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How the Sea to Sky Gondola would change hiking at Stawamus Chief Provincial Park
Sea to Sky Gondola Corp. has proposed new hiking trails in and around Stawamus Chief Provincial Park in Squamish.
With the three peaks of the Stawamus Chief, and the trails to Slhaney and Upper Shannon Falls, there’s already five great reasons to go hiking in Stawamus Chief Provincial Park. As early as summer 2013, there could be a few more grounds for hikers to head up to Squamish.
Sea to Sky Gondola Corporation is proposing to build a gondola between the Chief and Shannon Falls. From a base terminal next to Highway 99, the gondola would rise 820 metres to the wooded ridge northwest of Mount Habrich. The company says the project would make access to the high country behind the Chief much easier for tourists, hikers, and other outdoor-recreation enthusiasts who buy a ticket, which would cost about $30. The plan is to operate the gondola year-round during daylight hours, but only on weekends during slow periods.
However, as the Georgia Straight reported this week, building the gondola would require installing seven towers in Stawamus Chief Provincial Park and permanently removing a one-kilometre-long, 20-metre-wide corridor from the park. The two-hectare right of way would be reclassified as a protected area, if the park-boundary adjustment is approved by the B.C. Liberal government and the legislative assembly. Sea to Sky’s lower and upper terminals would sit on land adjacent to the park.
Let’s look at the likely hiking opportunities and impacts presented by the gondola project, from bottom to top.
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Many hikers, whether using the gondola or not, will likely use its free parking lot. With space for 357 cars and seven buses, the gondola lot would be much bigger than the lots in Stawamus Chief and Shannon Falls provincial parks.Stephen Hui
The trail connecting the waterfall viewpoints at Shannon Falls with the Chief Peaks Trail would see increased traffic. A trail from the gondola base would link to this trail. The gondola would cross over this trail.Stephen Hui
A proposed “high intensity” trail would allow hikers to ascend to the top terminal and then ride the gondola back down (for a fee). The Chief Peaks Trail and the Upper Shannon Falls Trail would get busier, as they would feed into the gondola trail.Stephen Hui
Since Sea to Sky Corp. would no doubt be expected to contribute financially to the upgrading and maintenance of park trails it would be benefiting from, the upper Olesen Creek bridge would almost certainly get fixed or replaced.Stephen Hui
The gondola corridor would cross the Upper Shannon Falls Trail. It’s unclear whether the gondola would be visible from the scenic bluff at the end of this trail and the viewpoints along the way.Stephen Hui
Hikers on the Stawamus Chief won’t be able to see the upper terminal, but may be able to pick out the gondola line as it goes through a “small gap”, according to Sea to Sky principal David Greenfield.Stephen Hui
There might be fewer unprepared tourists going to the summits of the Stawamus Chief. If they have the money for tickets, many of them would ride the gondola or do the “Squamish Grind”.Stephen Hui
The gondola would make it easier for paying hikers to get on to Habrich Ridge. Currently, people can apparently 4x4 it up the Shannon Creek Forest Service Road to a blockade at 610 metres of elevation. The gondola would whisk riders up to 860 metres.Stephen Hui
Tourists would take in views of Howe Sound, the Stawamus Chief, and Mount Garibaldi on a one-kilometre-long, wheelchair-accessible trail at the upper terminal. David Greenfield says zip lines and tree walks could be added in the future.Stephen Hui
Sea to Sky is proposing to upgrade a logging road on in order to establish an alpine trail leading toward Mount Habrich and Sky Pilot Mountain. It’s not clear how far this trail would extend toward those mountaineering destinations.Stephen Hui
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