August, 2009

AUGUST

The August meeting will be Thursday, August 6th.

The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. featuring representatives from LPEA speaking
on “green power”. They will explain how you can use energy reducing steps and renewable energy to earn rebates through LPEA and the IRS.

Refreshments will be provided by Shirley Hunter and Gail Reilly. If you have something delicious you would like to bring, please feel free.

Don't forget money for the Education Fund Raffle.

Tickets are $5 for 7 or $1 for one.

We have another round of fabulous prizes:
Plaid Pony-Wine Caddy value $52

Plaza Grille-Gift Certificate $20

The Springs Resort and Spa-Monthly Pass

Half the Cash

Proceeds benefit Pagosa senior students going to college as well as younger students studying nature and conservation and learning outdoor sports and skills.

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President's Message

Hello everyone,

I'm spending a month hiking Glacier and the Canadian Rockies and writing today from Banff. I hope it's as nice in Pagosa as up here. We had a great picnic on the 4th and thanks again to everyone who helped out in making it a success. Thanks again to the Long's for letting us come out to their beautiful spot on the river. The float in the parade was a lot of work but was fun for everyone. The silent auction turned out well, raising over $1,000. Just a reminder to you gardeners about the plant swap in September. If you have things you need to divide this is the perfect opportunity to share the wealth of your yard with some of the newer folks in the area, or find something you have been wanting to add to your garden. If you haven't looked at the calendar in awhile, there is lot's of good stuff happening, get out and enjoy.

Barry

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July Meeting

We had quite the turnout at the Long's on the 4th of July. The rest of the folks were inside the main house, inside the guest house, or down by the river. What a fabulous place for a large gathering.

Checking out some of the offerings at the silent auction.

Joyce presenting the winning bids.

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Upcoming Activities

Remember to check the Calendar of Activities often for details on upcoming events. Sometimes things get added during the month. You can find a link to the calendar in the sidebar under Useful Links. There is also a link to the Gray Wolf Ski Club for their Tuesday hiking schedule.

In August we have a moonlight walk and cookout, walk and pancake breakfast, the Thursday morning ladies walks, the Monday morning mountain bike rides, bowling, a mountain bike maintenance clinic, and two backpacking trips.

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July Activities

We had quite a bit going on in July and I received lots of good pictures.

Keep 'em coming.

Pagosa Peak Hike - July 2nd

We had a large group for the Pagosa Peak hike that broke into two. Bart Cox left two hours early with a slower paced group and we all enjoyed a cool cloudy sky for the hike up. By the time both groups reached the summit it had broken into a beautiful sunny day and, as usual, the views of the San Juan's in all directions were breathtaking. After a lazy lunch everyone headed down and the early arrivals at the trailhead enjoyed a cold beer or two as usual.

Getting close.......Watch out for those rocks...

Just a little bit farther......

Are we there yet?

Linda Schneider and Jean Bechtold toasting success.

Yes indeed, here we are - on top of the world.

Charleen, Mary Ann, and Sue - nothing like a little stretch before we head back down.

Time to go.

Back at the cars, let's see, is everyone here?

4th of July Parade

We had some energetic walkers....

And some very special riders!

Our float represented outdoor fun ---fishing, mountain biking, camping, and skiing.

That's Sue Bozek - riding for all she's worth and goin' nowhere fast.

Pagosa Pedalers

The Pagosa Pedalers are still going strong. Every Monday a dozen or more MTBers meet to ride forest roads and trails and enjoy our beautiful Pagosa scenery. So far, we have ventured to Turkey Springs, Monument Park, West Fork, 8 Mile Mesa, Kenney Flats, and East Fork. The rides range from easy flat to some challenging uphill, wide forest roads to single track. We're all learning some technique and working on our endurance. We also get to practice a little cattle wrangling along the way! The rides are posted on the Activities Calendar. Come and join the PP's for a ride!

Everyone with smiling faces of anticipation for the ride at Kenney Flats - Steve, John, John, Carolyn, Suzanne, Barb, Carol, Suzanne, Cindy, Abby & Susan (Betsy taking pic).

As you can see, we still have a bit of work to do on our technique, but we're improving!

The group on July 20th enjoying Silver Falls. They rode 14.6 miles round trip on the East Fork Road.

The always cheerful Charleen smiling while changing a flat before heading back down the trail.

Sometimes the safest place to be on a rocky uphill is on the ground walking!

Single Track Slim aka John W.

Thursday Morning Walkers

Thursday Morning walkers ready to hit the streets for an hour aka 4 miles. They meet every Thursday morning, 9 a.m., at the Rec Center on Park Avenue. Shirley Hunter is the organizer but she's not afraid to delegate leadership.

After burning up all those calories, it's time to replenish! A great time to catch up on what's going on with who, where, and when. This is outdoor club social networking at its finest!

Summitville Camp Out
By Betsy Cotton

Bart & Erika Cox know how to throw an outdoor party. Just ask the 25 “guests” that joined them for the Summitville Camp Out July 11-12. That’s right - Twenty Seven total. In addition to Bart & Erika, were: Joan & Sid Harris, Judi Ferguson, Ingrid Leppitsch, Larry Dunn, Betsy Cotton & her brother, Wade, Lynne & Mike Sinkey, Dick Redfield, Cynthia Riski, Buck & Mary Gamache and their daughter, Abby, Ron Chacey, Dalas & Carrie Weisz, Jack & Sue Passant, Leo Milner, Ken & Mary Ann Durham, Gary Brewer, Carl Pitts, and Poppy Borland. And let’s not forget the loyal 4-legged campers - Sock, Taylor, Buddy, Cody & BJ.

One might think the group would take the most direct and maintained road i.e. Park Creek Road. One might not know Bart. The convoy headed up Tucker Pond Road which, magically, transformed into one of those narrow, rocky, drop-edged kind of things. You know the ones. I believe the strategy was to see who could drive that road (I use the word loosely) and make the most caustic comments on the 2-way radios. I’ll let those involved decide the winner of that contest. I do pick Mary and Cynthia for the best vocal duo award, however.

The Saturday hike rendered visual delights and a lesson in the Bart Cox School of Disclaimers i.e. “the vehicles SHOULD be this direction,” and “they are PROBABLY right over there.” Fortunately for us all, they were.

After visiting Grayback Mountain via automobiles and enjoying 360 degree views, camp for 27 was made over, oh I don’t know, about 10 acres. I exaggerate but you can imagine. If someone were researching tents, that would have been a perfect opportunity as I don’t believe there were any two alike. A virtual bouquet of nylon.

The campfire gathering sported two particularly unique events. FIRST was the Flume o’ Flame provided by Ron and CLOSELY supervised by the multi-lingual Ken who can say “Sacre Bleu!” in at least three languages. The SECOND was the entertaining creation of Bananas Flambe’ provided by Leo and, again, CLOSELY supervised by Ken “Let’s Try This” Durham. If you would like to view both of those fascinating phenomenon, click on the link in the sidebar under “Useful Links” called “Summitville Bananas” and you’ll see a YouTube video never before and probably never again witnessed by the viewing public.

On a bright Sunday morning many of the gang hiked up to Bonita Peak and enjoyed the wide open spaces and crisp air. As the gang returned to camp and packed their gear, “good-byes” and “see-ya-soons” filled the air. Thanks to Bart & Erika for organizing this chance to enjoy our mountains and, more so, our friends.

Enjoying a hike near Summitville

Leo surveying the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and San Luis Valley from the tip top of Grayback Mountain

Group campfire chatter at its best.

A rather dangerous culinary practice to prepare Bananas Flambe'. Go to the "Useful Links" in the Sidebar and click on the "Summitville Bananas" to see a short video clip of this interesting episode.

Bike Clinic

Pagosa Pedalers attended a Bike Maintenance Clinic July 22nd. Tom, with Pedal & Powder, kindly educated and entertained the group free of charge so that we might be better able to care for our bikes and manage problems that could arise on the trail. Those attending were: Betsy C., Joan H., Steve & Kathie B., Suzanne C., Klaus N., Carolle H.A., Cindy & Bill H., Bob & Susan M., and John D. We are thankful to Tom for taking his personal time and sharing with us those helpful little tips that may keep us out of trouble! Please offer your thanks anytime you visit the folks in Pedal & Powder.
There will be a follow-up clinic August 25th @ 7:30-9:00 p.m. to learn more maintenance and repair. Anybody may attend at no cost or you can bring your bike to learn it specifically for a charge of $10. Maximum # of people is 12. Please call or email Betsy Cotton if you wish to attend (731-1062, yaknandpakn@gmail.com). Or you can sign-up on the activity sheet at the August meeting. Again, please offer your thanks to Pedal & Powder and consider them for your bike needs purchases. They are offering 20% discount on all parts and accessories for our group.

The PP's paying close attention.

Hiking in Silverton

A group of over 20 folks joined the Hunters in Silverton to ogle the wildflowers that were absolutely fantastic and, of course, to hike the high country. The Hunters stayed 2 weeks and folks came and went as their schedules allowed. The pictures tell their own story.

Whitehead Peak

VelocityPeak Hike 13,000ft.

Ophir Pass flowers

Sidehilling above Ophir Pass

Lower Ice Lakes Basin

Purple Fringe

Ice Lakes Columbine

Columbine Lake - Parry's Primrose

Columbine Lake

Atop Hansen Peak 13,500ft.

Above Porphrey Basin

Ute Creek Semiloop Backpack

July 28th

Betsy Cotton, Susan Milford and Joan Harris took off on a great adventure. When we plan a backpack trip, we go rain or shine. This trip was, unfortunately, more rain than shine. We left July 28th and came back July 31st (a day early). We put our rain gear on and took it off about 30 times. At the highest point of the trail on the Continental Divide Trail, (over 12,000 ft.), it commenced to hail and rain with the wind blowing so hard it blew us off the trail. But we were lucky because we never had to set up camp or pack up in the rain. The views were fantastic. We found great camping spots every day but the last one. We actually found a good spot, but it started hailing and raining. So we kept walking. We never found another spot to suit us, so we walked all the way out. 12.3 miles!! That's a miracle for us. We had one air mattress leak and two faulty water filters. We survived anyway and emerged with smiles on our faces.

Joan and Betsy enjoying the campfire on our first night. We had a great view up the Ute Creek Drainage toward the Continental Divide.

The only good thing about the clouds were the beautiful sunsets.

Our descent to Ute Lake for our second night of camping.

Home, sweet home on Ute Lake.

Joan and Betsy enjoying lunch in the rain.

View of West Ute Lake from out 3rd campsite.

Campsite above West Ute Lake with gen-u-ine blue skies (for a little while!)

Joan and Betsy picking and eating wild strawberries along West Ute Creek

Susan fording the Rio Grande close to the end of the trail. Thank goodness for this, or our feet would still be smokin' from the long haul out.

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That's it.......See ya outside!!!!!!!!!!