the area, then hike down into the canyon and see the "White House" made famous by Ansel Adams. Being lower now, it was an enjoyable warm walk down a well maintained trail.

Canyon de Chelly

The next day, we drove south and spent some time at the Petrified Forest National Park, then drove west and made a stop at Meteor Crater between Winslow and Flagstaff.

Chuck trying to get it all in at Meteor Crater

Chapel of the Holy Cross - Sedona

Before flying out of Phoenix, our last stop was Sedona. Rich green pine forests contrasting against red cliff faces, the Tlaquepaque area of expensive shops with some very interesting art work, and new age "energy vortexes"on the tourist maps helped to make Sedona an interesting place. One that I would be willing to go back to. Even that middle aged "caretaker" packing a real six shooter at the airportviewpoint in the evening wouldn't deter me.

And Les, thanks for that Singh Ray filter. :-)

2004 - The AGM, Spring Skiing in Canmore, Canoeing Coast, "Highway to the Sun" Bike

January - The Red Lobster Annual General Meeting - Manning Park
Location of the AGM 
My Flickr site for more pictures - 

Chuck, Randy, Merc (below), Keith

We journey to our usual haunts in Manning Park for our annual general meeting and introduce Merc to the peculiarities of Lobsterdom.

Unfortunately, Bob Cuthbert couldn't make it, likewise Ken Willis. We drank toasts in their honour, and were silly in our typical way. Some of the stories we told were even true!

Spring Break 2004 - Banff and Lake Louise

Location of the ACC hostel outside of Canmore

 - Part 1 of our trip

- Part 2 of our trip

Alan, Keith, Chris

I had two weeks off for spring break so Alan Lizee, Chris Cooper, and I headed off for the ACC hut in Canmore. We hoped we would be able to do some spring skiing.

It was indeed spring. The first day saw us standing in the rain at the top of Vermillion Pass, and then standing in the rain at the start of the trail into Skoki. We later hiked up the trail to Lake Agnes to stand briefly in a blizzard.
The second day we skied part way into Skoki. It was a beautiful spring day, and the temperature was cold enough for good snow beyond the down hill area.
The last day we hiked up the trail to the top of Sulphur Mountain in Banff, where the picture to the left was taken.
I used Final Cut Exress II for the first time to create the video of the trip. I was pleased with the result. :-)

Chris Canoes the B.C. Coast
Location of Prince RupertStarting from Prince Rupert, Chris Cooper took a group of people on a canoeing adventure up the B.C. Coast. Here are a few pictures from the trip.

A very stable craft.

He had a 42 foot canoe made for this trip. He also has a 37 foot Montreal canoe which I had travelled in when I did a trip with him on Chilco Lake in 2002.

Working together

The kayaks were used as outriggers during long crossings of inlets during rough seas, and as small vessels for photography and the like. Note the two masts. 

The Musical Bumps - Whistler Mountain
Location of Singing Pass

Ken with Mt. Overlord in the distance.

Ken and I took the lift up Whistler and hiked along the musical bumps to Singing Pass and then down the trail back to our car one day. I had been experiencing knee pain while going downhill and boy did I suffer during the last couple of hours of this hike! Ken was planning a trip to Mt. Edziza and this hike confirmed that I should not go until I got my knee situation dealt with. I subsequently got a good knee brace that makes a big difference.

A Red Lobster Bike Tour.- Fernie - Pincher Creek - Waterton - St. Mary - Highway to the Sun/Logan Pass - West Glacier - Eureka - Fernie 

Part 1 of Ken's slide show of the bike ride.

Part 2 of Ken's slide show of the bike ride

Our route

Ken Willis, Chuck McCafferty, Dale MacQuarrie, John Wheatley, Dave Dixon, and myself (Keith Rajala) did a memorable six day bike tour in July covering about 560 kilometers.

Chuck - day one

Dale and Chuck had started from Balfour pulling trailers (and chuck dragging a brake pad) and the rest of us met them at Fernie. After Dale and Chuck dumped a lot of "excess" gear, we were off the next day on another Red Lobster adventure. I don't know how many other people have a group of friends they can do these kinds of things with and have a good time even in somewhat stressful circumstances, but I feel lucky that I have a group of friends like this.

There is another version of this picture, but we all have to retire first!

We left Fernie before it was even really light and had breakfast at the Dairy Queen in Sparwood as it seemed to be the only place open that early in the morning. The climb from there to the Crowsnest pass is not a big deal at all, especially compared to other passes in the Rockies. The picture above is at the summit of the Crowsnest Pass. From there, one hopes for the legendary tailwinds to blow them through the towns of Blairmore and Coleman on the way to Pincher Creek.

One the way to Waterton

We had spent the previous night at Pincher Creek and the lady at a local restaurant even opened up a bit early the next morning so we could get an early start! The cycle from Pincher Creek to Waterton consisted of a lot of rolling hills.

Morning at Waterton

Ken getting ready for the climb.

This was the start of my hardest day on this trip. The hill up to the border was very long and fairly steep. After the border, there were more hills, but some good downhill runs as well. The long downhill run on Chief Mountain International Highway led to highway 89 and finally St. Mary where we had a good meal. After that, it was a fairly short ride to the Rising Sun campground, showers, and another meal.
... there is much more to the trip, but you can watch Ken's video slideshow if you want to see more. (see above) 

2003 - AGM, Ski in Jasper, Biking with Lynn

The January AGM
Location of the AGM 
My Flickr site for more pictures - 

Dave Dixon

The Red Lobster Annual General Meeting - January 2003 - We induct a new member.Bob Cuthbert, Ken Willis, Chuck McCafferty, Randy Wheating, Ryan Shellborn, Keith Rajala, and the new Lobster, Dave Dixon survived another AGM up on the western flanks of the Three Brothers. When has there been so much laughing, other than the last AGM? Thanks to the people and culture of Scotland, Red Green, and Christmas leftovers, but most of all, good friends. :-) Enjoy the writing of Lobster Chuck...

Bob Cuthbert, Ryan Shellborn, Randy Wheating, Chuck McCafferty, Ken Willis, Dave Dixon

The "con" list. Dave knew a couple of lobsters. He had not climbed anything higher than the ladder with which he cleaned gutters (and that has not yet been verified). He had to walk to get to the tents for the winter camping (a much tougher task, some might suggest). In the final analysis, (and perhaps sadly) the fact that he drank scotch won out. (Those who still question Dale's membership on that qualification will lift an eyebrow here.) 
Conditions, while not ideal, were much better than on many of the trips to the Cambie Creek ski area. The snow allowed for easy ascent to the tent sites. Randy and Ryan had been in for a day or two and we knew as we slogged along that there would be a warm drink and friendly greeting.
As bodies drifted into the rhythm of each skier's comfort level and thoughts turned inward, we spread along the trail in pairs. Chuck and Ken moved slowly ahead as Keith lingered to be sure that Dave's bearpaw snowshoes held up as he dragged the sled containing his home for the night. It can be a very peaceful and introspective time skiing along a wintry trail with the knowledge that friends are not far off. It can be the nicest time of a trip into the mountains in the winter.
At the usual lunch spot we reassembled and munched on sandwiches, trail mix and drinks. As Ken and Chuck had been there for a time before the others arrived, they started off for the final ski up to the tenting spot. They worked up the trail and before long heard the familiar "Koo Loo Ku Ku" a-la Bob and Doug McKenzie as they arrived at camp to a waiting cup of hot coffee. 
Randy, Ryan and Bob (we weren't sure if Bob would be able to attend ... being from the frozen east and all) had set up their tents and had flattened a couple of spots for our two tents as well.

Many rituals filled the AGM

After a while, Dave and Keith arrived. Dave looked somewhat like a deer in the headlights as this was his first winter camping trip. However he had been well outfitted by his friends and was in for an fun-filled evening of wondrous foods, entertaining games like Tequila Pigs, and tall tales. As well, there were bad jokes and readings from Red Green, which, when added to the ubiquitous sips of scotch, had us in stitches for much of the evening. We had long ago realized that the pipe and cigar smoking needed to be in the fresh air outside the tents and so as the night wore on, Lobsters aglow with good times (and did I mention scotch?) quietly slipped off to their tents one by one for a good night's sleep.
It is said that "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts". Each year that truism is validated by the Red Lobster AGM --- a bunch of aging gentlemen out to play in the woods in the winter. It was a beer company that made the phrase "it doesn't get any better than this" famous. They haven't been on a Red Lobster AGM. - Chuck McCafferty


A Spring Break Ski Trip to Jasper
Location of the Bald Hills trail we used.

Good times.

On spring break, Ken Willis, Chris Cooper, and I travelled up to Jasper for a ski. In the previous weeks, it had been very cold. Bob Cuthbert had skied into the Amethyst Lake area a few weeks earlier, and had found it extremely cold. By the time we got to Jasper, it was spring like in the valley bottoms, so we went up to the Bald Hills area just west of Maligne Lake. the picture above are four frames out of the video I made of the trip.

At the Columbia Icefields

With stops at the Willis cabin on Sheridan Lake, and a drive down to the icefields, and a hot tub at the Tonquin Inn, it was a trip worth repeating :-)

Mountain Biking in the Rockies With Lynn
Location of Peter Lougheed Park

Lynn with Upper Kananaskis Lake behind her

After a computer conference in Seattle, Lynn and I packed up the van and headed for the Rockies for some R & R. We headed first to Peter Lougheed Park in Kananaskis Country and spent three days cycling some of the trails there, ending with a loop which included the Terrace Trail. This included a fairly long section of single track and we were rewarded at the end of it by the ice cream store at Kananaskis Village!

We then moved on to Lake Louise where we did the Pipestone trail: a friendly double track through the trees and a fun downhill run back to the highway.

Jasper was our next stop. We did trail number 7: a long loop starting at Old Fort Point and going along the Athabaska River. It then climbs up Maligne Canyon to the restaurant :-) and then goes back on a single track, skirting the southern edge of the golf course and ending back where you started. It was about 25 km in all. Some of it was challenging , but most of it was quite easy and friendly.