Climbers Access Society Of BC

Eldred Campsite Given Designated Recreation Site Status & Adopt-A-Crag

for Powell River

written by Peter Winter

Eldred Campsite Given Designated Recreation Site Status & Adopt-A-Crag

CASBC has just concluded another agreement with the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations to designate the Eldred Valley campsite as a Designated Recreation Site. Need a reminder on what that means?http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/facts/prk_desig.html#Recreationarea As we said in our Annual Report, these types of agreements are a good step in protecting our climbing areas and we will endeavour to find more prospective sites.

Eldred Adopt-a-Crag

Will be held May 4th to 6th. We are going to change things up this year and have the work parties out on Saturday. After all your much appreciated hard work there will be a Salmon bake pot luck dinner and prizes. Sunday is climbing day!! Bring your wire brushes!!

The Sea to Sky Gondola Proposal

for Squamish

written by Peter Winter

Following the recent news of the proposed change to Stawamus Chief Park, the CASBC Board decided to review our neutral position on the gondola. CASBC was made aware of the proposal in June 2011. We studied the proposal and asked our membership for comment. Based on the comments we received, and since climbing access was not affected, we elected to remain neutral on the matter. We nonetheless lobbied the developers to include trails that would improve access to other climbing areas such as Mt. Habrich and Skypilot. We were accommodated but continued to remain neutral on the proposal.

We understood that the gondola would have to cross Stawamus Chief Provincial Park and BC Parks would have to address the issue. The proposed solution is to reclassify 2.36 hectares of the Park from Class A Provincial Park to a Protected Area to create a 20m wide right-of-way for the gondola. Obviously we would prefer the Park to remain as it is. However, the fact that climbing access is still not affected and negative feedback from our members has been limited, the Board decided to retain our neutral position on the proposal.

BC Parks Volunteer Strategy

written by Peter Winter

As you may know, BC Parks is developing a province-wide volunteer strategy building on the great work that volunteers are already doing. We hope to improve the volunteer experience for current and future volunteers and learn from the successes and challenges of the past. This week we are finishing a series of public workshops across the province to help inform the development of the strategy. Over 200 people attended the workshops province-wide. Some volunteers, however, were unable to attend any of the workshops, so we have developed a short online survey to capture their input.

The survey can be accessed here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QG3QK63

It should only take 5-10 minutes to complete and it closes at the end of the day on March 25th, 2012. The survey is open to the public, feel free to pass it along to anyone you know who might be interested.

Thanks for your time,
Becs

Becs Hoskins, M.Sc.| BC Parks Project Manager | p. 250.387.5036 | becs.hoskins@gov.bc.ca

Duncan Boulders and Samsun Narrows

for Duncan Boulders

written by Eric Goodwin

The landowner who has graciously allowed access to Duncan Boulders and
Samsun Narrows from Genoa Bay Rd. is no longer allowing access across
their private land. The CASBC hopes that you respect the wishes of the
landowners, and do not trespass.

The landowners' concerns include dogs spooking their cattle (Samsun),
trash being left at the boulders (including a "fixed" gymnastics mat)
and erosion where the loop trail crosses a creek.

The owner mentioned that an alternative access to the boulders might
be possible across municipal forest land. The CASBC is investigating
alternative access to the boulders, but Samsun narrows is now
accessible only by boat.

Logging of Stillwater Bluffs

for Stillwater bluffs [issues]

written by Peter Winter

Timberlands is proposing logging in and around the Stillwater Bluffs climbing area. While it seems access to the bluffs will be maintained, you can add your voice to prevent the logging.

http://www.change.org/petitions/island-timberlands-ltd-of-nanaimo-five-year-moratorium-on-any-logging-of-stillwater-bluffs