Lazy in regards to blogging, but also fairly vanilla in that time.

I do leave you with this….

mountain reflection

Saturday and Sunday was spent at Top of the World Provincial park. Hiked in on Saturday with Troy from class and set up shop. 7km is a pretty good hike, and I got the blisters to prove it….. work boots do not make good hiking boots. The view more than made up for it. Check out a few selected pics on Flickr. Yes that is snow on those peaks and we are expecting a flurry overnight, btu I expect it will be a little bit yet before any significant snow sticks.

The first timbers of the main project hit the shop floor today and planing will begin in earnest tomorrow. And for those playing the home game Wednesday marks the half way point.

Fort Steele

The weekend was for the birds, more accurately, Turkey. Monday, Columbus Day for the real world, was Canadian Thanksgiving. This meant Friday the shift was on as people went home to be with their families. I had 3 turkey dinners in this time. Saturday our pod had most of the people who didn’t go home in for dinner, about 13 or 14 people. Sunday Elwin, his wife Jackie and I went to Fort Steele for their dinner and then Monday the Rez had a pot luck. So I can say I’ve had my share of turkey.
In class we put the decking for a roof on a former class’s project. 2×6’s tongue and grooved. On top of that will go 2×10’s stood on end, set at 24 inches on center with insulation put in between, then 2×4’s on top of which will go a metal roof.
And we are also making 10 sets of saw horses to be used in the shop. Some people didn’t want to use their horses, so we need more.

The drawing continues and lines seem to be drawn… by myself and Elwin. I spent the better part of the last two days drawing up detailed drawings to be used as shop drawings for our project. Many of the rest of the crew worked on roofing the compressor shed and the front entrance. I find myself asking when it the rest of the class expected to deal with the issues Elwin, Troy and I solved yesterday and today.
We did get out to a local sawmill operation to pick up some wood and tour the site. We purchased 1728 board feet of lumber for about $600 bucks, or generally we paid $300 for 1000 board feet. A very nice price.

Today I did come across this on Google Video surprisingly:

Forest for the Trees

I find myself missing the color changes of the fall. The above picture is one of many that I took while out on a walk. BC is nice, but Pine is everywhere, so when I’ve seen any sort of color change I’ve appreciated it that much more. I’m sure some of it is being homesick and missing the family. The end of the course will be here soon enough and I know I will look back and wonder where it went. Now back to the show….

Today’s title is from the First Aid Course we had today. I had not had training like this since high school. FYI, CPR is 30 compressions and 2 breaths, then repeat. I hope I never have to use the info I learned today. And by the way, Annie is okay.

Monday we continued to hammer out details on our main project. I guess for everything we think we have solved, another pops up. The afternoon was spent talking with a Structural Engineer and his experience with Timber frame structures.

Inukshuk

Inukshuks are used as markers to guide you along your way, be it a mountain hike, or blasting through the frozen tundra of the Arctic.
My travels so far have been successful.
Week One: We started out working with a Woodmizer Sawmill to make lumber from a round log. Interestingly enough it is saw-milling that led me to Timber Framing, so to start milling was a treat. The milled lumber then led us into the saw horse project. Those timbers went to layout. One other itme was checked off the list of things do, hand hewing a log. I’d consider doing it again, but it would have to be for a really special application.
Week Two: Math classes from years gone by came back to visit by way of the saw horse brace. Square rule and general layout filled out the remainder of the week.
Week Three: Saw Horse, Saw Horse, Saw Horse. Any and all tools and methods to cut wood were demonstrated to complete the joinery. My tool wish list is definitely growing. I guess Christmas is coming……
Week Four: Drafting the 2 story building for the Electrical Program took all week and is even playing into week 5 some.
I’m sure I missed something in the months time. There is plenty coming up. CAD, Deitrich, Fall Protection, First aid and guest speakers.
Hope you all keep reading and following along. This Old House started their Timber Frame house programs this week so check it out.

Joe Gex-Collet is our instructor. Joe immigrated to Canada in 1978 and hasn’t looked back. He has done so much and created so many projects I’m not sure he could keep them all straight. Bell 2 Lodge I think is one of his crowning achievements.
Joe had the class over to his home Friday night for dinner. This picture is his back yard.

Joe's Backyard

The place is for sale if you want to buy it…. $780,000 last Joe knew.

Due to the rainy weather we did not go to the Fernie Campus to complete the rock facade. We did drive out of Cranbrook to the Wycliff area to pick rocks to complete the facade, hopefully.

10 Angry Men

Class has consisted of drawing what we think the main project should be. We then began deliberations to be able to all be on the same page. It has been interesting.

drawings

I also posted a few new pics on the flickr account from walks taken behind the college.

WTF is going on out there? I guess I need to not be so isolated from the world.

We started drafting our main project today and working through many of the kinks that are involved. Those kinks include, floor height, ceiling height, engineering inspection, roof pitch, knee walls, King posts versus queen posts, tie beams and wall plates.

One of the RA’s set up a Mardi Gras party for Friday night. IT was lame, so many people hung out outside. Due to the party the RA’s didn’t want a fire outside. Some non-residence people got a fire going and then didn’t put it out so the RA’s were pissed. SO the fire we were planning on having Saturday at the dorm moved to a classmate’s place. The cool part was getting the Swiss/Swedish torch going. Take a log and make 6 or so rip cuts in about half way down the log. Then try to get it lit. Once you do you can cook on it, warm yourself and see by the light. I know I will be setting a few up as soon as I get back.

We went to Fernie, BC to start some stone work on a frame from an earlier class.

I expect we will be starting to design our 2 story building for the Electrical Trades Program on Monday. They need a building that they can put panels in, wire up and then remove and set up for the next semesters people. So we get to build the frame.