I feel I need to clarify the most recent misinformation presented in Terrance Martin’s Jan. 9, 2013 letter about amenities up at Peden Lake. The canoe and cabin he refers to were brought up by hikers, not by motorized vehicles as Mr. Martin suggests. I should know as I was one of them.
The cabin was made of recycled building materials and carried in one piece at a time over a period of nine months. All those who helped were Sooke residents and hiked in four kms each time one way, then four kms out.
The privately donated canoe was also carried in the four kms celebrating the spirit of the Canadian voyageurs.
I realize the noisy (and polluting) off road machines have come in to the site and have left items behind. The trail up from the Potholes area was not built by the machine riders, it is originally a game trail and old logging track which has seen wear and modfication from mostly hikers.
My wife and I also took our children from when they were babies to their teens hiking and, heaven forbid, into the backcountry. How dare Mr. Martin suggest this borders on being criminal.
Armin Sielopp
East Sooke
