20 feet high!

At this time, until we hear otherwise, road access to the Camp is CLOSED. Any groups wishing to boat in, can get a gate key from Parks for access to the boat launch. Any groups wishing to cancel bookings to make firm plans elsewhere will be refunded your deposits or we can hold it for another booking. The physical work could be completed in 4 working days.... The paperwork and the thinking about it, will take longer than that. Your guess is a guess as to the time of the thinking process. My guess is: also a guess. Prayers are always answered. We will have to wait to see what the answer is.

Here's a better picture of the rocks on the road. The caption on the arrow says 20 feet! At this time, it appears that we need to leave it to Forestry to clear their road. The mountain of paperwork required for us to clear it ourselves appears to be bigger than the rock itself. Thanks to those that would have been willing to do the drilling and blasting, if the legal permissions had been attainable. Initial conversations with Forestry were encouraging, but with their fiscal year end budget completed as of Mar 31, they don't know yet what will be available as there is an election looming. Maybe it would help to make a friendly call or drop an E-mail or letter to your MLA , just to let them know that this important access to a beautiful recreational area has been blocked and it is in everyone's interest to make budget funds available to move that ROCK! Your MLA's information can be easily looked up at http://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm If anyone knows Forestry personnel, a pleasant word encouraging them that opening the road is good for community groups that use the Camp as well as tourists that start arriving in May to travel over Paleface on the Trans Canada Trail. (Remember "Max" from Austria trying to drive his bicycle over the pass, thru the snow in May!) The more "they" hear about this from all different areas and sources, the better.

This is also a reminder for us pray for those in authority as well as safety for those travelling (and working) on the road all year!

Here's a couple of Pics taken at Camp this February to remind us of God's creation. Thanks to Andrew Holliday for these reminders. Any one of those stars hurtling through the sky could fall and land anywhere!

Rock slide followup info Monday Mar 16

Thanks to all who have called and e-mailed. I have had offers of ticketed blasters willing to blast.... and lots of guys willing to come watch! If we are going to remove it, left to our own devices, we could clear it within 2 weeks and we would need a small fundraiser to cover what we couldn't get done at "Camp prices." Unfortunately "our own devices" wouldn't include the environmental impact studies and other impediments that the Gov't has put in their own way. (Blasting might prematurely loosen tree leaves or the splashing in the lake might scare fish or something) ..... sorry - just being fishecious.
No one has called in response to the Craig's list ad for the 4,000 granite fireplaces. - Just kidding! If I thought it would work, I would try.
It seems that our best idea so far is to let Forestry look after Their road. In past dealings with Forestry, I have been told many times, that there are 3 designations for Forestry roads.
1. - Active industrial. (The industrial user maintains the road)
2. - Residential. (A community with a post office... Forestry maintains the road.)
3. - Closed. (Closed roads usually have the culverts dug out and the road is decommissioned)
We fall somewhere in the middle - between closed and decommissioned!
My first contact with Forestry left me feeling very optimistic even though it is only 2 weeks left in their fiscal year - all their money has been spent or allocated. Unfortunately his initial inquiries showed that road is under the jurisdiction of another department that is charged with making money, not spending it.
At this point, it is on their list and they have asked me to send them an email in two - three weeks and at that time, they should be able to give me a better update on what they are planning to do.
At this time, pray with us that they would surprise themselves with the speed that things fall into place. Pray that doors, paths and options would be clear and available for them to get at it and clear that road. It could be done in three or four days. It is more expensive to remove the rocks, but faster than getting permissions to push them over the cliff into the lake.
I will try to update this blog as soon as anything changes, but in the mean time, please e-mail or call with any encouragement, thoughts or ideas.

Blessings from above.

March 15th

What a beautiful day for a drive into the wilderness. Fresh fallen snow on the trees, quiet snowflakes drifting down and an opportunity to get out and walk for a bit!

We are so thankful that there was no one stuck at Camp past (or under) the rocks on the road.

The one larger rock is estimated at 20' high, 20' deep and 30' wide. ... 12,000 cubic ft @ 166.5 lbs / cu ft = only 1 million, 998 thousand lbs.... Hmm just shy of 2 million pounds. There's also numerous smaller rocks.... only about 40,000 lbs each.

My first thought... :-( well skip that one.

2nd thought: This has got to be a blessing...... I wonder if we would get any response on Craig's list? We just have to come up with the right wording. Maybe 400 granite fireplaces.... 3,000 lineal ft of garden wall (4' high)

Anyone with a blasting ticket? How about a high pressure water cannon? A huge road building machine? Everyone can pray. Pray that the right solution would work out soon.

Any ideas gratefully accepted. At this time, there is no access past these rocks although there is a few young guys with 4x4's that think they would like to try!

It is a HUGE praise item that no one was hurt or trapped on the other side of this rockfall!

Quick note - I'm getting questions about Spring Work day. (April 25th)
Call me ahead of time with job ideas that your group would like to take on.
Any Capital projects need to be something that would make Camp cleaner, user friendly and low maintenance for all user groups. Call ahead with the size of your group and how many meals you will be looking for on the Saturday.
Thanks
Kris

A few thoughts about the ongoing job list.

Maintenance always needed:
Clean BBQ's. Dump the junk into the ash pit & rearrange the lava rocks.
Clean out air inlet to airtight stove.
Clean the glass and empty ashes
Clean the windows, inside & out.
Clean Kitchen stove.

Remove used tp rolls and burn them.
Road Crew to fill, grade, rake & compact potholes
Sweep outhouses. Wash walls floors & skylights
Sandpaper & remove initials from the building or the dock.
Wash beds, ceiling, walls & light fixtures inside the lodge.
Clean & organize a kitchen cupboard.
Repair & paint picnic tables.
Wash out the garbage cans and the mouse trap.
Clean Kitchen, tables, cutting boards & counters.
Empty kitchen sink sumps and outside pump sump
Yearly honey wagon for outhouses.
Seasonal Maintenance:Fill water fire extinguishers in Spring.M-t water fire extinguishers in Fall
Sweep chimneys
Tighten roof screws (for metal roof)
Put up picnic shelter tarp in spring. Take down picnic shelter tarp in Fall
Clean and bleach out well.

Reset nails and stain front deck.

Stain Lodge. Can do one side at a time or all at once!

Bring a gas powered blower. Clean off sidewalks and pathways.

Cut already down trees, split and stack in woodshed.(Please don't cut logs that can be used for lumber!)

Donations needed:
New kitchen stove.
New or used kitchen cutlery (Knives, Forks and spoons)
Gravel for the roads around Camp.
Cedar Colour Oil stain
Flyswatters and a propane mosquito catcher.
12 Galvanized, 1/2" turnbuckles. (Short & Stocky)

20' shipping container.
Small Kubota type Tractor / loader / backhoe or trackhoe.

Road's Cleared

Thanks to a generous volunteer for clearing the road making access possible for 3 groups booked in February. Anyone interested in a winter adventure, give me a call!

Welcome Back! These pics taken Saturday Jan 17th.

It has been a long time since I have updated this Blog. It has been real quiet at Camp, but all is in good shape. Where are the groups that want to cross country ski or sled in? Up above the fog that has been blanketing the lower mainland it has been beautiful up there!

This first pic was taken from about 1/2 way down the side of the lake, looking North. There is about 1 foot of snow on the road and it has been rained on and then frozen again so is easy for walking, cross country skiing, driving a quad or snowmobile. It might be a tough go for a 4x4 as there is 2 snow slides across the road. The big melt that came in the second week of January didn't affect the area around the Lake as it never got that warm up there. (It sure is evident on most of the drive for the first 25 Km after you turn at Vedder Crossing!)

This pic was taken looking north from the Camp dock.

Small tree across the road

Back Yard snow.

Snow line on the beach shows that the water never came high during the big melt of January 09!

Slide # 1 across the road. (Next group booked in has said "No problem.... a little shovelling and we'll wheel right over that!") Once they cross that and a small tree across the road, there is only one more little bit smaller slide and they're home free! The snow averages about 12-18 inches deep (that's 30-45 Cm) for the younger crowd and is pretty crusty where the snowmobile tracks have packed it down a bit. Have a look at a few more pics and think about a winter adventure for your group.

This pic is the 2nd slide.

Not very many times that I get away from there without taking a picture of the Chapel reflection. Every picture looks better than the last. Not a better photographer or camera, but siding, stairs - inside and out, new roof, the insulation that you can't see, the deck, windows, doors, paint, wiring, lighting and beds. Lets keep it up!

Get together with your group to plan your group's next Camp improvement job. Let me know b4 the last Saturday in April. Spring Work Day April 25, 2009. I'm still working on replacing our emergency communication system as our AutoTel is no longer supported and is not working.