“This old homestead #1. In the fall of 2011, my husband and I adopted this cache from Mrs. Zee, the original owner. I was very excited to do this cache because this site has wonderful childhood memories for me. While there is some tragedy surrounding this cabin, an older brother named George shot and killed three RCMP officers in Peterson Creek in the 1960’s, the brother I knew, Jack, was a kind and gentle man.

My family would go up to the cabin twice a month to get Jack, bring him into town, do all his shopping and appointments over a couple of days and then take him back. I remember parking on Goose Lake Road and hiking up the mountain carrying or dragging the groceries up the hill and in the winter we had the fun of riding a snowmobile pulling a sled through the bush. After several years of this, Jack eventually cut a road from his cabin to the Goose Lake Road, by hand, so my dad could drive his truck up to the cabin.

I remember sitting for hours in that tiny cabin, although I do remember it being much bigger, and listening to Jack tell us stories about his life on the mountain. Sometimes Jack would take us outside where my brother and I would sit quietly while Jack would stand with his arms outstretched and whistling to so the Whisky Jacks would land on him.

My brother and I played for hours in the bush imagining life “in the olden days” and playing with one of Jack’s faithful companions, Rufus, a Heinz 57 dog. Eventually Jack developed Parkinsons and became too frail to live in the bush. He lived with us for a few months until he was able to go to Ponderosa where he eventually passed away. Jack was a very quiet unassuming man and it really was a pleasure to have him in our lives even for the short time he was.

My parents still have a photo of Jack sitting around a campfire in their rumpus room and we still use the pumpkin pie recipe we got from Jack every Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Please check out the photos that I found in my parents albums and while visiting the cabin, listen for the Whisky Jacks and picture him standing there as they flocked to him.”