The Tenquille Lake cabin project is ready to go!!

Provincial permits are all in place, the plans have been approved by a Structural Engineer and the materials list is being studied carefully for cost and weight efficiencies. The cabin will be approximately 18′ by 28′ and “sleep” fifteen to twenty people in the loft above the main floor.

Descendants of the pioneer families who built the original cabin back in the early 1940s are spearheading the Cabin Project. This is their way of acknowledging the important role that recreation at Tenquille Lake has played in the local culture and honouring the men and women who built the first cabin.

The Pemberton Wildlife Association will handle “administrative” duties for the cabin project and will be responsible for future maintenance of the cabin. This is part of the PWA’s Partnership Agreement with the Provincial Government to provide volunteer “maintenance and management of the trails and recreation sites within the Tenquille-Owl Lakes Recreation area.”

Kelly Beattie is in charge of cabin construction and Krista Simms will handle logistics for the project.

Construction dates are set for August 6th and 7th, and August 13th and 14th – weather permitting. Many volunteers will be needed on-site to assist the builders. Materials are to be flown to the site by helicopter prior to the construction dates. Volunteers will have to hike to the site and provide their own overnight gear. Volunteers are asked to commit ahead of time by signing up – see contact information below. For those who are signed up, arrangements will be made to have personal tools flown in – bearing in mind that you’ll have to hike them out – and we’ll do our best to provide meals.

The last hurdle is to complete our fundraising – while we wait for the snowpack at Tenquille to melt…

The Tenquille Lake Cabin Fund currently stands at $22,500, thanks to the generous support of the Local Government, the Pemberton Valley Snowmobile Club, the Pemberton Wildlife Association and several local residents’ contributions. Our budget for the project is $30,000. We are counting on local enthusiasts to help us reach our financial goal by early July so that we can start purchasing materials.

We are now accepting donations to the Tenquille Lake Cabin Fund. Cheques should be made payable to the Pemberton Wildlife Association – and mailed to the PWA, PO Box 343, Pemberton, BC V0N 2L0 or presented in person to one of the organizing committees.

Please include a note on your cheque stating that it is to go to the Tenquille Lake Cabin Fund.

All donors who contribute $200 or more will be recognized with their names on a plaque in the new cabin. No donation is too small – every dollar will help make bring this long-awaited project to a successful conclusion.

We hope to see you up there in August!!

Please feel free to forward this message to everyone you know who may be interested.

Allen McEwan – Secretary
Pemberton Wildlife Association

Photo Credit: UBC Varsity Outdoor Club (Tenquille Lake Cabin – August 2006)