I am writing to express my deep concerns regarding the proposed timber cutting block (SW144) below the northeast side of the Chief and the south face of Slhanay (“Logging project threatens tourism, says resident,” Squamish Chief, July 17).
First off, please be aware of how hard this town (Squamish) has worked to establish itself as an outdoor recreation destination. And now it finally seems to be paying off. CNN recently declared Squamish as North America’s No. 1 destination mountain town to visit this summer. Nice. But now we have the threat of B.C. Timber Sales running amok in prime recreational land right next to our Class A park, plowing through established trails, and creating eyesores for scenic overlooks. It seems like a return to the bad old days when the people of Tofino, now one of the most successful tourist destinations in Canada, had to stand their ground against unrestrained forest practices.
I find it disturbing that land management decisions at BCTS, a B.C. government organization, are often made by people who have never visited the field sites they have jurisdiction over. The BCTS website seems to give no indication that there is an awareness in this organization that Crown land has a potential for recreational use and that logging needs to coexist with other uses. Read the posted mandate.
Here are a few reasons why timber cutting in this area is a really bad idea for our community, recreational users, and the reputation of B.C. Timber Sales and the B.C. Forest ministry.
The Stawamus Chief backside trail is probably, next to the Grouse Grind, the most popular day hike in B.C. On a summer weekend it is overloaded to the point of congestion. Over the last number of years locals have put considerable work into building and improving trails on the alternative north side of the Chief and on the west and south sides of Slhanay. Tourists are now beginning to discover these trails and they are on recreational maps.
These trails will be devastated by the proposed logging. The main trail to the scenic summit of Slhanay (in the park) and the connecting trail from the Chief will be highly impacted, as will Tony’s memorial bench, a spectacular overlook, where more than one family that I know of has gone to perform a service for a deceased loved one. Ashes have been scattered near this special spot. Hey, this is our sacred ground you are messing with.
So far this proposed timber cut has mostly gone under the radar. But now I hear outrage building in this community. BCTS would be wise to take steps to avoid a public relations debacle here. BCTS administrators also should think seriously about revising the narrow mandate as posted on their website in order to include the practice of coexistence with other users and communities on our public lands.
