As part of the Master Development Agreement (MDA) between the Province and Whistler-Blackcomb, Blackcomb is required to provide public access through their controlled recreation area (CRA) for the public to access the Spearhead Range in Garibaldi Provincial Park. Whistler-Blackcomb (now a subsidiary of Vail Resorts) has been avoiding this requirement for many years. The BC Mountaineering Club (BCMC) found the wording in the MDA and has been pushing the Mountain Resort Branch (part of the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations) and Whistler-Blackcomb to meet this requirement.
An update meeting was held in late June to discuss progress. Whistler-Blackcomb showed a presentation that outlines two possible routes for winter and spring access:
- Southside Low Route – this route would follow the proposed alternate Singing Pass access route towards the IPP starting near Lot 8 and heading up the IPP penstock right-of-way beside the sliding centre. It then continues along the IPP access road to just south of the Peak-to-Peak Gondola cut where a steep switchback section would head from an elevation of about 1000m towards the bottom of Seventh Heaven Lift at 1650m.
- Benchlands to Benchlands route – This route would head north of the ski area possibly starting near Lot 6. The route would traverse second growth forest to the Garibaldi Park boundary and then follow Blackcomb Creek to just before the Poop Chutes where the route would head northeast towards a bench below Phalanx Mountain.
FMCBC Looking for Input
I attended the meeting representing the FMCBC and the ACC Vancouver Section. My initial feedback is that the proposed “Southside Low Route” does not have a sustained climb since it is steep at the beginning, flat for two km and then steep for about 1500 m of elevation gain. I would prefer a route that has a sustained grade of about 10% without so many switchbacks.
I suggest that we and the Blackcomb Patrol explore a route just south of Lower Gear Jammer outside of the ski area boundary on the Whistler Trail Map. Higher up, the route would have to cross Sunset Boulevard and traverse up across some seldom used glade runs such as: Raptors Ride, Where’s Joe, Watch Out and Yard Sale to reach the bottom of Seventh Heaven. I think this would meet Blackcomb Patrol’s desire to have the route not impact their heavy use runs and create obstacles for downhill skiers and boarders.
The proposed northern “Benchlands to Benchlands” route has been used in the past. I skied up a similar route about 35 years ago with a heavy pack. This route will be a pleasant trip, but it is not a direct way to the Spearhead Range. I have created a more detailed route description that I’m looking for feedback on.
Another related item is the cost of a single ride Backcountry Access ticket. The BCMC didn’t seem too interested in this since it was outside of their interests. However, I think VOC members and many of our members find that the current price ($80?) for a Backcountry Access ticket is out of reach for their budget. I asked WB if there was any way to reduce that for students or our members.
Please leave your comments below on this website or at our Facebook group page.
Jay MacArthur
ACC Vancouver Section Rep
The 2 options are unclear about who are the intended users of the proposed access routes. And what is the ultimate goal – is it to gain non-lift related access into the Singing Pass and dealing with the parking issues closer to Whistler village? Also what skill level would be needed to use these routes.
Option 1 would restrict access to Singing pass to those skiers who can handle the initial steep section both on the ski into Singing Pass; at the end of the day this route would also be challenging to ski out. I feel this option would cater to a very selective group of skiers. Certainly not me.
Why not put a bridge across Fitzsimmmons creek and then put in a trail at 10% or less grade that would hookup with the current access trail into Singing Pass? This would eliminate the need for steep sections requiring a high degree of technical ability to ski.
Perhaps the overall intent of either option is to make access into Singing Pass sufficiently difficult that few people would use these routes, yet still fulfill the requirements of granting free back country access as required by BC Parks.
The intent is to provide access to the Spearhead Range for winter or spring backcountry users who don’t want to pay for a backcountry access pass and use the lifts. This wouldn’t change access to Singing Pass it is for the Spearhead Range. Some years Blackcomb closes at the end of April and there is still good touring in May.
I agree the first route suggested by Whistler “Southside Low Route” is too steep.
For summer access we are planning to add a bridge close to the IPP as an alternate access to Singing Pass.
Thanks Jay. Can you get hold of the proposed routes as a KML/gpx file. I would like to see how it fits on a slope map of the area.
There is an option in CalTopo to see the slope angle as different colours. I’ll send you a couple of screen prints.
Some feedback from the BCMC board today. They note your proposed route will cross a number of ski runs. At each, the uphill skiers will be crossing at right angles to the direction of high speed skiers on the runs. There will be a risk of collision. The Sunset Boulevard route separates uphill and downhill traffic. There are good sight lines and downhill skiers only need to keep right to avoid uphill skiers.
Another point was that it will be years before it’s developed. So, SB seems to be the best option on all counts.
I think WB and MRB are moving way too slow. It will be years before either of their proposed options is implemented. We should be looking at implementation this winter. It’s long overdue. I would like to see the Sunset Boulevard route implemented this winter and re-evaluated.
I think the Benchlands route should be built. But it is too long for Spearhead access for day use and for hut access. It is necessary though to accommodate foot traffic.
I think their Southside low route is a waste of time and money.
The Ipp route during the working season may be plowed at least to the sliding centre and Ipp access via snowmobile may chop up the surface of that route fairly severvely?
For after closing the option2 for access across midway up Sunset Raptors ride/ Where’s Joe / Yard sale sounds possible and out of the way of maintenance work. It might be subject to a bit more cross traffic than expected in downhill season though. The traverse grade should on the most part be manageable, Up or down
Is there any discussion of a semi smooth snowcat trail such as for Skoki through lake Louise ski area where run crossings are pretty tame, the grade is consistent and the route is used as a utility supply route by the mountain ops?
Some comments for John and Paul: Thanks for the feedback. I think that the Sunset Boulevard route should be okay in the morning when very few downhill skiers ride it. I think the glades above Sunset have very few skiers except for powder days. Those skiers would be heading down Sunset Boulevard after doing the glades. The Blackcomb Patrol was not keen on trying to share or mark-off a portion of existing runs for uphill traffic.
The Southside low route looks terrible. Keeping right works for nordic skiers on trails much narrower than Sunset Boulevard. Sunset Boulevard has an average grade of 12%. That’s only a little bit steeper than the first 1.5km of the Mainline XC trail going to Callaghan Lake (10%).
My guess would be that having uphill skiers on Sunset Boulevard would be safer overall than having DH skiers chase tracks down the southside low route and finding themselves lost.