Armstrong Cabin Destroyed
Sometime between Friday Jan 22 and Sunday Jan 24, 2010 one of the warm-up shelters maintained by the VSA burned to the ground. Thankfully the snow stopped the blaze from reaching the surrounding forest.
The “Armstrong cabin”, a wood-frame structure, had a great deal of history in the area. We understand that it originally belonged to the Ganzeveldt Lumber Company. At some point it used to be on the Club’s “Skyline” Trail (Armstrong area) and was relocated to its current location, approximately 22 kms from the Club’s main parking lot (on Forest land), sometime in the late 1970s or early 1980s.
Over the years, hundreds of people made use of the cabin to warm up by the wood stove, cook their lunch, and just enjoy the peace, serenity and wildlife of the area. Some have even spent the night – some by choice – others found that the cabin was the shortest walk for shelter when their snowmobiles broke down. I’m sure they were grateful for its proximity. Many, many riders and hikers enjoyed sharing their lunch with the local almost-tame stellar jays. The Club is hopeful that their unofficial mascot, a well-established packrat, escaped the blaze.
A recent work party of volunteers chopped firewood and stocked the cabin’s attached woodshed for the season; this too has been lost.
The Armstrong Cabin was one of two warm-up shelters that the Club maintains, the other being the “Silver Star Chalet” located within Silver Star Mountain Park. The Club provides and maintains these shelters as warm-up facilities for its members and snowmobiling public.
The Club has seen its share of mishaps over the past couple of years, with the Silver Star Chalet maliciously vandalized two years ago, with all its windows broken and some interior damage as well. Recently, an axe was embedded into the chalet ceiling.
The Club , one of the oldest snowmobile clubs in BC, is a not-for-profit organization, run by volunteer help alone, managed jointly with BC Parks and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts. The Club’s mandate is to provide maintained and groomed trails and warm-up shelters to users of its Park and Forests areas, which it has been doing since 1967. We offer a wide variety of terrain for all riders, but our trails are mostly geared towards relaxed family outings.
The cabin was uninsured. The Club is now looking for ways to raise funds or building materials in order to rebuild another shelter in the same location, hopefully this spring. If you would like to help, either by donating materials or volunteer construction help, please contact one of the Club directors, listed under Contacts on this website. Thank you so much.
The “Armstrong cabin”, a wood-frame structure, had a great deal of history in the area. We understand that it originally belonged to the Ganzeveldt Lumber Company. At some point it used to be on the Club’s “Skyline” Trail (Armstrong area) and was relocated to its current location, approximately 22 kms from the Club’s main parking lot (on Forest land), sometime in the late 1970s or early 1980s.
Over the years, hundreds of people made use of the cabin to warm up by the wood stove, cook their lunch, and just enjoy the peace, serenity and wildlife of the area. Some have even spent the night – some by choice – others found that the cabin was the shortest walk for shelter when their snowmobiles broke down. I’m sure they were grateful for its proximity. Many, many riders and hikers enjoyed sharing their lunch with the local almost-tame stellar jays. The Club is hopeful that their unofficial mascot, a well-established packrat, escaped the blaze.
A recent work party of volunteers chopped firewood and stocked the cabin’s attached woodshed for the season; this too has been lost.
The Armstrong Cabin was one of two warm-up shelters that the Club maintains, the other being the “Silver Star Chalet” located within Silver Star Mountain Park. The Club provides and maintains these shelters as warm-up facilities for its members and snowmobiling public.
The Club has seen its share of mishaps over the past couple of years, with the Silver Star Chalet maliciously vandalized two years ago, with all its windows broken and some interior damage as well. Recently, an axe was embedded into the chalet ceiling.
The Club , one of the oldest snowmobile clubs in BC, is a not-for-profit organization, run by volunteer help alone, managed jointly with BC Parks and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts. The Club’s mandate is to provide maintained and groomed trails and warm-up shelters to users of its Park and Forests areas, which it has been doing since 1967. We offer a wide variety of terrain for all riders, but our trails are mostly geared towards relaxed family outings.
The cabin was uninsured. The Club is now looking for ways to raise funds or building materials in order to rebuild another shelter in the same location, hopefully this spring. If you would like to help, either by donating materials or volunteer construction help, please contact one of the Club directors, listed under Contacts on this website. Thank you so much.
Our Armstrong cabin.....BEFORE......and AFTER......
Read the Vernon Morning Star article here
