EDITOR,
I wish to add my voice to Karl Ricker's and Paul Tutch's opposition to ski lifts in the Blackcomb Glacier region. Ambiance is what makes it special. Remove that ambiance with mechanization and all you have is just another run-of-the-mill, instantly tracked-out and noisy ski hill.
Besides that, I feel an important point is being overlooked. The Blackcomb Glacier Valley is a provincial park and Whistler Blackcomb operates there under a park-use permit. The original intent was one of public safety, considering the need for avalanche and terrain control of a region so immediately accessible from the existing lifts. It exists as a necessary buffer between the ski lifts and the backcountry. The notion of mechanized lifts in the park has nothing to do with public safety and serves only a misguided idea of maximizing terrain use to increase skier visits. What does B.C. Parks have to say about this? How do ski lifts fit with their mandate to the citizens of B.C.?
While they're at it, perhaps B.C. Parks could explain why Whistler Heli-Skiing continues to hold an operating tenure across a vast portion of the Spearhead Range. Times have changed and clearly they do not need this park land to survive financially. On the other hand, terrain available to backcountry skiers has become increasingly marginalized or completely lost due to the proliferation of sled and helicopter access, both commercial and recreational. With few exceptions, the only day ski touring that currently exists is Garibaldi Park next to the ski areas and the Duffey Lake Road. There is an obvious increase in demand for backcountry skiing in the Spearhead Range, as is evidenced by the B.C. Parks proposal for a series of backcountry huts. Considering these facts, how is a heli-ski operation justified in Garibaldi Provincial Park?
Whistler Heli-Skiing's operating park permit is being reviewed as we speak. I would urge anyone concerned about this issue to immediately contact B.C. Parks' Chris Platz at [email protected] and voice their opinion.
Bruce Kay
Squamish
