Sea to Sky Winter Public Recreation for 2009/10

This winter season will not be a typical one for public wishing to recreate in the Sea to Sky Corridor.

The Government of Canada, Province of British Columbia, City of Vancouver, Resort Municipality of Whistler, Four Host First nations, and the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committes has invited the world to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

During the 2010 Winter Games, there will be increased demand for transportation, but a reduction in travel capacity. To ensure that athletes can get to their events and people can move efficiently throughout the region, traffic needs to be reduced by at least 30 per cent during the Games, particularly in key regions that include the Sea to Sky Corridor and Whistler.

Unnecessary or discretionary trips are therefore discouraged, and for trips that must be made, public are encouraged to use alternate modes of transportation and to travel outside peak travel times.

For the month of February 2010 public parking in Whistler will be significantly reduced and Whistler’s population is expected to increase from 10,000 to 55,000.

To manage traffic volumes going through and into the Resort and the resultant need for parking, permits will be issued for travel north of Squamish during the peak hours of 6 am to 6 pm between February 11 - 28, 2010. A traffic check point will be in place at Alice Lake to verify vehicles going into or through Whistler have the required permit. In addition there will be localized vehicle permit checkpoints in operation in and around Whistler from February 11 – 28.

In addition to offering a safe, reliable and accessible transportation system during the 2010 Winter Games period, there will also be security requirements surrounding Sea to Sky venues. The intention of the Integrated Security Unit (ISU) is that the backcountry areas immediately surrounding the perimeters of Sea to Sky Olympic venues will be closed to to public access at Games times. For example, the Rainbow – Madely trail will be closed around Games time.

Many Forest Service Roads (FSRs) will be closed this winter and areas around the closed FSRs will also be limited around games time, particularly by limiting parking options. Look for more detailed information regarding backcountry access restrictions from the ISU soon.

At this time the following FSR closures have been posted on the Ministry of Forests, Squamish Forest District web site: (www.for.gov.bc.ca/dsq/Engineering/RoadInformation.htm)

In addition to the closure of various FSRs, the Brandywine parking lot will be closed to the public from February 1, 2010 to March 22, 2010. On-site preparations from January 1, 2010 to January 31, 2010 and remediation work from March 22 to 31, 2010, may require partial use of the parking lot or cause minor access delays. For information about the Brandywine parking lot and winter recreational trail visit: www.powdermountainsnowmobiling.org

From February 1, 2010 to March 22, 2010, the main access (established winter recreational trail) to the Pemberton Ice Cap, will be via the Rutherford FSR. Snowmobilers wishing to use the Rutherford to access the Pemberton Ice Cap, travelling between the hours of 6 am to 6 pm from February 11 through February 28, 2010, will be required to show a vehicle permit at the checkpoint.

The traffic management check point will be in operation for all northbound travellers, during peak hours, from February 11, 2010 to February 28, 2010. For information about the check point and where to obtain your vehicle permit, please visit: www.vancouver2010.com and www.travelsmart2010.ca

While unrelated to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, public are reminded there is no parking allowed within the Rubble Creek Landslide Hazard Area. Specifically, there will be no plowed parking provided for access to the Chance Creek and Roe Creek areas via the Chance Creek Forest Service Road (FSR), which will limit general recreation use. Snowmobilers are reminded it is illegal to operate a snowmobile on a plowed FSR.

The Black Tusk Snowmobile Club is inviting sledders to their groomed trails accessing Brohm Ridge. For information, please visit: www.btsc.ca

Avoiding the Sea to Sky corridor during the Games may be an option for some people and is encouraged to help reduce congestion. Therefore it is suggested that alternant destinations for backcountry winter sports be considered. For example, there is good snowmobiling to be found in the Coquihala and around Kamloops. Visit: www.snoriderswest.com/destinations and www.freewebs.com/coqsnow