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==Sea to Sky Winter Backcountry Forum - Letters of Support==
{{Historical
| RedirectPage=Winter Recreation Zoning near VOC Huts
}}
==Update==


===Background===
This page needs to be updated.  The mediator's report mentioned at the bottom of the page has been released, with mostly good news, though the bottom of the Phelix Creek Road is to be shared with snowmobiles.  More info should be coming soon.


This is the fact sheet for those wishing to write a letter of support for the Sea to Sky Winter Backcountry forum. Anything helps!!!


In September 2001, the Sea to Sky Winter Backcountry Recreation Forum (�Winter Forum�) began monthly meetings to resolve the growing conflict among recreation users in the Sea to Sky backcountry.  The Winter Forum included representatives from outdoor recreation clubs (backcountry skiers, snowshoers and snowmobilers), commercial recreation operators (heli-ski, snow-cat and snowmobile tour operators), and government representatives.  All representatives recognized the increasing and often conflicting recreational demands placed on the Sea to Sky backcountry. There are over six million recreational visits to the Sea to Sky corridor each year.  The number of recreational visits will increase with the 2010 Olympics.
==Background==


The vision of the Forum was to find a way for all recreational users to have reasonable access to an enjoyable experience in the Sea to Sky backcountry. After almost two years of consultations, discussions and negotiations, the Winter Forum developed a Winter Sharing Accord, which designates areas in the Sea to Sky backcountry for different recreational uses.  The Winter Sharing Accord was signed off by all Forum participants.  Every user group made compromises and trade-offs in order to achieve the Winter Sharing Accord.  The Winter Sharing Accord is therefore a total package, balancing the recreational interests of each user group and thereby minimizing conflicts between the different user groups.
This is the fact sheet for those wishing to write a letter of support for the [http://www.backcountryforum.org Sea to Sky Winter Backcountry Forum]. Anything helps!!!


Unfortunately, Land and Water BC Inc. (�LWBC�), the provincial Crown Corporation which issues commercial recreation tenures in the Sea to Sky Corridor, has consistently ignored the Winter Sharing Accord and has issued commercial tenures which are inconsistent with the Winter Sharing Accord.  As a result of the actions of LWBC, the Winter Sharing Accord has been severely compromised, undermining the balance achieved among the different recreational user groups.  With respect to non-motorized users, the only areas left for non-motorized recreation outside Garibaldi Park are 21 Mile Creek and Mt. Sproatt.  Furthermore, commercial recreation tenures are being issued without the benefit of carrying capacity studies, which are needed to ensure that the quality of the backcountry recreational experience is maintained in the Sea to Sky backcountry.
In September 2001, the Sea to Sky Winter Backcountry Recreation Forum (Winter Forum) began monthly meetings to resolve the growing conflict among recreation users in the Sea to Sky backcountry.  The Winter Forum included representatives from outdoor recreation clubs (backcountry skiers, snowshoers and snowmobilers), commercial recreation operators (heli-ski, snow-cat and snowmobile tour operators), and government representatives.  All representatives recognized the increasing and often conflicting recreational demands placed on the Sea to Sky backcountry. There are over six million recreational visits to the Sea to Sky corridor each year.  The number of recreational visits will increase with the 2010 Olympics.


The Winter Forum is currently involved in ongoing negotiations and discussions at various levels of government regarding the Winter Sharing Accord.  The Winter Forum is therefore seeking letters of support from recreational users of the Sea to Sky backcountry.  Letters should be directed to the following government representatives and to the CEO of LWBC:
The vision of the Forum was to find a way for all recreational users to have reasonable access to an enjoyable experience in the Sea to Sky backcountry.  After almost two years of consultations, discussions and negotiations, the Winter Forum developed a Winter Sharing Accord, which designates areas in the Sea to Sky backcountry for different recreational uses.  The Winter Sharing Accord was signed off by all Forum participants.  Every user group made compromises and trade-offs in order to achieve the Winter Sharing Accord.  The Winter Sharing Accord is therefore a total package, balancing the recreational interests of each user group and thereby minimizing conflicts between the different user groups.
 
1. Honourable George Abbott, Minister
Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management
P.O. Box 9054, STN PROV GOVT
Victoria, B.C.  V8W 9E2
Fax:  250-356-8273
 
2. Bill Valentine, CEO and Associate Deputy Minister
Land and Water BC Inc.
P.O. Box 9475, STN PROV GOVT
Victoria, B.C.  V8W 9M2
Fax:  250-356-0105
E-mail:  lwbc.corporate@victorial.gov.bc.ca
 
3. Honourable Gordon Campbell, Premier
Province of British Columbia
P.O. Box 9041, STN PROV GOVT
Victoria, B.C.  V8W 9E1
Fax:  250-387-0087
E-mail:  premier@gov.bc.ca
 
 
The key points to raise in the letters are:
 
 
* Identify yourself as a recreational user of the Sea to Sky backcountry.
 
* Your support for the Winter Sharing Accord developed by the Sea to Sky Winter Backcountry Recreation Forum because it balances the recreational interests of all user groups, including the motorized and non-motorized recreational users.
 
* Government should honour the Winter Sharing Accord and support the implementation of the Winter Sharing Accord.
 
* Land and Water BC Inc. should honour the Winter Sharing Accord and stop issuing commercial recreation tenures which are inconsistent and incompatible with the Winter Sharing Accord.
 
* Before more commercial recreation tenures are issued in the Sea to Sky backcountry, carrying capacity studies should be conducted to ensure that the quality of the backcountry wilderness recreational experience is maintained in the Sea to Sky backcountry.
 
 
If you have any questions or need more information regarding the Winter Forum or the Winter Sharing Accord for the Sea to Sky corridor, please contact Monika Bittel at monikabittel@telus.net or call 604-983-3097.  If you write a letter, please forward copy of it to Monika Bittel c/o BCMC, P.O. Box 2674, Vancouver, B.C.  V6B 3W8 or send a copy via e-mail.  Thank you for your support.
 
===Sample Letter===
 
'''Here is a copy of the letter sent on behalf of the VOC. Everyone's name didn't fit on but I tried! (Milena)'''
 
 
March 19, 2004
Varsity Outdoor Club
Box 98 Student Union Building
6138 Student Union Mall
Vancouver BC
V6T 2B9
 
RE: Sea to Sky Backcountry Recreation Forum
 
Honourable Gordon Campbell, Premier
Province of British Columbia
PO Box 9041 STN PROV GOVT
Victoria BC
V8W 9E1
 
Dear Premier Campbell,
 
We, the executive council of the Varsity Outdoor Club at the University of British Columbia, are writing to express our support of the Sea to Sky Winter Backcountry Recreation Sharing Forum, and the Sharing Accord produced by the Forum.
 
In case you are not familiar with the Forum, here is a bit of history: in September 2001 a group of community members representing non-motorized backcountry recreationists such as skiers; motorized users such as snowmobilers; and commercial tenure holders, began to hold meetings about backcountry recreation in the Sea to Sky corridor of the Squamish Forest District. Their goal was to create a plan that would ensure that all users of the area would have reasonable access to an enjoyable experience in the backcountry by minimizing the incidences of user conflicts between different groups.  A group of approximately 30 people have been meeting once per month since then, and have written and mapped a Sharing Accord which divides the backcountry of the Squamish Forest District into specific use areas.  In some areas all use types are permitted (for example, backcountry skiing and snowmobiling are both permitted), and in other areas motorized use is restricted to ensure that non-motorized users have a protected enjoyable experience.  For more information on the Forum, we suggest that you refer to the Winter Forum's website at www.backcountryforum.org, or that you speak with MSRM employees Malcolm Leung (formerly with Land and Water BC), Kevin Lee (with LWBC), or Ross Kreye (with the LRMP). Under the guidance of the newly formed Sea to Sky Backcountry Recreation Forum Association, the Sharing Accord map is being included as Recreation�s contribution to the draft Squamish Land and Resource Management Plan.
 
The Sharing Accord is a finely balanced agreement between user groups that was laboriously constructed through an intensive consultation process to ensure that all users� concerns were fairly represented. However, despite verbal support of the Sharing Accord from Land and Water BC, and the presence of representatives from LWBC throughout the process, conflicting tenures continue to be granted by LWBC in the Sea to Sky corridor.  A conflicting tenure is one that allows a commercial operator to conduct an activity that is restricted in that area by the Sharing Accord, (eg. allowing a heli-skiing operation to ski in a Non-Motorized area, or permitting snowmobile tours in
a Non-Motorized with Restricted Motorized Access Area).  From the start, Forum participants laboured to shape the map around existing tenures, and with each new conflicting tenure granted, the map changes, and the carefully constructed balance - reasonable access to an enjoyable experience for all users - is being lost.  With each new
tenure granted, non-motorized users especially have lost areas that were protected from motorized use, and these areas cannot be regained until the tenures expire. As an organization primarily engaged in non motorized activities, the Varsity Outdoor Club is concerned that our rights to an enjoyable experience are being lost along with these areas.
 
As you can see, LWBC has undermined the Sharing Accord and the efforts of the Forum to represent all user groups, including both motorized and non motorized, commercial and public recreationists.  The Varsity Outdoor Club would like at this time to express our unequivocal support for the efforts of the Backcountry Forum in developing this Sharing Accord and to make two recommendations on how the Provincial Government, through the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, should approach this problem.  The first is that LWBC should be forbidden from issuing tenures that conflict with the Sharing Accord map.  Since this map was developed with all users in mind by a broad based coalition representing a variety of interests, it is only fair that the wishes of the recreation community be reflected in the decisions to grant tenures. The second is that it be put in writing in the LRMP that no tenures with use that conflicts with the LRMP Winter Backcountry Recreation map (currently almost the same as the Sharing Accord map) shall be granted, and that no currently existing conflicting tenures shall be replaced with new conflicting tenures, should the current tenure holder wish to forfeit their tenure, or should their tenure expire.
 
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. We believe that this Forum has had great success in bringing together a diverse variety of groups with one common goal in mind � the enjoyment of British Columbia�s beautiful backcountry areas. We feel the Sharing Accord is a progressive solution to the conflicts which occur in the backcountry, and hope that with your support, the Forum�s goal can be realized. Your prompt actions on this matter will be truly appreciated by the Varsity Outdoor Club, and all recreationists in the Sea to Sky corridor. 
 
Respectfully,
 
Roberta Holden (President)
Chris Stathers (Vice President)
Sandra Nicol (Sea to Sky Winter Backcountry Forum Representative)
Milena Semproni (Sea to Sky Summer Backcountry Forum Representative)


On Behalf of the:
==Early winter 2007/2008 in Retrospect==


Membership and Executive of the Varsity Outdoor Club, University of British Columbia
Unfortunately, the government waited around a long time before they managed to implement this agreement.  During this time memories certainly faded about what precisely was agreed upon (well, nobody felt their memory had faded, but people certainly remembered slightly different things).  When the government finally threw up some signs for the winter of 2007/2008 it didn't go so well.  A few areas in particular caused alot of heartache.


cc: Honourable George Abbott, Minister of Sustainable Resource Management
* The area around Phelix Creek was signed as non-motorized.  This caused a great deal of consternation amongst the snowmobile community, although we would later discover this was more about the East side of Phelix Creek than the area directly around our Brian Waddington Hut.  Although both sides of Phelix Creek have a long history of use for backcountry skiing, the West side has become more popular for skiiers in recent times (perhaps due to the hut, and the steeper, forested, access which keeps all but the most determined sledders out) whereas the East side is more open and fairly suited to snowmobile.  Although we don't know much about historic use of snowmobiles in the area it certainly became popular recently - the Pemberton Valley Snowmobile Club had even flagged a commonly used route into the Alpine.
Bill Valentine, CEO, Land and Water BC Inc.
* In the intermediate time a commercial heli-sledding tenure was granted on Sproat.  The backcountry skiing community was shocked that the closest backcountry daytrip to Whistler would get not only a snowmobile tenure - but a helicopter accessed one.  We're still trying to figure out why it is necessary to helicopter snowmboiles somewhere you can reach on skis in 1.5 hours.
* Finally, and perhaps the most sore point of all, the government enacted a section 58 and banned snowmobiles from the Callahan Valley, hoping to turn it into a world-class XC skiing area in preparation for the 2010 Olympics.  Although the forum was told to stay away from 2010 planning, the Callahan Valley was truly the snowmobile community's playground and also offered the best access to the Pemberton Icecap (a very popular sledding destination).  Unfortunately, cars getting locked behind gates is proving to make this huge area difficult to access for backcountry skiiers, and the XC operators still aren't quite sure what to do with people who want to access the area just outside their trackset.


Thousands of letters were sent to government.


==LETTER REGARDING PHELIX CREEK/VOC WADDINGTON HUT==
==Late winter 2008==


Dear Mr. Dave Tudhope, Ministry of Forests,
After a bit of a rough start, we were able to get a few meetings going between some of the leaders in the snowmobile community and leaders in the mountaineering and skiing community. I was surprised at how much we could agree on, and how much we all felt let down that the government took so long before attempting to implement the results ofthe winter backcountry forum.  Most of the problem, it seemed, was that the government waited too long and the situation had changed withfading memories.  Most of the problem in Phelix Creek, as it appears to me (written by Christian Veenstra), is that there was never really a solid agreement on what was supposed to happen. People remembered what they wanted to remember.  There is ''no'' agreement on this, by the way.


The Varsity Outdoor Club Executive is writing this letter on behalf of its general membership and the broader non � motorized backcountry recreation community to address some concerns that have arisen regarding the VOC�s Waddington Hut at Phelix Creek. We are concerned with the application that has been made to establish a commercial snowmobile/ATV operation in the area which would run regular trips in the vicinity of the hut. The Waddington or Phelix Creek Hut was built as a joint project of the VOC and the BC Worker�s Compensation Board in 1998 with the purpose of providing a base for the exploration of this amazing area with its wide range of opportunities for backcountry skiing, rock climbing and mountaineering. The hut is open to the general public as well as VOC members and is popular amongst various groups looking to get out and enjoy the backcountry, including groups who use the hut as a base to teach mountaineering skills. For instance, this past New Year�s holiday saw almost thirty people at the hut taking advantage of the great ski touring in the area! The VOC is concerned that allowing a commercial motorized operation to establish itself would ruin the area for the non � motorized recreationists who appreciate it for its beauty, serenity and wilderness value. We also wonder about where the proposed snowmobile route would lie as it seems that certain sections near the creek would require serious construction efforts to allow snowmobiles to pass, which would, of course, degrade the wilderness value of the area further in addition to the disruptive presence of motorized vehicles themselves.  
The government assigned a mediator to deal with the situation and come up with some recommendations for the minister (Pat Bell at the time). To me, the mediator seemed like an ideal candidate for the job, and did a good job listening to reasonable suggestions from both sides without getting sidetracked by the crazy ones. Of course, there were some pretty far out ideas on both sides.


We believe the area extending through the Phelix Creek drainage to the Ryan River should be designated as a non � motorized use area as suggested by the Sea to Sky Backcountry Recreation Forums (Winter and Summer) in 2003 to preserve the quality of the outdoor experience in this valley for the non � motorized recreationists who have established a presence in the area over a number of years. We would also like to call attention to the fact that the Ministry of Forests and the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC have both suggested after conducting studies in the area that Phelix Creek and its environs be reserved for non � motorized use because of the long history of non � motorized pursuits in the area; the presence of the popular Waddington Hut; and the value of the land as prime spring feeding habitat for grizzly bears. Therefore, the Varsity Outdoor Club respectfully requests that the area be designated in the Squamish LRMP as a non � motorized area, and that no motorized groups or individuals be permitted to use motorized vehicles off roads in the area in light of the great value that Phelix Creek holds for non � motorized recreationists.
==Late Summer 2008==


Thank you for taking the time to read this letter,
The mediators recommendations have been set down in writing but not yet released (but I anticipate they will be fair).  They should go up [http://ilmbwww.gov.bc.ca/slrp/lrmp/surrey/s2s/ here] (likely under the "what's new" or "reports" tab) in the next few weeks.


Respectfully yours,
As far as Phelix Creek goes, I feel it is likely the zoning recommendation will be shared as far as the branch between Phelix Main and Phelix East, and other than that the West side of the drainage (the area around the hut) will be non-motorized.  This only extends to the height-of-land between Aragorn and Shadowfax - that's the basically the border of the Sea-to-Sky area.


The Varsity Outdoor Club Executive
The most important thing is that we get zoning in place - and this should be done before next winter.  I really hope this happens, before we forget what we agreed upon again.


'''comments and editing appreciated!!!! - Milena'''
When they are released, we will need another wave of letters to make sure something is done with them before the snow starts falling.

Latest revision as of 19:16, 8 June 2020

This page is a historical document.
Please refer to the following page for current information: Winter Recreation Zoning near VOC Huts

Update

This page needs to be updated. The mediator's report mentioned at the bottom of the page has been released, with mostly good news, though the bottom of the Phelix Creek Road is to be shared with snowmobiles. More info should be coming soon.


Background

This is the fact sheet for those wishing to write a letter of support for the Sea to Sky Winter Backcountry Forum. Anything helps!!!

In September 2001, the Sea to Sky Winter Backcountry Recreation Forum (Winter Forum) began monthly meetings to resolve the growing conflict among recreation users in the Sea to Sky backcountry. The Winter Forum included representatives from outdoor recreation clubs (backcountry skiers, snowshoers and snowmobilers), commercial recreation operators (heli-ski, snow-cat and snowmobile tour operators), and government representatives. All representatives recognized the increasing and often conflicting recreational demands placed on the Sea to Sky backcountry. There are over six million recreational visits to the Sea to Sky corridor each year. The number of recreational visits will increase with the 2010 Olympics.

The vision of the Forum was to find a way for all recreational users to have reasonable access to an enjoyable experience in the Sea to Sky backcountry. After almost two years of consultations, discussions and negotiations, the Winter Forum developed a Winter Sharing Accord, which designates areas in the Sea to Sky backcountry for different recreational uses. The Winter Sharing Accord was signed off by all Forum participants. Every user group made compromises and trade-offs in order to achieve the Winter Sharing Accord. The Winter Sharing Accord is therefore a total package, balancing the recreational interests of each user group and thereby minimizing conflicts between the different user groups.

Early winter 2007/2008 in Retrospect

Unfortunately, the government waited around a long time before they managed to implement this agreement. During this time memories certainly faded about what precisely was agreed upon (well, nobody felt their memory had faded, but people certainly remembered slightly different things). When the government finally threw up some signs for the winter of 2007/2008 it didn't go so well. A few areas in particular caused alot of heartache.

  • The area around Phelix Creek was signed as non-motorized. This caused a great deal of consternation amongst the snowmobile community, although we would later discover this was more about the East side of Phelix Creek than the area directly around our Brian Waddington Hut. Although both sides of Phelix Creek have a long history of use for backcountry skiing, the West side has become more popular for skiiers in recent times (perhaps due to the hut, and the steeper, forested, access which keeps all but the most determined sledders out) whereas the East side is more open and fairly suited to snowmobile. Although we don't know much about historic use of snowmobiles in the area it certainly became popular recently - the Pemberton Valley Snowmobile Club had even flagged a commonly used route into the Alpine.
  • In the intermediate time a commercial heli-sledding tenure was granted on Sproat. The backcountry skiing community was shocked that the closest backcountry daytrip to Whistler would get not only a snowmobile tenure - but a helicopter accessed one. We're still trying to figure out why it is necessary to helicopter snowmboiles somewhere you can reach on skis in 1.5 hours.
  • Finally, and perhaps the most sore point of all, the government enacted a section 58 and banned snowmobiles from the Callahan Valley, hoping to turn it into a world-class XC skiing area in preparation for the 2010 Olympics. Although the forum was told to stay away from 2010 planning, the Callahan Valley was truly the snowmobile community's playground and also offered the best access to the Pemberton Icecap (a very popular sledding destination). Unfortunately, cars getting locked behind gates is proving to make this huge area difficult to access for backcountry skiiers, and the XC operators still aren't quite sure what to do with people who want to access the area just outside their trackset.

Thousands of letters were sent to government.

Late winter 2008

After a bit of a rough start, we were able to get a few meetings going between some of the leaders in the snowmobile community and leaders in the mountaineering and skiing community. I was surprised at how much we could agree on, and how much we all felt let down that the government took so long before attempting to implement the results ofthe winter backcountry forum. Most of the problem, it seemed, was that the government waited too long and the situation had changed withfading memories. Most of the problem in Phelix Creek, as it appears to me (written by Christian Veenstra), is that there was never really a solid agreement on what was supposed to happen. People remembered what they wanted to remember. There is no agreement on this, by the way.

The government assigned a mediator to deal with the situation and come up with some recommendations for the minister (Pat Bell at the time). To me, the mediator seemed like an ideal candidate for the job, and did a good job listening to reasonable suggestions from both sides without getting sidetracked by the crazy ones. Of course, there were some pretty far out ideas on both sides.

Late Summer 2008

The mediators recommendations have been set down in writing but not yet released (but I anticipate they will be fair). They should go up here (likely under the "what's new" or "reports" tab) in the next few weeks.

As far as Phelix Creek goes, I feel it is likely the zoning recommendation will be shared as far as the branch between Phelix Main and Phelix East, and other than that the West side of the drainage (the area around the hut) will be non-motorized. This only extends to the height-of-land between Aragorn and Shadowfax - that's the basically the border of the Sea-to-Sky area.

The most important thing is that we get zoning in place - and this should be done before next winter. I really hope this happens, before we forget what we agreed upon again.

When they are released, we will need another wave of letters to make sure something is done with them before the snow starts falling.

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