Since 1933, the Skyline Hikers of the Canadian Rockies have offered a unique way
to experience the back country of Canada's mountain parks.

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Camp 1 is always a special adventure: there are few indications of human impact on the environment when we arrive at camp. The first challenge that this presents is finding your way to your tent. In spite of excellent directions from the hosts and a rudimentary map, it took us some time to sort out the 54 campers. Of course, this year, there were the "upper campers" and the "great unwashed" in the lower regions. However, it seemed that the gathering place for everyone this year was outside the host tent in the lower area - perhaps because of the proximity to the biffy and the dining tent....and natural pathways soon developed to guide us. The second challenge of the initial camp is, of course, route finding for the hikes. We had "creative route finding" all week, with campers signing up for one destination and finding themselves at another. And then Bushwhack Pass up to Loomis Lake kept perplexing a variety of leaders...sorry to every other camp with all the confusing blazes on trees! But the virgin trails also produce fabulous patches of wild flowers and undisturbed views.

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"Happy Hour" out of the rain -- Scotch & Strawberry Licorice Delights		Judith Taylor reciting Jabberwocky from memory.

1. The Hikers Song – Barb Wilson, Kent and Erica Phillips, Anita Godin, Nancy Isaac and Denise Hall
2. Skyline Hikers a la Vinyl Café – Paul Clark – Dave Goes Down Memory Lane
3. The Royal Imperial Singers performing a revealing peek at “Donald Where’s Your Trousers?” – Judith and Michael Taylor, Sadie and David Cameron, Terry Tropak , Allan Farmer and Charles
4. Midnight at the Oasis – Gail Johnson, Wendy Dirksen and Charles
5. Will you still love me when I’m 64? – A West Coast Dance routine by Linda and Arn Hoffman in tribute to Paul.
6. The Music Man – an enthusiastic one-man band performance by David Cameron

The Maitre D's.		Royal Imperial Singers

Midnight at the Oasis.		Patch, the Pirate.

1. The Stephen Covey People-ship Award to Ellen Kao for the Name Game.
2. The Skyline Girl Who Kicked the Fire ( to always warm the Donut Singers) – Carol Schwab
3. Skyline Tech Buster – Who You Gonna Call? – Norm Kennedy .
4. Odlum Creek’s very own Bathing Beauty – Shirley Reid .
5. The Best Camper’s Cook House in the West – Franz, Charles, Davis .
6. 2011 – New Day Leader Award – Mike Zaine .
7. Newbie Couples Award for Skyline Spirit – David and Sadie Cameron for gleefully entering into every entertainment opportunity! .
8. The Cremation of Sam McGee – Poem recited dramatically from this Newbie’s Memory – Linda Hoffman .
9. Camp 2 Chief Leader Debut – Paul Clark
10. Hostess with the Mostest – (surreptitiously snuck into the pile by Judith who then hijacked the presentations)– Cheryl Olson
11. “Becoming Canadian” – Franz Kueng – our excellent chef who wants to call Canada home!

To my friend -- Norm Kennedy		Carol's Tall Tale

• “To my Friend” – Norm Kennedy shared some memorable events with Ernie that helped create their great Skyline friendship.
  
  
• The Royal Imperial Singers dedicated their “Want to Be a Lumberjack” song to Ernie’s accomplishments as Chief Leader.
  
  
• Rob Matthews told secrets of their hiking fun……like Ernie’s reciting the names of New Zealand sites in sentences to convince unsuspecting hikers that he could indeed speak the Maori language and other tall Kiwi Tales!
  
  
• Carol Schwab shared memories of Ernie and in particular how he would reassure her that she was very good at always knowing when she was on the wrong trail! How is that for a “Judgment of Solomon” and so typical of how Ernie developed and supported his day leaders and hikers.
  
  
• Paul Clark’s tribute was that there is some magic in Ernie – not sure if it comes from his Kiwi-ness or the staff he carries – he is the engineer, the project planner, a person of integrity, inclusive of everyone’s views and wishes, never autocratic and always consultative, and reached out to all the campers at Camp 2. Ernie is the type of person whose contributions and leadership are “foundational” to the great experience that is Skyline.
  
  
• Lynn told a story of the stoic Ernie, who, in preparation for Baril Creek 2005 camp went with Lynn to check out the trail the previous fall. Ernie was slightly ahead on the trail and when Lynn came around the corner, she saw that a huge old black bear had crossed in front of Ernie and was coming back to check him out. Ernie was shaking but promptly made himself big, arms up, staff in one hand and bear spray in the other and sweet talked the black monster “Hello Mr. Bear, have a good day etc etc” - the bear was satisfied that there was no threat and may have decided that this creature was too skinny to eat and carried on his way.
  
  
• As hostess, I have been volunteering with Ernie since 2005 and have huge respect for his mountain knowledge, hiking leadership skills and people skills….
  
  
• We also have had a lot of fun…the first time I saw the “oldish man with the staff” I had no idea what lay ahead…my memories include him using the staff to pole vault the Spray River to assist hikers across and hiking the trail several times in one day to do that, the creation of the “Hike Planner” that has served Camp 2 so well, the gentle humour/wit he has always displayed, his aversion to all things GPS and especially “cumulative altitude” being solved by adding 20 metres to the most strenuous hike, and the many historical stories recounted about the Canadian Rockies by Ernie and Lynn the Lurch!
  
  
• The best part was that there was never a problem we faced that Ernie couldn’t find another human facet to be considered to help us arrive at “win-win” solutions…and then later he would often be self reflective to see if we could have done it better! Ernie was a great team player!

Lynn's Take		Ernie's Roast

Relaxing after day on trail.		Little Loomis Pond

Odlum Ridge		Bridge over north branch Odlum Creek

HOWever.. SIGNAL EVENTS:

1. A mishap Wednesday evening when Chief Hike Leader Robert Konik fell and broke his leg! Great excitement with a much-photographed helicopter rescue. The camp crew received a call from the rescue service congratulating them for preparing an excellent landing site! Robert will be hiking in several months hopefully with no long-term problems. Tony Webb filled in admirably and amiably – thank you Tony.
   
   
2. Franz left camp for a day to attend the Canadian Citizenship swearing-in ceremony in Banff. He was greeted with a standing performance of O Canada! (also en francais!) on his return.
   
   
3. Davis, the youngest crew member, saved the life of Charles by applying the Heimlich manoeuver not once, but twice, to dislodge inadequately masticated meat! Quick thinking and action -- way to go Davis!!

Medic evacuation in style.

DONUT EVENTS:

1. Excellent music with a band conducted by Marilyn Jones with Don Waite and Rick Acres, guitars, and Judy Young, flute. Ed Silver quoted mountain sentiments and Don Watts recited The Shooting of Dan McGrew.
   
   
2. Teddy Hoskins was recognized as the youngest (and most energetic at 9 yrs!) and Dick Janes the oldest at 82.
   
   
3. Gwen Acres won the 'Name Game’, being the first to name all hikers and given a prize of the camp crest.

Just my size.		Group photo.

SKIT NITE: Great participation, with Skits included Buff Hikers [Yes, Buff not Banff; and No, not that – A versatile article of clothing!], A scat skit, [Yes, that] and tender renditions of old favourites with modified lyrics. Enjoyed by all. (Sampling of presentations.)

CONCLUSION: Thanks to all who made the camp so comfortable, including us!

y'r oby't srvt. Donald Watts