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Fall 2011 Newspaper articles: |
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posted Dec 21, 2011 9:39 AM by Scott Nelson
The 21 Mile Creek drainage is a non-motorized zone and snowmobiling is prohibited. The Federation of Mountain Clubs of BC is conducting a user survey to measure the frequency of illegal snowmobile use in 21 Mile Creek. The results from the survey will guide compliance and enforcement actions by government conservation officers. The non-motorized zone includes Rainbow Lake, Rainbow Mountain, Gin & Tonic Lakes and the north side of Mt. Sproatt. Hanging Lake, the west side of Gin Peak and the south side of Mt. Sproatt are outside the non-motorized zone. If you've done a trip into 21 mile creek, please take 1 minute of your time to complete the survey. Only one member of your party needs to complete the survey. The survey will be open all season to collect as much data as possible. Data is welcome from any trip since March 12 2009. That's the day the Sea to Sky LRMP went into effect. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MR2HSW8 |
posted Oct 19, 2011 8:18 PM by Scott Nelson
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updated Dec 15, 2011 1:55 PM
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Whistler Olympic Park and Callaghan Country have parted ways and will run separate operations for the 2011-2012 season. This year Whistler Olympic Park (WOP) has implemented a number off improvements to backcountry access. - A WOP backcountry access day pass will cost $10 and a season pass $50, the same price as last year. Day passes may be purchased at the main gate, or online at http://www.whistlerolympicpark.com and printed at home
- Backcountry skiers will be permitted to use the groomed XC trails to access backcountry areas beyond WOP
- Signage improvements will help backcountry skiers to located designated backcountry access trailheads
- Overnight Parking will be permitted at a small parking lot near the main gate. This lot may also be used by backcountry skiers wanting to return after the normal WOP closing hours, or get an early start in the morning. A parking pass is required. The parking pass can be picked up at the main gate, or downloaded from http://www.whistlerolympicpark.com and printed at home.
Callaghan Country is also offering a reduced rate for backcountry users going to Callaghan Lake or Telemagique ridge - The ticket costs $8 and is only valid on the Mainline trail (Callaghan Lake FSR).
- A portion of the Callaghan Country parking lot near Alexander Falls will be designated for overnight use. There is a $20 per vehicle fee for overnight parking.
For full details on the backcountry access policy, see Callaghan Backcountry Access Policy. |
posted Mar 16, 2011 9:36 AM by admin.manager@mountainclubs.org
On January 24, 2011 Brian Wood (FMCBC President) sent a letter to Vicki Haberl, BC Government Section Head Planning – Squamish, detailing the concerns that the FMCBC SW Recreation and Conservation Committee has regarding access to the Callaghan Valley.
Haberl met with Chris Platz, BC Government Area Supervisor - Squamish, Scott Shaw-MacLearn, Resource Manager for Metro Vancouver/Squamish District, Norbert Greinacher of the Ministry of Natural Resource Operations (MNRO) and Lindsay Durno of the Whistler Sport Legacies Society (WSL) to discuss FMCBC's concerns. A letter was received from Shaw-MacLaren on February 23, 2011 and Haberl and Platz then attended a FMCBC SW Rec & Con meeting on February 28, 2011 to further discuss issues in the Callaghan Valley and proposed developments for Garibaldi Park.
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posted Nov 10, 2010 8:46 AM by Scott Nelson
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will be plowing a few spaces at the Alexander Falls parking lot this winter. They will be using a regular highway snowplow, not a front end loader, so there may be delays getting the parking lot plowed after a heavy snowfall. This lot may be used for overnight parking. Overnight parking is not permitted within Whistler Olympic Park. From the Alexander Falls parking lot, the Callaghan Country base area may be reached by a short ski parallel to the Callaghan Valley Road. |
posted Oct 22, 2010 9:18 AM by Scott Nelson
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updated Oct 22, 2010 9:21 AM
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Whistler Olympic Park will be charging fees for backcountry users for the 2010/2011 season. The fee will be $20 per person (full price) to use the groomed XC trails for backcountry access or $10 per person otherwise. Additionally, there will be no overnight parking within Whistler Olympic Park and the Callaghan Country Parking lot near Alexander Falls will not be plowed. The FMCBC is currently trying to secure overnight parking for backcountry users outside the WOP tenure area. Full details are available here. |
posted Oct 22, 2010 9:14 AM by Scott Nelson
The FMCBC conducted a survey on backcountry skiing, snowboarding
and snowshoeing in the Callaghan Valley in Fall 2010. The survey results show that the Callaghan Valley is a popular destination, but usage will be signficantly reduced by the user fees the WOP is planning to charge for the 2010/2011 season.
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posted Mar 1, 2009 9:27 PM by Antje Wahl
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updated Jan 13, 2012 6:11 PM by Scott Webster
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The Rainbow Mountain Wildland Area, including 21 Mile Creek, is designated a non-motorized recreation area in the Sea-to-Sky LRMP. Ski and snowshoe access to the area is usually via the Hanging Lake route from Callaghan Valley or the 21 Mile Creek trail.
Despite the non-motorized designation, there are still many snowmobilers recreating in the area. As part of the effort to inform and educate snowmobilers about the non-motorized area, three large signs were constructed along the East Callaghan Forest Service Road (the typical snowmobile access route into the area) with a map of the Rainbow Mountain Wildland Area and a notice that snowmobiling is prohibited in 21 Mile Creek, Rainbow Lake, Gin and Tonic Lakes, north side of Mt. Sproatt and Rainbow Mountain. A pdf of the map and notice can be accessed via the FMC website ( mountainclubs.org/trails_projects/Callaghan-valley/21mile).
Members are encouraged to make trips into the Rainbow Mountain Wildland Area and to document any ongoing use by snowmobilers of the area, including any conflicts with them or safety issues, as well as voluntary compliance (i.e.,. if there are no snowmobilers present or snowmobilers leave the area when informed about the designation). Please submit photos and reports to the Snowmobile Zoning Infraction Database, which is accessed via “Campaigns” on www.bivouac.com or submit your reports and photos to Monika Bittel (mbittel9@gmail.com), Robin Tivy or Scott Nelson. The FMCBC has sent a letter to the BC government in October 2009, asking to close the 21 Mile Creek area near Whistler to snowmobiles. The area includes Rainbow Lake and is part of Whistler's watershed. It has been zoned for non-motorized winter recreation, but in winter increasing numbers of snowmobilers access the watershed from the Callaghan Valley side. The full letter is attached below. In 2010, the FMCBC is once again pursuing implementation of the LRMP non-motorized zoning in 21 Mile Creek for the 2010-2011 ski season. The FMCBC has built trailhead signs at snowmobile parking areas to show the locations of the non-motorized zone. Negotiations with government over legal implementation and enforcement of the non motorized zone are ongoing.
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