Snowmobilers celebrate their new cabin on Boulder Mountain
By David F. Rooney
Local snowmobilers held a party on Boulder Mountain Saturday to celebrate the official opening of the Revelstoke Snowmobile Club’s new cabin, which was built this year.
The open house was supposed to attract about 300 snowmobilers, but the extended highway closure kept all of the out-of-town guests from arriving, so it became a strictly local affair. Be that as it may, it was still a pretty good official opening.
“This was a big project that involved a lot of people,” said Greg Byman, the Revelstoke Snowmobile Club’s Vice-President and MC for the event.
He thanked the many, many volunteers who put time and effort into seeing the project through to completion, “especially my wife Barb for doing
The club deeply appreciated the assistance of these individuals and companies. Click the image to see a larger version. David F. Rooney photo
the grant writing and paper work,” Cathy Burke and Bill Hughes who spent his six weeks vacation working on its construction. The club raised $340,000, including major funding from the City of Revelstoke and the Columbia Basin Trust. The companies and individuals who contributed to its construction are commemorated in a plaque that hangs inside the cabin.
There was a little nostalgia, too, as Bill Gill and Herb Shaede reminisced about the old cabin, which now has to be torn down and all traces of it removed from the mountain. Gill built the original A-frame cabin on Boulder back about 40 years ago while Shaede built and addition to it some years later. In a wonderful gesture, Shaede presented Gill with the sign — Bill’s Place — that used to hang on the original cabin.
The old cabin had its day and now it’s time for a new structure.
Councillors Chris Johnston and Phil Welock represented the City at the opening and were clearly impressed.
“What a great place this is,” Johnston told the crowd. “From the City’s point of view you’re doing a great job bringing visitors to Revelstoke. They fill the hotel rooms and restaurants so people can pay their taxes.
One of the high lights of the open house was the presentation of a $5,000 cheque from each club to John Kelly of the Canadian Avalanche Centre.
He was very appreciative of the support which is indicative of the fact that the clubs have been among the Centre’s oldest supporters and partners.
After the formal portion of the event, CAC volunteers staged a number of avalanche exercises for interested snowmobilers while others chose to chow down on the great burgers and smokies grilled by Becky Bristow and Ardelle Hynes.
Here is a selection of photos taken at the event:
Tom Dickson of the Snowmobile Revelstoke Society kindly gave me a ride up to and back from the Revelstoke Snowmobile Club's new cabin on top of Boulder Mountain. Built with $340,000 in funds raised by the club and labour donated by members, the cabin was officially opened on Saturday. David F. Rooney photoAnother groomer ahead of Tom Dickson's on the trail to the cabin. David F. Rooney photoAnd behind us, as seen through the side mirror, is another groomer — this one carrying City Councillor Chris Johnston — and a party of snowmobilers eager to pass both of the lumbering machines. David F. Rooney photoWhen both groomers paused at wide spot along the trail, the snowmobilers shot ahead. David F. Rooney photoAnd this was our destination — the snowmobile club's new cabin on Boulder Mountain. Dozens of people attended the official opening on Saturday. That sounds like pretty good attendance, but it was a far cry from the 300 people who had been expected. Unfortunately, all of those riders could not make it because of the road closures. David F. Rooney photoCouncillor Chris Johnston and EZ Rock's Steve Smith warm up by the wood stove in the cabin's main room. Despite Smith's mugging for the camera it wasn't all that cold up there. David F. Rooney photoSteve Smith — never a shy guy — explores the high-tech wonders of the new toilet facilities. David F. Rooney photoAS MC Greg Byman (center) looks on Bill Gill (left) receives the sign that hung in the original club cabin he designed and built about 40 years ago from Herb Shaede who built an addition to some years later. The old cabin, which was the veteran snowmobilers' labour of love, is to be torn down and removed. David F. Rooney photoHans Michel of the Snowmobile Revelstoke Society congratulates the Snowmobile Club on having built the cabin as Greg Byman listens and Dusty Veideman prepares to take his picture. David F. Rooney photoalks to theCouncillors Chris Johnston and Phil Welock tell the assembled snowmobilers that their efforts are, as far as the City is concerned, paying off. David F. RooneyOne of the highlights of the event was the presentation of cheques for $5,000 each from the two clubs to the Canadian Avalanche Centre. In this photo Cathy Burke presents the CAC's John Kelly with the Revelstoke Snowmobile Club's over-sized cheque. David F. Rooney photoAnd in this photo, Angie Threatful, executive director of the Snowmobile Revelstoke Society, presents Kelly with the money her club raised. David F. Rooney photoWhat's an official opening without a ribbon cutting? Here, the Revelstoke Snowmobile Club's Greg Byman wields the scissors as a red-velvet ribbon is held by Cathy Burke, Herb Shaede and Bill Hughes. David F. Rooney photoBecky Bristow and Ardelle Hynes cooked up some great burgers and dogs for the hungry snowmobilers. David F. Rooney photoPaul Ceigchelaar (left) and John Skrypnyk add some condiments to their bacon cheeseburgers. David F. Rooney photoMmmm. That's about all John Skrypnyk could say as he wolfed down his burger. David F. Rooney photoRon LaRoy has his eye on a piece of the cake Bill Hughes was cutting. David F. Rooney photoThe Canadian Avalanche Centre staged a number of Avalanche Awareness exercised for interested snowmobilers. David F. Rooney photoSnowmobilers learn the proper way to locate and probe for someone buried in the snow. David F. Rooney photoFlashes of colour contrast with the snowy forest backdrop. David F. Rooney photoOldtimers Pat Gadbois, Bill Gill, Dusty Veideman and Herb Shaede pose on the balcon of the old cabin, which is locked up and unused, as one of their friends snaps a picture. David F. Rooney photoHere's a close-up of these well-known snowmobilers. David F. Rooney photoSnow blankets the oldest part of the old cabin. David F. Rooney photo
