My recent letter suggesting hiking a baby into the backcountry could be criminal if something bad happened to the baby attracted so much flak I feel I should respond.
In terms of my bona fides to have an opinion, I have eight kids, and although I was no less involved with one through six, I am the primary parent to kids seven and eight. For a number of years we also hosted numerous international students and served as a care home for homeless youth. I think I know something about keeping kids safe.
Ana Simeon, whose letter prompted mine, should be introduced since she is promoting her socio-corporate agenda in Sooke. Ms. Simeon, a card-carrying member of the Sierra Club, is best introduced by her own words; “The shrieks of children having a water fight, the whoops greeting a young man’s daring dive… even such joyful exuberance can be too much… living as we do under the harsh dominion of the internal combustion engine and the electronic jingle… Sometimes, we crave stronger medicine than a walk around Thetis or a paddle in Matheson Lake. Seeking to leave all human sounds behind, we long for a secret lake, one that will extend her embrace only to ourselves and perhaps one special companion…”
In other words, no access for anyone but her and her “one special companion.”
Lorien Arnold from Sooke Mountain Cycle, had this to say: “someone’s taken one too many trips up Bullsh*t Mountain. It’s easy to make your point by lying.”
Both of these individuals voice a self-serving eco-corporate opposition to access to our community lakes and the provincial park via Harbourview Road. Evidently the fact that it is physically possible to manishly hump a kid 8 km into the bush is reason why road access should be prohibited and our backcountry reserved for mountain bikers and hikers (and of course one special companion).
Terrance Martin
Sooke