To the Editor,
I miss the enjoyment of hunting, fishing, canoeing, cross country skiing, swimming and hiking in the Ash valley.
Lately my ability to access the valley has become so limited by restrictions and locked gates, that is not worth my while .
As far as I am concerned the valley is gone.
Gone are the old growth trees that rivalled Cathedral grove, gone is the time when driving out the Ash valley you would encounter all kinds of wildlife—many deer, grouse, red tail hawks etc.
Gone is the time when you could put a line and hook in almost any stream and catch a trout.
Gone is driving out the Ash to access beautiful Oshinow Lake in Strathcona Park.
Sadly, gone is the ability for me to take my grandchildren out the Ash like I got to do with my dad, and later with my wife and daughters.
I can only hope that sometime in the future a more caring attitude to our environment prevails and restrictions on access and locked gates ease.
David Horst,
founding member,
Port Alberni outdoors club