Abandoned mansion in the mountains of BC. Adventure #2

A short story of Vernon Pick and a tour of Walden North.

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[fukushimatruth]

Vernon Pick's ghost still walks the halls of Walden North! I know this for certain as I met him during the night when I stayed in his bedroom while all alone at the mansion. It happened during the first of my many adventures to Walden North. Since then, upon learning everything I could about this most amazing man, he has become my ultimate hero and someone that I hold in the highest of regards! He was one of the most intelligent men of our time. Very few people are aware of what an incredible person Vernon Pick truly was! Walden North & Vernon Pick (in spirit) deserve so much more respect than what they have been given. Walden North is a very special place indeed. It is a part of our Canadian history that also has a very interesting story that needs shared. One day, I hope that Walden North will become officially nominated as a 'Canadian National Historic Site'.

[cmon]

Beautiful message about the need to preserve these places and not destroy because it does ruin it for everyone else. Thank you!

[OneBlueFroggy]

Don't understand why people who find other peoples' property sitting empty, they think they have the right to destroy it ? If it ain't yours, dont touch it ! So cool to have you make the climb for us and show us around ! Also very grateful to the owners for giving permission. Awesome views up there, thanks for your time and trouble Dustin !
👍🇨🇦✌️

[IcarusFlyby]

Hello Dustin
I read about Pick and Walden North in the seventies while living in Vancouver, BC and on impulse contacted him and was invited for a visit. Pick graciously walked the property with my wife and I at one point, stopping in the shop to show us a wood lathe that he had invented that cut spirals. Cool Guy! In those days pretty close to what I imagined doing with $10 million! LOL Sorry no gopros in those days. Thanks for the video.

[joshyaks]

The most Canadian thing ever: Apologizing for the mess at an abandoned mansion! (Thanks for walking up a mountain to tell us this fascinating story! Great video!!)

[robertdaggitt]

Thank you for bringing these abandoned places back to life....what always strikes me is the silence at these places. Keep up the excellent work.

[TyeDee]

Wow, was I surprised to find this video today. My dad had worked for Vernon Pick while his mansion was being built. His job was to take care of equipment maintenance around the machine shop for Mr. Pick, who I was able to meet briefly a couple of times (I was 9 years old). I was able to go to the property a couple of times and I remember the inclined railroad. I can't recall if I was able to go on it, but it was impressive to a young boy. Mr. Pick was definitely a bit eccentric, and my dad only worked with him for a couple of months. I somehow recall that there was discussions of our family living on the property as caretakers (not living in the mansion though), but that didn't materialize as there was some disagreement with my dad and Mr. Pick and his employment ended. Thanks again for sharing this.

[MatthewFordVictoria]

I love your slogan "Take Nothing but Pictures. Leave Nothing but Footprints!" I wish others would follow that path!

[jomama]

What a beautiful area. So nice to have a history on a place and person behind a place. It makes so much more sense that way. What a shame there's no one left to utilize or enjoy any of it.

[drum]

How AWESOME!! I look at the mess in the place and I can only think. “Why?” Unbearably sad what some humans are capable of. Then, there is the total opposite on the scale. This intelligent young man that is willing to do some hard work to get a great story out to the greater public. Bless you and keep it going!!!

[scotyfilms]

I can’t imagine the amount of work that went into this place. How they got the supplies to build it and then furniture and appliances. Amazing and sad at the same time.

[canadianhonker]

Awesome place and story; it's too bad people have to wreck everything. A place like that and the story behind it should be preserved for sure.

[xsadsappysuckr]

Could you imagine spending all that time and effort into building a home like that only to abandon it and let it rot? I bet that home was absolutely gorgeous in it's prime.

[mattandemilybrubaker]

Take nothing but pictures leave nothing but foot prints...I love this!!

[patricegardner]

I happened to stumble upon your channel yesterday and I am enjoying the adventures you share. I only wish I had come across it sooner. Its fascinating along with the stories that go along with it. Thank you so much!

[Petrajac]

makes me want to go there and tidy everything up

[earlkoropatnick]

I met this man and visited this place when he was still alive. He was friends with my grandfather Earl Brett. I believe I visited in the mid to later 1950's not sure exactly, but I had a great time on the visit. I'm not really sure but I think Vernon bought a plane from my grandfather or at least they were discussing the topic on the first trip I took there. This brings back memories I haven't touched in a long long time.

[phylloxera]

Congrats from Toronto, totally fascinating video. It looks like he was around 83 when he passed away, which indicates the house was probably finished in the 70's. Some amazing views. Thanks for the posting.

[chelleehorton]

I couldn't agree more. Its just so sad that vandals have so little respect for things that not only were achieved and built through LOADS of HARD work, costing so much in time, money and many other resources, and are historical jewels that COULD have been enjoyed for decades to come, if not centuries, and it is now a big mess. My heart feels sad. I still enjoyed hearing the story and found so much about this man and his life really fascinating. Thank you for sharing things that some of us would never know about otherwise.

[JaiBoogie]

Stumbled upon this video and enjoyed it a lot. Cool story and neat home. That view off the trail... man, I live for those views! Amazing