FMCBC December 2019 e-news

The Federation of Mountain Clubs
of British Columbia

December 2019 NEWSLETTER

FMCBC News

The Fall/Winter 2019 issue of Cloudburst is out!

In case you missed it, the Fall/Winter 2019 issue of Cloudburst was released earlier this month. As always, it's packed with articles, trail news, trip reports, book reviews and must-read information related to non-motorized backcountry recreation in BC.

Thanks to our loyal contributors and to those who shared their stories for the first time.

And don't forget that submissions for our Spring/Summer 2020 issue are due April 1st. We welcome your articles, stories, photos (including warm-weather cover photo submissions), reviews, trip reports, backcountry musings, and anything else you'd like to share. Please send your submissions to cloudburst@mountainclubs.org.

Happy reading!

Increased funding to BC Parks

For years, the FMCBC, along with countless other outdoor recreation and conservation organizations from across BC, have been urging the provincial government to increase funding to BC Parks.

We've put together a presentation with all the facts and details on why BC Parks needs to double its current budget. We took a look at BC Parks' operating budget, visitor stats, under-staffing issues, inadequate facilities and more, with specific examples from around the province. Our parks have been in dire need of funding for over a decade, and it shows.

View our presentation to see for yourself why we're pushing for positive changes in the 2020-21 provincial budget.

Joffre Lakes Park update and feedback opportunity

Back in June, BC Parks released the Joffre Lakes Provincial Park 2019 Visitor Use Management Action Plan that helped guide the management of Joffre Lakes Park in the short-term by addressing pressing safety and visitor management concerns.

BC Parks has now completed internal evaluations of the Action Plan (see their Fall 2019 Park Update) and is engaging with stakeholders. They'll take the new feedback into consideration for the Long Term Visitor Use Management Strategy that they are on track to release in Spring 2020.

You can provide your feedback in this survey.

The survey will be open until January 17, 2020. There will be other opportunities for stakeholder input into the Long Term Visitor Use Management Strategy over the coming months.

Update on the Skagit "Donut Hole"

Some great news to share: The BC Government has announced that commercial logging will no longer be allowed in the 'Donut Hole," a 5,800 hectare unprotected parcel of land sandwiched between Skagit Valley and E. C. Manning Provincial Parks.

However, the Donut Hole isn't in the clear. There is still no word on Imperial Metals' mineral tenure and application for an exploratory mining permit in the area.

Further reading:

Mountain Matters

Outdoor Recreation Council of BC granted intervener status

The Oudoor Recreation Council of BC (ORC) was granted intervener status in the appeal case involving the Douglas Lake Cattle Company vs. the Nicola Lake Fish & Game Club. The appeal is scheduled for March 30-31, 2020, and ORC is now beginning to work with its lawyer to build the argument for the public’s right to access Crown lands and waters over private land.

Read all about it on ORC's blog.

Public Comment Period: Bridal Falls

Bridal Falls Gondola Corp. has applied to add an additional parcel of Crown land to their existing Investigative Use Licence. The licence is a temporary 2 year Licence of Occupation for the purpose of accessing and conducting studies on Crown Land to assess the feasibility of the construction of a multi-passenger Gondola project above Bridal Falls.

This application is open for public comment until Jan. 28, 2020.

In the News

B.C. parks’ online camping reservation system revamped - Vancouver Sun, Dec. 5, 2019

Awards created in memory of young B.C. advocate killed in Ethiopian Airlines crash - CBC News, Dec. 11, 2019

Douglas Todd: British Columbians fight U.S. billionaire for the ‘right to roam’ in the wild - Vancouver Sun, Dec. 18, 2019

Touted as world's largest avalanche-detection system, $3M Rogers Pass network faces first big snow test - CBC News, Dec. 1, 2019

Other News & Announcements

Avalanche Canada has created a presentation on the tragic incident on Mt. Harvey, where 5 snowshoers were killed in April 2017. There is much to learn from this incident, particularly for the growing user group of backcountry snowshoers. If your club is interested in presenting this excellent resource, please get in touch with Stacey at stacey.santos@mountainclubs.org. (Please note: This presentation is best delivered by someone with an avalanche education/safety background.)

Many of Destination BC's tourism partners have contributed to the development of 10-year destination development strategies. The strategies that have been developed for the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains (VCM) region include the Sunshine Coast, Gold Rush Trail, Sea to Sky Corridor, Fraser Valley, Metro Vancouver, and the Highway 3 Corridor. A few of these planning areas have Action and Implementation plans that are moving ahead, with more coming in the next year. You can view the VCM plans here.

Avalanche Canada (AvCan) is now providing a regular avalanche forecast for backcountry users in the North Rockies! AvCan's three-person field team, which is modeled after their successful South Rockies field team, will collect snowpack information for forecasters in Revelstoke. Forecasts will be published every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday this winter.

The Fraser Valley Regional District is currently developing an Outdoor Recreation Management Plan for the region. As part of this process, they'd like to know more about how and where you recreate, and if you have any suggestions or concerns regarding specific outdoor recreation places in this region. Details here.

Feature Photo Credit

Thanks to the Hickory Wing Ski Touring Club for this month's feature photo of a day out on the Hickory Wing trails!

Click here to view our Fall/Winter 2019 issue of Cloudburst.

Use our online form to report motorized recreation observed within BC Park boundaries.

Visit Canada Helps to make a donation to the FMCBC. All donations go towards our Member Club Grant Program.

The FMCBC is always looking for volunteers. Click here to find out how you can get involved.

The FMCBC is a proud member of:

The FMCBC would like to thank Taiga Works for supporting the FMCBC through their generous contribution of office space.

Get in touch with us

mountainclubs.org
fmcbc@mountainclubs.org