Save the Duffey

J Dogg — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 23:06:01 -0500

Rating

Check it... looks like CRH is applying for a Heliski tenure to that encompasses many rad backcountry skiing areas accessed off the Duffey Lake Road. I'm guessing it's more for the deeper terrain further from the road, but wouldn't hurt to cut the ski touring areas out of the tenure, as per John Baldwin's suggestion in his letter below. I think he sums it up pretty well so here it is...

Here's a link to the MAP, and you can send comments and concerns to:

Andy Oetter
Adventure Tourism Manager
510-175 2nd ave
Kamloops, BC
V2C 5W1
250 371-3932
andy.oetter@gov.bc.ca

Here's John's Letter...

Re: case file 3411014
Application by Coast Range Heliskiing for tenure in the vicinity of Anderson Lk

I am writing with some concerns about the application for heli ski tenure in the vicinity of Anderson Lk.
There are some small portions of their tenure application that are heavily used by backcountry skiers and should be removed from their application.

I understand heli skiing is an important business and that the government is trying to promote its development. I also see that Coast Range Heli Skiing has a large existing tenure and that most of the tenure being applied for is removed from heavily visited areas that will cause user conflicts.

My concern is with areas that are easily accessible from the Duffey Lk road.

Backcounrty Skiing is growing sport involving at least 10,000 people in teh lower mainland alone. I am currently updating a guidebook to ski mountaineering in the Coast Mountains - Exploring the Coast Mountains on Skis. There are very few areas accessible to backcountry skiers in winter. The three most accessible areas for backcountry skiing in SW BC are the Duffey Lk area, Garibaldi Park behind Whistler and an area near Coquihalla Summit. Of these the Duffey Lk area is by far the most popular. This is an area that rivals the world renowned backcountry skiing at Roger's Pass. In particular the drainage of Steep Cr which covers Duffey South is one of the busiest areas for backcountry skiing from the Duffey Lk road. It offers some of the easiest access for backcountry skiers to top quality skiing and is well established as known destination. My guess is that there are skiers in there almost every day of the winter with large numbers of people on the weekends and when conditions are good. Allowing heli skiing in this area is not a good idea. It would lead to extensive user conflicts. I feel strongly that the entire Duffey South area should be removed from the application (it is a small portion of the area being applied for). CRH has tenure that is farther back from the road and will not lead to user conflicts and I feel they look to utilize those areas more rather than impinging on existing backcountry ski terrain.

My concerns with the Duffey North area are smaller. Most areas are farther back from the road and not used as heavily so that user conflicts are likely to be less frequent. Any potential conflicts can likely be managed through cooperation between CRH and backcouuntry skiers. An exception is the small portion of the area around the Hurley Silver Mine. This is readily accessible from the Duffey Lk road and is popular with backcountry skiers. The second portion of this area that should be removed is the headwaters of Spruce Cr and the W fork of Haylmore cr as these are very close to the ACC cabin in Marriott Basin and any skiing there would have a strong negative impact on Marriott Basin.

My third concern is regarding their proposed staging area 2 on the Duffey Lk area. This is absolutely the worst place for a staging area for heli skiing. It is right at the busiest part of the Duffey Lk road where backcountry skiers are the most active. It is close to the parking areas for both Marriot and Cerise Cr cabins. Along with nearby Cayoosh, Chief Pascall and Caspar Cr these areas are used constantly throughout the winter.A helicopter staging area here would severely impact the solitude of the most popular backcountry skiing area in SW BC. My suggestion is a staging area on the N side of the area on the Birkenhead road.

I notice that under application # 3410470 CRH is investigating the Gott Downton and Whitecap areas. These areas present much less likelihood for conflicts and should be considered as alternatives to the Duffey South and southern portion of the Duffey North areas.

SUMMARY
I feel all areas on slopes that face the Duffey Lk road should be removed from the tenure application.

DUFFEY SOUTH - remove entirely as it will lead to extensive user conflicts

DUFFEY NORTH - remove small portions adjacent to Marriott Basin and Hurley Silver Mine road.

STAGING AREA #2 - should be removed entirely

Sincerely
John Baldwin
3612 Pt Grey Rd
Vancouver BC
604-733-0042

Day 1 Of Season In Whistler

J Dogg — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 23:03:53 -0400

Rating

Yep, it's game on. After failing miserably to ski two weeks ago, and narrowly missing a heli trip up to the glacier, I needed vengeance big time. And so began the desperate weather watching, hoping that one day soon, the Whistler area would be shreddable once again. We all saw what was lining up for Saturday... not to be missed.

Jordan, Pat & I joined up for a Saturday backcountry shred day. After spending an hour debating over where to head, we blew right past Brandywine (aka the place we all know there was the most snow) and headed North to the Duffey, with day dreams of clear skis and peak bagging drifint through our heads.

All photos by Jordan Manley.

Fresh snow down to the village in Whistler was a good start, and so begins another epic season in the Pacific Northwest.

Keen to explore somewhere Jordan and I handn't been, Pat ripped us up Blowdown pass in his truck and out we went to check out the snow... all uh, 10cm's of it on top of dirt. Hmmmmm, had we blown it? Were people getting mad faceshots in Brandywine while us no-snowmobile suckers were left with scraps? We weren't giving up yet.

So we skinned as far as we could, romped through a boulder field, climbed some bushes and trees, shimmied up a shallow chute then booted up to the top of Gotcha Peak.

It didn't dissapoint... the weather stayed clear, the snow was juicy up top, good times were had by all, and nobody's body or boards were maimed in the process. Well, not completely maimed.

But on the road out, the snow had largely melted, and Jordan kept his skis on the whole way out. Afterall, the last time they were used was for Gaper Day in June, so coming full circle back to his rock skiing roots seemed fitting.

Anyway, point made, it's mid October, and the shredding was sweet. Next stop... pre-season Baker when the storms hit.

Pat has some good jealousy-inducing photos of his own in
PAT'S BLOG>>

And here's some from Jordan...

Doglotion.com - Freeskiing Community - duffey lake road

Save the Duffey

Day 1 Of Season In Whistler