Loon Lake Workshop

A few weeks ago I went to Loon Lake Lodge for a workshop on "Numerical Methods for PDEs on Surfaces." It is close to but not exactly my research thing, but I got invited and it looked like fun. The Lodge is in the UBC demonstration forest just outside of Maple Ridge. I had no idea it existed but my father, a retired forester and UBC graduate from the 50's, remembered coming out here in the Summer as part of his training. It is a great place to have a small meeting. You drive to a key pad gate at the edge of the city and then it's gravel roads after that, just like you are miles into the interior. It is a beautiful spot. The lake, the lodge, and the food they made for us three times a day was fantastic. This is a great place for a small meeting. If you google "loon lake lodge" it comes up.

After talks the second day we walked around the lake. There was a hand ferry to cut across one arm of the lake instead of walking around on the road. 

   

      

I went swimming in the lake. It was cold, but I was used to Babine Lake in Northern BC so not too bad. I am not a good swimmer, just dog paddle around and enjoy the water. They made a fire that night. Really fun group of faculty and graduate students and a number of undergraduates that were attending an associated Summer School joined us one day. 

One the last afternoon we did a hike in Golden Ears Park. 

   

One of the most memorable moments was the picture below of (R to L) me, my student Steve Ruuth, his student Colin Macdonald (now my colleague at UBC), and his student Tony Wong. Four academic generations with me as the old man. They made a big deal about it, and because I am a bit shallow, I really appreciated it. It is fun to see them all doing so well.