Ken Walters Obituary

Name: Celebration of Life for Ken Walters
Start: 2023-03-25T23:30:00.000Z
Location: Arizona Nordic Village Lodge

Ken Walters

Ken discovered the joy of exploring the outdoors at a young age. This adventuring gave rise to the great passions of his life - geology, photography, cross-country skiing, hiking, backpacking, and climbing. He was always curious, both intellectually and physically, to discover what was around the next corner and to share what he found with others.

Over his lifetime, these passions led him to obtain a Masters in Geology; to work as a field geologist; to be part of the Commercial Photography program at NAU, teaching photography, running the photo lab, and developing the Photography Lecture Series; to help develop two cross-country ski centers and to run clinics and teach lessons to beginning and advanced skiers, racers, and other instructors in AZ, CO, and MT; and to hike over 30,000 miles and climb numerous peaks as he explored the wild areas of North America, Europe, and Australia. For many years he was an instructor/guide with the Grand Canyon Field Institute teaching geology, photography, and wilderness skills and sharing his love of this special place. He captured the essence of the natural world in his photography and exhibited his work in shows and galleries in the West including The Artists Gallery in Flagstaff.

Like everyone, Ken's life had its ups and downs but, every time a door would close, another soon opened and he was able to live a life built around his passions.

Ken is survived by his partner of 34 years, Cathi Borthwick, and his brother, Doug, and his family (Jonica, Ben, Janne, and their families), aunts, and cousins.

A celebration of life will be held at the Arizona Nordic Village Lodge on Saturday, March 25 at 4:30pm. For more information, email [email protected].

Keep Ken's spirit alive by telling a pun and then going on an adventure.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Arizona Daily Sun on Mar. 19, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Ken Walters

10 Entries

Jamie heiden

November 30, 2023

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 I am today.

Gerry Aquino

July 17, 2023

Gerry Aquino

July 17, 2023

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 someone got cold feet or encountered other difficulties and thus have someone to go back up with. After one of my solo hikes, I stopped in Flagstaff at the Arizona Handmade shop (is it still there?) and lo and behold, Ken Walters and Bob Packard were there. I bought a couple of photos from Ken, chatted with Bob about his obsession with hiking the highest points in every state and bought a hand forged drawer pull from Cathi, who was the artist at Flag Forge. As soon as I saw that cabinet pull, I knew where it was going to go and what the table I would make would look like. That might have been around 2006 or so. Forward to 2023 and I finally made the Shaker Table I visualized with the drawer pull bought from Cathi. I tried to send her an email just to say thanks for the inspiration 15+ years later but in the course of doing Google searches for her email address, I stumbled across the obituary of Ken Walters. Seems he passed earlier this year.
I searched the archives here and didn´t find any mention of it or any remembrances of him, so I thought I would do so here. What a fantastic hiker and teacher! The hikes were difficult, but I sure learned a ton from him. He was quite a character, and could be a bit prickly at times, but you knew you were among the best when you hiked with him. I remember one time we had just arrived at Hermit Camp at the end of a trip to Boucher and there was a medical emergency at Hermit Camp. Since it was a GFCI trip, Ken had a sat phone with him and was able to contact SAR which sent a helicopter for a short haul rescue. While Ken was dealing with that, he asked that his pack be brought up from where he dropped it on the trail before going to the aid of the stricken hiker so I volunteered. Well that was a mistake as the Kelty frame pack he always used might have weighed 90 pounds and I barely made it the 200 yards I had to carry it. How he hiked 5000 miles or whatever he did, I have no idea other than he was a supremely strong hiker. On a hike down Eminence Break, he related that as soon as he got back he had to teach a Geology class and while resting on the beach at President Harding Rapids, he pulled out what must have been a 5 pound textbook.Must not have been that riveting a read though While the rest of us are cutting off toothbrush handles to save weight and space, he just sticks a textbook in the Kelty and is good to go.
It seems he had some hard times later in life, but I will always remember him as the best hiker I ever had the pleasure of traveling with in the greatest place in the world to hike.

Susan L Walkup

March 30, 2023

He was a wonderful person. Very kind and very decent

Robert Alexander

March 27, 2023

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 always has.
Bob Alexander 3/27/23

David Brook

March 26, 2023

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 many ways.

Suzanne Crummette Malone

March 24, 2023

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.

Chuck Barnes

March 19, 2023

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

Eric Smith

March 19, 2023

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.

Lea Jane Parker

March 19, 2023

It was such a joy to know Ken Walters. How well I remember him making us laugh when a group of us who taught at NAU would bring our lunches and eat together in the break room
at the School of Communication. As a photographer myself, I admired Ken´s amazing photography work. You will be missed here on earth, but May your continued adventures lead you to even greater vistas and more spectacular geological formations .

Showing 1 - 10 of 10 results