This story will cover a reunion of four friends on February 07 through 10, 2016 at Whatshan Lake Retreat. We originally met in May 1963 and separated in May 1965 with limited contact in between.

We were all selected in our graduate year by a Hiring Committee from Columbia Cellulose Co., Ltd., a company operating near a Sulfite Pulp Mill  (now shut down) in Prince Rupert, B.C., from four prairie Provinces.

• Robert G. Miller, a Mechanical Engineering graduate from the University of Manitoba
• Ronald G. Ross, an Electrical Engineering graduate from the University of Alberta
• James B. Holloway, a Civil Engineering graduate from the University of British Columbia
• Elmer W. Verigin, a Civil Engineering graduate from the University of Saskatchewan

Photo taken at Whatshan Retreat February 09, 2016. Left to Right:

1. James (Jim) Holloway (the camera technician)
2. Robert (Bob) Miller
3. Elmer Verigin
4. Ronald (Ron) Ross

We did meet in the early 1990s when Robert was diagnosed with Follicular Lymphoma. He was able to research and develop diets and life style to add to Chemo and Radiation so that the stage 3 Cancer has been in remission for 27 years since.

Ron has survived a “Whipple” operation on his Pancreas but less that two years later he has now to overcome Liver Cancer and is being treated with Chemo. It is this occasion that has brought us together again at Whatshan Lake Retreat.

This part of the blog will concentrate on the happenings and recollections of somewhat “dulled” memories but still very refreshing and special time at the Retreat.

Ron and I got together on Saturday, February 06, 2016 to purchase all the “supplies” as we interpreted the various emails from The Fearless Foursome (TFF) that exchanged over the previous several weeks during the planning process for this event.

We left Castlegar on Ron’s pickup at 1000 hours, Sunday, and arrived at Whatshan at 1500 hours. The Rental Coordinator had asked us to prepare for a group of 11 that was to arrive at 1200 midnight.

This was Ron’s first visit to Whatshan, although he had prepared all the Electrical designs for the project to date. He acted like a pro and immediately assigned himself as follows:

1. Turn up thermostats to 20 degrees
2. Build fires in the cabin wood stoves
3. Build a fire in the Retreat Fireplace

It just seemed that he was within his own environment and was having a great time.

I got busy putting all the stuff away and dealing with bedding. Most interesting was that, between two Engineers, neither of us knew how to ignite the pilots on the “automatic ignite” propane range. We were saved by the Caterer that just happened to come by and protect us from embarrassment.

We had a great opportunity to chat with Ron and shared our experiences with volunteering in the community. I was very impressed with Ron and Elaine in their International Rotary participation with assisting unprivileged children and single women in Honduras. A great personal contribution internationally and locally with Rotary projects in the community.

The arrival of guests started about 2000 hours that evening as they slowly drifted into the Retreat to enjoy the fireplace and chats that went on to midnight. We were requested to advance the Monday breakfast t6o 0600 from 0700.

Ron and I discovered that neither of us had an alarm clock and so after a fitful sleep I arose at 0400 with Ron in tow. We got a “farmer’s breakfast” menu prepared and welcomed a group of:

• Aerospece  Engineers from Seattle along
• Chenical Engineers
• Structural Engineers
• Others
• A female cook

That were to meet a helicopter at Burton that would take them to a “hut” at the tree-line and then transport them back and forth from bottom of the mountain to the top as they enjoyed skiig in the pristine wilderness.

All were impressed with Whatshan and suggested that perhaps a better arrangement would be to just land the helicopter near the cabins at Whatshan. We will see the results!

Meanwhile Bob was meeting Jim at the Vancouver airport for their flight to Kelowna. There they would take a rental car to Whatshan. We expected them at 1700 that evening.

While waiting, we prepared the wood Barb-B-Q for steaks and whipped up a salad so that we could enjoy our welcom0ing celebrations with distraction.

The boys were on schedule and we hugged tightly but no kissing on the lips. We just started talking non-stop as there was so much to catch up on and there was a continuous flow of stories and past experiences along with laughter and joy.

What was interesting is that no one smoked and our desire for alcohol had mellowed with the years. We also had no time for card playing, nor shuffle board, that used to be part of our past times. We finally managed only one game on the shuffle board which had Bob and Ron totally wipe out poor Jim and Elmer.

So here is a list of some discussion topics that we covered:

1. The Pulp Mill and the experiences with Engineering in a facility that just seemed doomed by a compromised management.
2. Fishing at Terrace in the Skeena River for Spring Salmon right off the bank and the 55 and 45 pounders landed
3. Fishing in the Copper River for Steelhead
4. Fishing in the Lake Else River unsuccessfully only to get a better “bite” in the Lake Else Hotel in Terrace. Stopping at the First Nations house and buying Sockeye Salmon for $2.00 a fish so that our wives would not be disappointed in their fearless “Providers”
5. Curling in the Smithers and Kitimat Bonspiels
6. Winning the Grand Aggregate at the Marine Bonspiel in Prince Rupert and enjoying the glorious Seafood Banquet that matched no other.
7. Drinking beer in the hotels within “Moccassin Square Gardens” at Prince Rupert
8. Sliding down the back of Ron’s 1961 Valiant after a night in the Legion and not noticing that an RCMP vehicle was parked alongside. Ron answered the Officer’s question as to “whose car is it?” with a response “mine”. Next question “do you mind these guys climbing all over your car?” with “absolutely not as they are my buddies!”
9. Digging for clams and then, as Prairie boys, having to look up in a cook book as to how to prepare them to eat
10. Buying Shrimp off the boats at Point Edward at $2.00 a bucket and then asking Ron Wright how to prepare them. His instructions are not admissible for print here.
11. Accepting Steam Engineer Syd Corbett’s  frequent invitations to go out in the Harbour in his 22′  Yacht for fishing and Crab Trapping. Then building a fire from driftwood on a deserted island to cook the crab. We also took a dangerous sortie at night to an island for deer hunting. No we were not successful.
12. Hunting moose in Telkwa and then getting two of them back to Prince Rupert for sharing amongst six “white hunters”
13. Because it rained all the time, there was a strong need for social engagements. We had a shower when our wives got pregnant, another when birth took place, and then a baby shower. This was just the guys.
14. Sleeping in a tent in Grizzly country on the way to the abandoned native city of Kitsikiss. Casey scared the wits out of us we mistook his snoring for a Grizzly sniffing the tent
15. We also enjoyed our work where we constantly challenged with a Pulp Mill that had serious maintenance issues
16. After two years we all left at the same time.
17. As you can see we had a great of discussion about our “suffering years”.
18. Then we started with the possible Ice Age in 2030 as predicted by the Siberia Climatologists
19. The proposed Mars Settlement proposed in 2030
20. Spacex achievements
21. Biosphere, what is it?
22. Donald Trump and where that could go
23. Justin’s experimenting new ways for Canada at our expense
24. Cancer and its scientific search for treatments which was dear to our hearts. Bob explained his website Lymphobia
25. Depression
26. Agorphobia

On Tuesday we enjoyed a long walk around the area. We also enjoyed Shishliki from Ron’s son Jim farm fresh lamb. Oh yes, we had four delicious pies that Karen and Judy prepared for us.

We all slept in one cabin just like old times when all we had was one tent. There were hints of flatuations but nobody admitted responsibility.

Jim and Bob left at 0900 hours on Wednedsay, February 10, 2016. It was a difficult parting as we all wished Ron well in his greatest challenge to date.

Here are Jim’s comments a day after our get-together:

“…….It has been a long time since I enjoyed brain bending with such
a diverse and opinionated male group.

Although I find females even more opinionated….
I have recently come to realize that they have other virtues as well.

Bob, I actually enjoyed your attempt to set me straight on oily Curcuma. I’ve
fed my bottle of dried tablets to the dogs, who are now sleeping fitfully with the cat.
Judy has gone shopping.

Elmer, I remain in awe of your tenacity and spirit, and please digest this:
I know no other individual who comes even close to matching your selfless
contribution to the welfare of others…..I sense it is time to begin to let go of your focus on
those who disparaged your reputation. They are not worth any more energy.

Elmer, every once in a while remember and relish the feeling shared
between us old time companions who totally respect and love you.
I will be holding these few days in my memory until Bob’s snake oil stops working.

Once again you pulled us all together in brotherhood.

Ron, I don’t have anyone in my life who cherishes books like you do.
This was a revelation to me. I’d like to continue to receive your
recommendations and thoughts for as long as we can. This morning
I reached into my library drawer beside the toilet, and it flashed (not flushed)
back to me that you also read from the throne. Three books on the go all the way.
I’ll be in touch.

Jim………”

Followed by these comments by Bob:

“……Hi Elmer, Ron and Jim:

Yeah, there are times in life when something special comes along. Our “reunion” was certainly one of those. The hours we enjoyed conversing eagerly with ease on a range of topics too numerous for even Elmer to record will lead to an amusing smile or two and give us memories to last forever.

Thanks Elmer for your hospitality and to you and Ron for getting all the “goods”. I hope you guys made it back safe and sound. Thanks Jim for the photos. It’s great to hear about your enjoyable daily activities, so important at our time in life leading to ongoing “contentment”.

Here’s some info, Elmer, that you asked me to send re vitamin D. Marilyn, your daughters…you too if you wish…can ask your family doctor to requisition the 25-hydroxy Vitamin D3 test (not the 1,25 test or the test for vitamin D2). It can be included along with other items in a standard blood test, or done on its own. The cost (currently in BC) will not be covered but should be only about $65. The result should be in the range of 100 nmol/L (40 ng/ml) . Labs vary in their “target ranges”, but generally a value of less than 50 nmol/L is considered “deficient” with 50~75 being “insufficient”. The best time to test is about now at the end of the winter season, up until April 1. If supplementation is required, upwards of 5000 IU/day is safe. This amount will usually be needed to raise the level up to optimum of about 100. There is no need to exceed 150. Toxicity is of no concern at less than 200.

If a supplement is justified…and for most of us it is…get the supplement in an oil base, not dry tablets. These are available in all health food stores and most drug stores at minimal cost. There’s lots of data re the significance of vitamin D and breast cancer, indeed all cancers, on google and elsewhere. Hope this is helpful. Say hi to Marilyn. My best wishes to all.

And Ron, as confirmed several times, my best wishes to you in the months and years ahead. You look GREAT for what you’ve been through which bodes very well for the long haul.

Take care, guys. Looking forward to staying in touch.

~ Bob……”

And these from Ron:

“……Hello All

When we got home to Castlegar, Elmer sat in my truck and did soduko (or is it Sudoku?) while I got my blood tests done. He gave me a lesson while we waited for the ferry.

When I got home I left a phone message for Rachel and she happily stopped to pick up the pies. She wouldn’t take the left over Shishlick, but Elaine was happy to take it and we had it for dinner.

AND I washed it down with Scandals, Bob’s special beer. If you haven’t had your leftover Scandals beer, Elmer it’s quite good.

Today Dr. Malpass scheduled my next catscan for March 7^th, which is 5 days before I head for La Penita. Then after I get back we decide whether to keep with the current chemotherapy, or up the ante. I told him about my friend who has been successfully battling Lymphoma for 27 years. He was impressed.

Bob, current therapy is Oxalaplatin & Leucovorin for 2 hours, then Flourouracil infused for 46 hours. Upping the ante would be Irinotecan which sounds nasty.

I bought some Vitamin D today Bob, so will add that to my regimen. Tomorrow is Chemo so no skiing for a few days.

At Rotary this morning I put in “Happy Bucks” for our time at Whatshan.

Elaine sends her love.

Ron……………”

And this is the story of The Fearless Friends (TFF) to this date.

Written by Elmer Verigin February 12, 2016

Testaments by Ron, Bob and Jim are unedited.

Here are additional dated comments since the original posting:

“….Thanks. I’m still talking about our time at Whatshan.

 Ron…….”

“…..February 26, 2015…..Hi Elmer and Ron: Yeah, Jim and I made it back fine. I’m presently in SoCal grinding away on website stuff and in between grindin’ away on local mountain trails. Hot here, up to 90 many days. It’s two months ahead of normal. Looks like El Nino rains were a bust…more drought forecast at least for LA south. Where’s that 2013 mini ice age when we really need it?! Hope all’s going well Ron. It was nice speaking with you on the phone. Email me any time if you think I might be able to help. I can call from here. And thanks for the photos. “Little Nona” sure has grown since the summer of 1963! …fond memories of Whatshan>> ~ Bob….”