BY WILLIAM PRIEDHORSKI
Los Alamos Mountaineers
The Los Alamos Mountaineers will host their annual Potpourri at Fuller Lodge, with doors at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, Dec. 11. The Potpourri is one part potluck and six parts 10-minute talks, simmered in conversation and camaraderie. It is a strictly in-person event, with no hybrid adjunct.
While the Potpourri is a members only event, anyone is welcome to join the Mountaineers or
renew their annual membership on the spot. Dues can be paid in person at the Lodge by cash
or check; to avoid any wait, pay and submit the waiver in advance at http://lamountaineers.org/drupal7/Member_Benefits.html. Membership for 2025 remains a bargain at $15 for individuals or $20 for families.
The Potpourri is a potluck, so please bring a dish to share. The Club will provide chicken and
vegetarian enchiladas, non-alcoholic drinks, and a large chocolate cake. Guests are welcome to
provide salads, vegetables, breads, additional desserts (but there will be a lot of cake), and
main course alternatives.
Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. Please bring a place setting (cup, plates, utensils) to reduce waste.
There will be soapy water for clean-up. A tablecloth for your table would be festive. To benefit the homeless, the Mountaineers will be collecting for the St. Elizabeth Shelter in Santa Fe and for the Espanola Pathways Shelter: tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, winter hats and gloves, and warm jackets for men and women. Gear or clothing items other than those will not be accepted. Please bring only clean and intact items. Contain sleeping bags in a stuff bag or similar bag, or with straps. As well, please put clothing (jackets, hats and gloves) in plastic bags such as trash bags.
Bring your appetite, stories to share with your table mates and your enthusiasm for the six 10-
minute talks, which follow directly after the potluck dinner. The lineup includes:
Jan Velekovsky, “Backpacking the Colorado Divide Trail from Cumbres Pass to Wolf Creek”
Jan and Irena took this 68-mile section of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) during the 4th of July weekend. Most of the trail is above tree line, crossing the South San Juan Wilderness. Sunny weather, abundant water sources, and a technically easy trail made for a pleasant remote experience. Jan, originally from the Czech Republic, moved to Los Alamos in 2015. He joined Los Alamos Mountaineers (LAM) after graduating from LAM Climbing School in 2017.
Olivia Li, “Exploring badlands in Northwest New Mexico (beyond Bisti)”
In Northwestern New Mexico lies vast areas of badlands, heavily eroded into fascinating formations that attract many visitors from all over the world. I will share my exploration of several non-Bisti areas in the past few years via day hikes and car camping trips. Lessons
learned and practical tips will be discussed. Olivia lives in Los Alamos and enjoys hiking,
backpacking and snowshoeing. She loves to explore the great outdoors in New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and beyond. She also traveled overseas and hiked in Torre Del Paine and
Patagonia, Swiss Alps, Italian Dolomite, Hong Kong and China.
Robin Gurule, “Birding the Bootheel”
The “Sky Islands” of SW NM are a unique habitat type where birds and animals migrate from
semi-tropical areas in Mexico. Access is tricky.
Clay Mosley, “Los Alamos’ Backyard Winter Trails”
The Canada Bonita trail at Pajarito Mountain is used by many winter outdoors enthusiasts in
Los Alamos for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. The preparation and maintenance of
good winter trails is a major undertaking of the Los Alamos-based Southwest Nordic Ski Club.
Clay Moseley leads the efforts, and will share how he and his crew manage to create the
conditions so many of us enjoy. Clay grew up in Ruidoso, NM, graduated from Ruidoso High
School, participating in football, cycling, and Alpine ski racing. He attended UNM for both
undergrad and graduate school, and was a member of their national championship collegiate
cycling team, and twice an individual national cycling champion, winning the 1995 Pan
American Games gold medal in 50km time trial. After a 5-year professional cycling career, Clay
moved to Los Alamos, and currently is the Deputy Utilities Director, GWS Operations for
Department of Public Utilities.
Michael Altherr, “Four Days Three Nights and Lunch with an Orangutang”
In October of this year three Mountaineers and two fellow travelers embarked on a tour of
Southeast Asia. Their travels included several days in Singapore, two weeks in Vietnam, and a
four day excursion through the Indonesian National Park, Tanjung Puting, on Borneo.
Bill Priedhorsky, “Canyon Explorations and New Discoveries”
Taken by the intricate splendor of the country, he has returned with other Mountaineers again
and again since the 1970’s. The canyon country is so convoluted that it deserves a lifetime of
exploration. We returned four times in 2024, exploring the Moab, Blanding, Trachyte, and
Grand Staircase/Escalante areas, making for trips number 138 to 142 on Bill’s life list. Each trip
was full of “wows”, as we encountered vistas that were new to us.