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Protect pure backcountry

Editor, I am a new resident of Squamish who took up skiing this past year. I discovered that the backcountry access in Squamish was better than I could have imagined.

Editor,

I am a new resident of Squamish who took up skiing this past year. I discovered that the backcountry access in Squamish was better than I could have imagined. To me, skiing is about being in the mountains with good friends and climbing to the top of a ski run under our own power.

I spent 30 days skiing this past season and paid for a chair lift once, that was $45 into the North Shore mountains economy. I will not spend money to ride chair lifts, and neither does the group of about six local skiers I skied with.

Brohm ridge as a chair lift ski hill does not make sense. It's already a very accessible ski area. We do not need the ski lifts to enjoy the hills.

I believe eco-tourism is the future of Squamish.

From Kevin Mclane's climbing strategy sites (http://squamishaccess.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/rock-climbing-strategy.pdf)

"A March 2004 report by the District of Squamish's economic development officer on the socioeconomic impact of rock climbing said: 'The estimated overall value of climbing to the Squamish area alone is over $20 million annually in direct impacts.' Growth would put it at $25 million today, and with indirect impacts of 150 per cent included, it could rise to the range of $75 million annually of direct and indirect benefits a decade from now. That is a significant piece of the Sea to Sky economy."

I believe backcountry skiing can someday bring the same kind of revenue for Squamish business. I do not agree with Garibaldi at Squamish's proposal to build a resort.

Aaron Loveless

Squamish

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