More guided backcountry trips may soon be available in Squamish.
Mountain Skills Academy and Adventures has put in an application for the use of 2,691 hectares of provincial Crown land around the Sea to Sky Gondola.
The application is under review with the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and open for public comment until May 19.
“We aim to provide non-motorized, eco-friendly activities such as hiking, rock climbing, mountaineering, snowshoeing and backcountry skiing trips with minimal impact on the surrounding environment,” reads the application tenure management plan signed by Squamish’s Eric Dumerac and submitted with the application to the ministry.
Dumerac is a certified mountain guide, according to the Mountain Skills Academy and Adventure website.
During the summer months, guides would lead hiking, mountaineering and rock climbing, according to the plan.
The proponents have an agreement with the Sea to Sky tenure holders – Sea to Sky Gondola – the report states.
The academy’s tenure would encompass the area bordering the boundaries to Shannon Falls Provincial Park, Stawamus Chief Provincial Park, the Sea to Sky Gondola tenure, and Sky Pilot and Habrich mountains, according to the report.
No new infrastructure will need to be built, the plan states.
Access to the area will be either through the already established Sea to Sky Gondola hiking trails at Shannon Falls Provincial Park or existing hiking trails in Stawamus Chief Provincial Park.
The plan estimates 210 client days in winter: 80 backcountry skiing, 100 snowshoeing and 30 ice climbing.
In the summer, the estimate is for 150 days of hiking, 20 of rock climbing and 20 of mountaineering.
“We do not anticipate adding any significant volume to the current users of the area and do not foresee conflicts with public users of recreation sites, trails or interpretive sites,” the plan states.
Mountain Skills Academy and Adventures, previously known as Whistler Alpine Guides, has operated in the Sea to Sky Corridor since 1991, according to a spokesperson with the company.
The spokesperson said no one was currently available to officially comment for this story.
To comment, quote file #2411691 and send to Senior Land Officer, 200-10428 153 St., Surrey B.C. V3R1E1.
