Help rebuild Mike's place at Singing Lands Ranch

Hello everyone,

My name is Steven and I'm here because it's come time for us to gather round and help out my brother, Mike, who lost a very special place this summer to the BC wildfires. 

Now, I know Mike is not really one to ask for help. At this point he says he feels sick to his stomach to think about it all. But now that it's three months into the past he has begun to think about what might rise again on the slopes of Mike's Meadow. Perhaps an array of smaller cabins that can be more easily occupied independently by visitors? Many folks have visited this place over those 10 years -- on retreats of various kinds, in summer and winter, in all kinds of extreme weather.

A now new vision for the future of Mike's Meadow is forming. We are hoping you can help us with a donation.

Many of you knew the old cabin as the amazing vision of metal and wood perched atop Mike's Meadow at Singing Lands.
This was no ordinary cabin. It was a work of art that you lived in, retreated to, became absorbed into as you let yourself become part of this unique place.

The achievement of 10 years of devoted labour by Mike, working off the grid and mostly alone -- though so many of us pitched in over the years to hammer and dig and haul logs and mix cement! -- we felt from the beginning that this little house on a hill was something special. The unique design, the great care taken with each detail. Mike is also a well known wood-sculptor and this was his masterpiece in cabinology - it really belonged in an art magazine! And, earlier this summer, Mike had literally put the finishing touches on this place.

Then, on June 28, the largest of this summer's BC wildfires began as one of many small fires - this particular one was mid-way way up Deadman Valley and heading slowly east towards Kamloops. But, around 2 days later, it suddenly gained strength and tore up northwards towards Singing Lands.

It was a towering tornado of fire that ripped through ranch, completely destroying all but one or two structures. Mike's place was gone, as was Erin & Will's side. Our hearts also go out to all the Kendalls.

Chance was not on our side: consider that the outhouse, which was standing a mere 15 feet away from the house, survived the blaze, although it had been knocked over by the gale force winds generated by the whirlwind of fire.

Now, many people across BC, lost everything this summer. We lost the entire town of Lytton and, in fact, some of the firefighting crew was pulled away from Lytton to help fight the Sparks Lake fire!

But I believe there are many people out there who over the years have developed a special relationship to this place, who would be glad to help in whatever way to lessen the severe blow this has been to Mike and to all of us lovers of Singing Lands.

Here are a couple memories from 10 years of cabin life.