Ken Walters

I´m here because I was trying to find a contact number for Ken. He was an instructor of mine at NAU years ago. I wanted to thank him for one of the kindest gestures I´ve ever received... it´s a long story that he might not have even recalled but it meant so much to me. Something came to me and so I wanted to reach out. I only wish I had done it sooner. I´m terrible sad for his passing. Please know that I will never forget his kindness. And his teachings... he helped me become the photographer...

Sort of a long meandering story about the Grand Canyon and people you meet hiking it. I´ve been on the list since the 1990s but haven´t hiked in the Canyon since 2019. Covid and life got in the way, but I´ll be back soon. In my dozen or so trips in and around Grand Canyon, I hiked quite a few times with the folks at GCFI (Grand Canyon Field Institute) and especially Ken Walters. During a few of these hikes, he would have his partner, Cathi, hike down a portion with the group in case...

He was a wonderful person. Very kind and very decent

I first met Ken in the early days of the Arizona Cup. A 30k cross country ski race that never had a home. Then in `85 when I built the Flagstaff Nordic Center, the Cup found a home and so did Ken. Along with Dugald and Jane he was my first ski instructor and over the years instructed classes and clinics like no one else. Then one day I saw him in the congregation at Flagstaff Christian Fellowship. I know he´s with God, instructing, racing and sharing his skills and knowledge with all. As he...

So sorry to hear of Ken's passing. Hiked with Ken in 2003 on the Thunder River-Deer Creek loop. What a master of everything Grand Canyon! Plus he was like a billy goat on the rock formations! So much to learn from him about geology, archeology, hiking and camping skills in the Canyon. I have hiked in the Canyon since 1972 and I thought I knew a lot about all things Grand Canyon, until I hiked with Ken, then I realized how many more things there were to learn from him! He will be missed in so...

Dear Cathi, Ken taught me photography at NAU. He was one of the best teachers I have ever had- so knowledgeable and skilled. He taught me the Zone Method for my senior project. Ken also was kind enough to take me out to the Nordic Center and introduce me to Cross-Country Skiing and get me connected to you and your forge! His love for teaching was apparent in everything he did. I think of him and you often and remember the nice times spent out there.

I directed his MS thesis on Mt. Baldy in the Sangre de Cristo range in New Mexico. He had a zest for life and adventure that was wonderful. Proud to have been a small part of his fun life. Chuck Barnes

I had the privilege to know Ken through my experience operating what used to be called the Flagstaff Nordic Center. I "inherited" Ken when I took the reins in 2001 and his knowledge was vital to my ability to learn the ropes. I will say Ken did not suffer fools gladly and he could be prickly at times, but I respected his intelligence and commitment to doing things correctly. I'm sure wherever he might be he'll be setting others straight.