Deception Pass Picnic Shelter

This Deception State Park shelter, showing its age, was just restored by a group of volunteers.

Lex Palmer and Brad Hankins double check the log layout. To keep the tapered log level on the ridge, we layed out marks on each end based on a level line reference which was the same on each end from the log's top.  Here the bottom of the log is up, so we can cut it.  Having the natural checking of the log within our cut zone should help relieve the internal stresses of the log and prevent splitting over time.

Carrying the shorter of the two ridge pieces up to position.

The gaggle of shelters, walls, trails, ranger quarters, and more, that were built at Deception Pass State Park by the CCC's are a valuable national asset and a wonderful part of the Washington's state park system. When visiting Deception Pass State Park be sure to visit the CCC museum.

The Park ranger, with gun and Kevlar vest, provided us with parts and tools and even a little help!

I find it incredulous that over the last few decades this nation has spent billions on road expansion and, as consumers, we have purchased trillions of dollars of trinkets, most of which are already in a land fill. Yet we cannot find the dollars to maintain beautiful old historic buildings.

Brad Hankins of dbBrad plunge cutting the log ridge cap.

Fortunately, talented, motivated and concerned individuals were willing to give up every weekend for 3 months to help see that the building was fixed. Detailed and problem-solving by Harrison, with many other jumping in to complete the project, this is the final weekend of work. I feel honored that I got to put on the last piece! The ridge cap, the crown!!

Here we're getting the 400 pound roof cap from the ground to the ridge.

The ropes around the log were our safety lines. We mostly rolled the log up the ropes to the top. The trickiest part was removing the rope from under the log ridge cap.

These people gave up every weekend for 3 months to help restore this roof.

If this shelter isn't worth maintaining, we need to ask our selves what is.

How our nation keeps growing and spending and supporting a disposable lifestyle and not maintaining our old and significant infrastructure makes no sense to me. However I am in the minority, albeit a growing, minority, as indicated by more than one person calling me a greenie. I wear that label proudly! When I go to box stores and watch people buying, I sometimes feel like I'm on another planet. But there are people, like the ones I worked with on this project, who care deeply. They make donations of time, tools, expertise and money. With their generosity this marvelous shelter at Cranberry lake was restored so that it may be used by park visitors for decades to come.