This page will eventually list most if not all completed projects and resolved issues. Current projects are described here. Province Wide- BC Park Legacy Project
- In 1987 the FMCBC purchased property adjacent to the Smoke Bluffs climbing area in Squamish. This unprecedented move by the FMCBC helped preserve access to the climbing bluffs and saved the area from encroaching housing development. Since this time the FMCBC has been working towards the creation of a Smoke Bluffs Park in this area.
- The FMCBC developed and sponsored the now popular Adopt-A-Trail program, which encourages people and organizations to clear, maintain, mark, and upgrade existing mountain or country hiking trails (e.g. the Howe Sound Crest Trail or Else Lake Trail). Several trails throughout BC are now included in the program.
- The FMCBC developed and managed the Canada West Mountain School (CWMS), which has provided professional, safety oriented mountain courses and produced associated teaching manuals. Over the years CWMS has trained thousands of hikers, climbers, and skiers throughout BC. The school was also contracted by the Justice Institute of B.C. to run Avalanche Rescue courses for BC PEP Search and Rescue groups. The FMCBC also advised the Vancouver Sun and other media on safety issues and delivered safety presentations to numerous clubs and other groups.
- Since its conception the FMCBC has actively participated in the legislative process with various government agencies and government sponsored processes. This is something that individual clubs are often unable to do.
- Representative to the Public Focus Group of the BC Park Legacy Project. 1995 - 1998.
- Proposed changes to and lobbied for the passage of the Occupiers Liability Act.
- Act as recommended by the Law Reform Society.
- Helped to organize and steer the Help MELP campaign, which lobbied the Provincial Government to hire 25 biologists. Campaign was successful after three years and involved organizing a coalition of 80 wildlife and recreational organizations, including the Federation of Naturalists, BC Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club, CPAWS, and GO BC, with a combined membership of over 100,000.
- Provided input to the Liberals Stewardship Panel Report
- Lobbied for changes to the Working Forest Legislation
- Opposed the government legislation which allows for development in BC parks.
- Participating in several skier/snowmobiler conflict resolution processes.
- Representative to the National Hiking Trail Association. President from 1989 - 1990.
- Sponsor of the National Hiking Trail from Victoria to Crescent Spur, BC. 1997 to present.
- Ongoing monitoring of trails for impact of users (i.e. Forestry interactions).
- Organized several successful Hike B.C. Days including hikes around the Province
- Continued public outreach and education through the writing of articles and contributing to editorials in local media, publishing our Cloudburst newsletter and conducting public slide shows and presentations
Vancouver Island
Recreation and Conservation- Strathcona Provincial Park: The FMCBC had a representative on the Strathcona Park Advisory
Committee in 1988, and on the Strathcona Park Steering Committee from
1989 to 1993, resulting in a new Strathcona Park Master Plan.Constructed the Bedwell Lake Trail. Rebuilt the lower section of the Comox Glacier access trail.
- Recently the FMCBC worked with Weyerhauser to incorporate adequate trail buffer zones in their logging plans for the Judges Routes on Mt Arrowsmith.
- For several years the FMCBC has worked on access to private lands.
- Initiated the development of a bus to trails brochure for Victoria area.
- Participated in the Vancouver Island Commission on Resources and the Environment (C.O.R.E.) process resulting in many new parks.
- Worked on the Fleming Beach bluffs climbing access issue - resolved in 1996.
- Worked on Gowland-Tod Park Master Plan. 1995.
- Worked on Nahmint Recreational Area Planning process. 1989 - 1995.
- Representative to the Strathcona Park Advisory Committee in 1988, and on Strathcona Park Steering Committee. 1989 – 1993. Strathcona Park Master Plan produced.
- Successfully fought for unfettered public access in Arrowsmith Ski Park
- Supported the Regional District of Nanaimo in their efforts to lease and create a regional park of the Old Arrowsmith Trail.
- Have been active in keeping Island clubs networked together.
Trails and Access - Constructed Bedwell Lake Trail (Strathcona Park).
- Rebuilt lower section of Comox Glacier access trail.
- Helped build a pedestrian bridge over McBey Creek on the Old Arrowsmith Trail.
- Helped maintain trails on Mt Arrowsmith and other Island areas.
- Outreach and Education...
- Avalanche Safety Courses at Mount Washington.
- Snow and Ice School at Comox Glacier.
- Created, published and distributed a Nootka Trail map, and promoted the conservation of West Nootka Island.
Southwest BC
Recreation and Conservation - Participating on the Cypress Provincial Park Steering Committee. Continuing to lobby for protection of this Class A, Category 6 Provincial Park.
- Participated as advisors to the Williams’ commission report on Cypress Provincial Park. 1995.
- Participated in park planning process for Dionisio Park, Galiano Island.
- Participated on the Pinecone/Burke Mountain protected area study. Subsequently declared a park. 1993 - 1995.
- Resolved issues regarding skier/snowmobiler conflicts in the Coquihalla area. 1995.
- Involved as an observer in the Lower Mainland Regional Public Advisory Committee 1995 - 1996.
- Sponsored report on the Proposed Protected Areas in the Coast Mountains. 1993.
- Resolved access issue with Slims Exploration and Mining Ltd. over access to Mount Jimmy Jimmy.
- Participation in the Lillooet/Pemberton Regional Districts planning processes.
- Participated in the planning process of the Garibaldi Park Master Plan.
- Actively participated in the Forest Service/Lions Bay watershed access issue.
- Proposed the Tantulus Park and participated in the development of Tantalus Park Master Plan successfully expanding the Wilderness Zone. 2002 - 2003.
- Played leading roles in Sea-to-Sky Backcountry Recreation forums, summer and winter, which were set up to resolve conflicts between non-motorized and motorized users. 2001 - present
- Lower Mainland Protected Areas Advisory Committee, which produced a number of new parks and ultimately led to the Sea to Sky LRMP. 1993-95
- Participated in TFL 38 planning with Interfor regarding non-motorized and wildlife issues in the Squamish, Elaho, and Ashlu Valleys. Interfor modified several cut blocks to accommodate recreation and wildlife values. 1999 - 2002
- Provided input to the Central Coast LRMP. 1997-1998
Trails and Access - Rebuilding of the Grouse Grind
- Produced bus to trails brochure for Vancouver area.
- Built trails around Smoke Bluffs.
- Rebuilt lower portion of the Stawamus Chief Trail. 1985.
- Upgraded Yew Lake Trail in Cypress Provincial Park to wheel chair accessible standards.
- Upgraded Mount Seymour Provincial Park Trails.
- Organized and sponsored annual Trail Builders and Maintainers (TBAM) courses.
- Maintain two tool caches.
- Constructed wheelchair accessible trail and boardwalk at Nairn Falls Park.
- Constructed trail, bridge, and boardwalk at Belcarra Park.
- Actively involved in concept planning, first explorations, trail locating, and trail and bridge building in Lynn Headwaters Park (G.V.R.D. jurisdiction). Projects included: Construction of main trail and bridges, and loop trail; Biophysical mapping project and ecological site descriptions; Built Hanes Creek connector trail from Lynn Creek to Grouse Mountain.
- Built trails and facilities, and signed Seymour Demonstration Forest.
- Constructed trails at Buntzen Lake, including floating bridge.
- Upgraded Centennial Trail, Radium Lake Trail, and Mount Thurston Trail in Chilliwack area.
- Outreach and Education...
- Designed interpretation interpretive boards in Seymour Demonstration Forest.
- Developed liaison with North Shore Rescue, BC-Yukon Chamber of Mines Safety Committee (Exploration) and British Mountaineering Council.
- Published 'Exploring the North Shore Mountains' and 'Exploring Lynn Canyon and Lynn Headwaters Park' with detailed maps.
- Trained thousands of hikers, climbers, and skiers by providing professional, safety oriented mountain courses through CWMS
- Developed and coordinated the Native Leadership program.
Kootenays Receration and Conservation- Working on Jumbo Pass resort development issues.
- Participated with the Kootenay Mountaineering Club on local access issues caused by a landowner closing a logging road, including soliciting help from the West Coast Environmental Law Society.
Trails and Access- Built Drinnon Pass access trail into Mulvey Basin, and south side of Valhalla Park.
Chilcotin / Cariboo Receration and Conservation - Representative on the Lillooet LMRP, which resulted in the creation of South Chilcotin Provincial Park. (1995 -2002)
- Working on the Cayoosh/Melvin Creek Resort Proposal.
- Participated in Chilko Lake Study Team which resulted in the Tsyl-os Park. (1994 - 1995)
- Published tabloids on Chilko Lake and Southern Chilcotins. (1988, 1991)
- Helped fund the South Chilcotin video.
- Participant in the Spruce Lake LRMP.
- Provided input to Cariboo Chilcotin CORE Process (1993 - 1994) which resulted in northern portion of the Southern Chilcotin being designated as the Big Creek Provincial Park. (1995)
- Worked with the Forest Service in the identification and protection of hiking trails, and in maintaining access to them.
- Worked on the protection and creation of the Stein Valley Park.
Trails and Access - Ongoing interactions with MOF on trail protection and management.
- Built trails and facilities at Bralorne near Gold Bridge.
- Outreach and Education...
- Lead several exploration/research trips into Nemaiah Valley, Taylor Creek, and the Tyaughton Creek/Castle M
Northern British Columbia Recreation and Conservation- Participation in the Prince George LRMP. 1992 - 1998.
- Strong advocate for sub-alpine/alpine controls on motorized access (LRMP process and other venues).
- Participation in the Robson Valley LRMP.
- Participation in the Herrick Creek LRMP 1991 – 1994
- Played key role in the identification and establishment of the Kakwa Recreation Area in the late 1980s. Continue to work with Parks on management issues including access.
- Proposed several protected areas under the PAS. Most have received LRMP endorsement including the Fang Cave Area, the Sugarbowl Mountain/Grizzly Den area, the Ptarmigan Creek drainage, the Close-to-the-Edge Cave, and the Grand Canyon on the Fraser.
- Active role in the preservation of sub-alpine forest, particularly for mountain caribou, but also for grizzly bear and other species.
- Active member of the Prince George City Heritage Trails Committee for several years.
- Active member of the Greenways Trail Society.
- Participated in the Master planning processes for the Monkman and Eskers Provincial Parks in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
- Played a key role in the establishment of the Raven Lake/Grizzly Den forest recreation site and subsequent Protected Area.
- Worked with the Forest Service in the identification and protection of hiking trails, and in maintaining access to them.
- Leading role in the Prince George Backcountry Recreation Society
- McGregor (Plateau) Recreational Users Agreement including FMCBC members of the PG Backcountry Recreation Society 1999 – 2003
- Participated in the Commercial Recreation Policy process commissioned byBC Lands early 1990s.
Trails and Access - Published a guide to trails in the Central Interior. Started in 1974 and updated annually.
- Over the past 23 years, have developed about 20 new hiking trails scattered throughout the Central Interior.
- Development and construction of the Fraser Cutbanks Trail for the City of Prince George during 1995 and 1996.
- Maintain the trails developed by the Caledonia Ramblers, but also six or seven developed by the Ministry of Forests and other parties.
- Ongoing interactions with MOF on trail protection and management.
Outreach and Education - Use of Trail Guide written by Caledonia Ramblers as education tool.
- Helped organize the best of Banff Film Festival showings in Prince George for several years.
- Conducted public avalanche safety courses and outdoor winter camping courses.
|
