Viewpoint cabin in the Rossland Range Recreation Site has been rebuilt, by the same two men who built the original cabin.
Rob Richardson and Bob Lloyd spent the summer rebuilding Viewpoint from the ground up, replacing the a-frame hut thatthey built back in 2002.
The original Viewpoint was built to replace the first cabin Richardson and Lloyd built, The Lynx, which was knocked down in asnow storm.
The latest rebuild was part of an initiative by the Friends of the Rossland Range to improve the shelters on the recreation sitethis summer. In addition to Viewpoint, two other cabins were also replaced: Berry Ridge (its replacement in the Lepsoe Basinhas yet to be named) and Mosquito.
Viewpoint cabin is so named for its views: to the south is Old Glory Mountain and to the west is Nancy Greene Lake.
Rebuilding the cabin offered the opportunity to improve on the views, as the old cabin was down in a little bit of a hollow andthe a-frame didn’t offer much of a view anyway.
Richardson and Lloyd began building the new cabin in June, working mostly by themselves, with some help from their wivesand sons.
“It’s basically just Bob and myself,” said Richardson. “We didn’t go out and recruit a bunch of volunteers because we’ve knowneach other since grade one, so we just work good together.”
But when Richardson and Lloyd did need some extra help, people were happy to offer it.
“You know whenever we asked for something, liked I’d asked a guy to help me with the hearth on the fireplace, and you knowhe said, ‘Oh yeah, I can lay the hearth for you. I got some slate at home,’ he said, ‘if you want to put that down,’ and I said,‘Great,’” said Lloyd. “So you know anybody you did ask was more than happy to come and … if they had stuff, [to] bring it.”
Don Liszt, who spearheaded construction on the new Mosquito Cabin, helped out with the roof and chimney, and Tim Hardingfrom Trail Home Hardware gave “excellent discounts” on materials for the cabin. The wood stove inside the cabin was donatedby some of Lloyd’s friends from Australia.
Local artist Jenny Baillie also helped out by painting the front door with a stunning landscape that has been getting a lot ofattention.
“The door has been the talk of the town,” said Lloyd.
“Everyone comes up and says ‘Oh, look at the beautiful door,’ but Bob and myself try to say, ‘What about the cabin that wespent all summer building too?’ Because [the door] is the focal point and she did a beautiful, beautiful job,” said Richardson.“There’s some people who’ve said they’d like the front door of their house in Rossland done like that too.”
Not everyone was on board when it was first announced that some of the old cabins would be replaced, Lloyd among them,but now that three new cabins have been built, some people are starting to come around.
“Now I think it’s all positive,” said Lloyd. “They’re going to be cleaner, and you know they’re there for a lifetime really.”
Richardson and Lloyd have been skiing the range for decades, and have noticed that there are a lot more people using thearea now, not just for cross country skiing, but for snow shoeing as well. The new cabins offer not only a cleaner place foroutdoor adventurers to stop, but more space.
Siding on the cabin went up just last week, and Richardson and Lloyd continue to make small touch ups on the cabin, but withwinter settling in, they’re ready to just enjoy it.