The Federation of Mountain Clubs
of British Columbia
April 2023 NEWSLETTER | 2023 Member Club Grants Our next round of Member Club Grants is open! The 2023 application window is from April 1st to April 30th. Our annual Member Club Grants support club-initiated projects around the province including trail upgrades, backcountry huts, equipment, community events and so much more. Want to donate to the Member Club Grant fund and have a direct, positive impact on the quality of outdoor recreation in BC? You can make a donation and a tax receipt will be automatically issued. Thank you for your support! | Trans Canada Trail has won the bid to host the 2024 World Trails Conference for the first time ever in Canada. The World Trails Conference will take place in Ottawa and is a global gathering of leaders in the trail industry. | Vancouver Avian Research Centre – North Vancouver Register for any 3 of VARC's Bird Walks then send an email to candace@birdvancouver.com to be registered for your 4th Bird Walk for FREE! | ORCBC Webinar: Fostering collaborative efforts and greater impact through alliance-building Apr 25, 2023 01:00 PM Pacific
Cost: Free With trails and outdoor adventure more popular than ever, recreation groups are recognizing the benefits of collaborating with similar-interest local groups to influence decision-making, engage in joint planning, and tackle the maintenance of recreation infrastructure. | The world needs science, and science needs women and girls. There is a community of women in many fields of science who are here for girls and young women. Enjoy this inspiring video from the National Park Service's Dare to Imagine Series and share it with the inspiring young female scientists you know! | Learn more about Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) and Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) from the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative What makes an IPCA? - They are Indigenous-led.
- They represent a long-term commitment to conservation.
- They elevate Indigenous rights and responsibilities.
These protected/conserved areas are an assertion of Indigenous rights while protecting the lands and waters for all species including humans — a gift to the world. | In celebration of BC Trails Day on Saturday, June 3rd, the FMCBC Board of Directors and staff are planning to lace up and get out on the trails! BC Trails Day brings together trail enthusiasts to participate in hikes, educational exhibits, trail dedications, gear demonstrations, instructional workshops and trail work projects. Check out the ORCBC BC Trails Day Host Guide for information on: ● BC Trails Day
● Resources
● Step-by-step guide to planning an event
● Event ideas Let the FMCBC know what you are planning - send us your photos and plans for #BCTrails Day.
Together, we are stronger! | Columbia Mountains Institute Conference: Responsible Recreation: Pathways, Practices and Possibilities - Start Date: May 09, 2023
- End Date: May 10, 2023
- Location: In-person, Revelstoke, BC and online
This two-day conference is timely as an increasing number of people are pursuing outdoor activities, and there is growing recognition of the limited information, tools, and resources for managing and monitoring the impacts of these pressures on wildlife and habitat. | Calling for Hut Renovation Support On March 18, 2023, the UBC Varsity Outdoor Club received word that part of the roof at its Brian Waddington Hut failed. Subsequent images showed that a portion of the roof sheared off under a releasing snow load. A team of dedicated volunteers rushed to the hut, north of Pemberton, on the following weekend to evaluate the damage and make emergency repairs. While the crew was able to reattach the roof, their prognosis was not good. The Waddington Hut will require extensive roof maintenance this summer if it is to survive next winter. See the repair crew’s detailed trip report here. Constructed in 1998, the Waddington Hut is a well-known ski touring and mountaineering destination in the Sea to Sky region. To ensure it remains so, the VOC executive are currently planning a significant summer renovation effort. This will require much skill, grit, and crucially, funding. Parties interested in donating are encouraged to contact the VOC. | Recycle your old socks! When: April 6 – 30 at all MEC stores Only 12% of clothing materials end up getting recycled. It’s time to change that. The Smartwool Second Cut Project™ is back in Canada to recycle your old socks into new gear. Last year, this project was incredibly sock-ccessful, with over 650,000 socks collected for recycling in North America. Drop off unwanted socks at your local MEC store; look for the Smartwool Second Cut Project bins. All socks are welcome, as long as they’re clean: all brands, all colours, all materials, all conditions (single socks are good too). Smartwool will give these socks new life as a new Second Cut™ Project Hike Sock – nice! To date, the Second Cut Project has kept over 24,900kg (55,000 lb.) of material out of landfills. | BC Parks is currently working on a Recreation Facility Plan for Mount Seymour Park to identify what facilities and services are needed. The Recreation Facility Plan does not replace the park management planning process. Instead, the Recreation Facility Plan will inform the Mount Seymour Park Management Plan, which is being worked on in collaboration with Squamish Nation and Tsleil-Waututh Nation. However, progress on the management plan has been slowed due to staffing changes and vacancies within BC Parks. BC Parks is reviewing the timelines for completion of the park management plan. BC Parks is undertaking the Recreation Facility Plan before completion of the management plan because of high levels of visitation at Mount Seymour Provincial Park, the need for facility improvements to effectively manage use, and the “time-bound availability of additional funding for recreational improvements”. The latter refers to BC Parks’ current mandate for recreation expansion arising from the "historic" $84M funding boost (capital and operation) announced in April 2021. The $84M funding boost is spread over three years: 2021/22, 2022/23, and 2023/24. BC Parks is inviting the public to complete an online survey and to contribute to an interactive mapping tool. The survey asks visitors about their level of satisfaction with current facilities and opportunities, a number of services, and current management in Mount Seymour Provincial Park. This is your opportunity to provide feedback about current park facilities, infrastructure, and services. Consider some of the following points in your feedback: - · Improve parking for park visitors
- · Trail network considerations:
- Expand trailhead access points to help disperse visitors
- Upgrade current trails, which are in poor condition after decades of neglect and poor design
- Develop one-way directional loop trails to increase trail capacity, disperse visitors and reduce trail wear and tear
- Link trails to provide a wider range of hiking levels, trip durations and disperse visitors
- Facilitate access for people without cars: Mt Seymour is accessible via transit (i.e., Parkgate Mall). Current access trails at or near the park entrance however are in poor condition and lack directional signage. The main park road, already well-used by mountain bikes, road bikes and e-bikes, needs upgrades to make it more bike-friendly.
- Inadequate washroom facilities
- Improve accessibility of trails, washrooms and picnic areas to be more inclusive
- Provide free winter backcountry access pass with liability waiver (similar to the backcountry access pass at Cypress) to allow backcountry skiers and boarders to descend via the ski slope rather than the heavily used Seymour Main Trail
- Current winter park pass system discourages club and group trips
- Open the park gate earlier to allow earlier starts for longer trips and pre-work outings
The survey closes on Monday, April 24, 2023. The FMCBC will continue to work with BC Parks to improve access and non-motorized recreation opportunities within Mount Seymour provincial park and will engage in the park management planning process when it resumes. If your club or members have a particular interest in Mount Seymour Provincial Park or have particular issues or concerns about this park, please contact Monika Bittel | B.C. coal mines' economic impact was overstated to gain environmental review approval, study says - CBC News (March 9, 2023) Province improves inclusion, accessibility in B.C. parks - BC Government News Release (March 22, 2023) America’s Outdoor Recreation Act Reintroduced In U.S. Congress- SGB Media (March 16, 2023) So, you’d like to kayak the Inside Passage. This Yellowknifer did it. - Cabin Radio (March 18, 2023) Overpass and fencing planned to save Radium bighorns - Columbia Valley Pioneer (February 2, 2023) British Columbians encouraged to prepare for climate-related hazards - BC Government News Release (April 13, 2023) The Sea to Sky's tourism industry is becoming an even bigger supporter of outdoor recreation in the corridor - Pique Newsmagazine (April 13, 2023) Popular YouTube adventurer tackles B.C.'s Chilliwack River in raft made from deadfall wood - CBC News (April 10, 2023) Ecological protection, trail upgrades start in Gowlland Tod Provincial Park - Victoria News (March 30, 2023) Three day outdoor skills course for women being offered this spring - MyPGNow (March 26) B.C. government looking into whether to ban bear-spray across province - Victoria News (March 16, 2023) Whistler snowboard instructor turns 72-day kayak journey from Sunshine Coast to Alaska into web series - Pique Mazazine (March 28, 2023) Greater Vernon is now officially the trails capital of B.C. - Lake Country Calendar (April 5, 2023) Bird Trail takes flight with more trails coming - Times Chronicle (March 27, 2023) South Cariboo First Nation integrates heritage, recreation in trails master plan - The Williams Lake Tribune (April 6, 2023) | .png)
Step up to support outdoor recreation in BC! We are seeking volunteers with expertise in insurance for our Risk Management Committee and general members for our Trails Committee. Contact fmcbc@mountainclubs.org or fill out our online form to tell us about yourself. We look forward to hearing from you! | 
E-news cover image - View from Mount Tzouhalem, Vancouver Island "I love this hike as that is where it all started for me 30 years ago." - Mary Hof, Island Mountain Ramblers | 
Fall/Winter 2022 Cloudburst Magazine In this issue: • Biking Vancouver Island and the Kinsol Trestle • • The historically notable Swiss Edelweiss Village • • A tribute to Jay MacArthur – Outdoors advocate • Want to share your adventure? Shed some light on a backcountry issue? Educate others? Show off your favourite photos? Tell others about that great book you read? We want to hear all about it! | The FMCBC is a proud member of: | Copyright © 2022 Federation of Mountain Clubs of BC, All rights reserved.
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