In the summer of 2009 lightning started the Heckman Pass Wildfire a few kilometres east of the overnight cabin site at East Branch in South Tweedsmuir Park. Winds pushed it westward and it quickly overran the Tweedsmuir Ski Club overnight cabin site and burnt the cabin to the ground. This cabin had been part of the Tweedsmuir Ski Club history for nearly 50 years and saw many visitors and families spending time in this beautiful part of the Chilcotin. As the photo shows we weren't left with much to work with; we might be able to salvage some pieces from the wood stove.  Word about our situation circulated quickly and Wes DeArmond from BC Parks in Bella Coola was contacted by Joanne McLeod of Quesnel who was the Tweedsmuir Park supervisor several years ago. Joanne passed on information to the Tweedsmuir Ski Club, that the Quesnel Snowmobile Club may have a cabin to donate. Thanks to the efforts of Guy Berlinguette from the Quesnel Snowmobile Club who did a lot of organizing and discussing with club members, an offer was made by the Quesnel Snowmobile Club to donate a very well constructed log cabin that they had started a few years ago in a site that no longer met their needs. The Tweedsmuir Ski Club members considered the offer and on January 13, 2010 the members approved a plan to begin the replacement project as it was decided that replacing the old log cabin with another character log cabin would be the best fit for the site and reflects the club's history in this part of Tweedsmuir Park. This is a photo of the cabin as it sat on the Quesnel site. In January 2010 key Quesnel organizers Bryan McIntyre and Rod James organized a plan to dismantle and move it to East Branch where it will be reassembled and a new roof will be constructed. A lot of volunteer help was organized in Quesnel, from raising money and fuel donations to subsidize the cost of trucking, to volunteer labour. In addition to the people who donated cash and diesel fuel to pay for the truck to move the and are listed on the "Friends of the Overnight Cabin Reconstruction Project" list below, the following individuals and companies in the Quesnel area really helped out on work parties for the roof removal and the cabin disassembly and loading: Rod James, Bryan McIntyre, Barry Armstrong, Rick James, Al Wheeler, Dave Lipscombe, Bart Tennant, Armond Mckinnley, Rick Arsonault, Ab Bowden, Rush Electric, Tyler McIntyre, Richard Armstrong, Holly Armstrong, Barry Armstrong, Richard Dekker, Fred Paulson, Pete Pederson, Dave Lipscome.  Rob Stewart, Director of Major Projects is leading the organization and reconstruction efforts. People to date have been generous with volunteer labour and fund raising. Some offers have already been received which will help immensely. The material list is shown below if you are interested in helping us procure some of the remaining material. Materials List for Reconstruction as of June 27, 2010
If you would like to help out, please contact the Tweedsmuir Ski Club. We will acknowledge in the "Friends of the Overnight Cabin Project" official record any materials or services donated, machinery or financial contributions directed to the cabin replacement as well as time and labour which went towards the project. Financial contributions can be mailed to the Tweedsmuir Ski Club, PO Box 614, Hagensborg, B.C., V0T 1H0, indicate on your cheque that you would like the money to go to "Cabin Reconstruction". A tax receipt will be issued for any cash donations. We hope to produce a short history of the old and new cabin and a record of the "Friends of the Overnight Cabin Project" to be permanently displayed inside the new cabin when we are finished. "Friends of the Overnight Cabin Project" to March 9, 2010
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