December 2, 2017

Jesse Morwood, the area manager for MoTI spoke with me about two weeks ago and subsequent to my letter to him on November 19, 2017 regarding "permit for sign, erection or obstruction on Cypress Bowl Road by Cypress Mountain Resort." Here is what I heard.

I explored with Jesse Morwood of MoTI the idea of opening Cypress Bowl Road earlier by one or two hours. A 24/7 opening would probably be impractical because MoTI would not agree to have the road open and not maintained. Of course, maintaining the road overnight would be cost prohibitive and largely of no benefit. Most people don't snowshoe or ski at night. Mr. Morwood suggested the best way to explore an earlier opening is by writing to the minister. I also discussed removing the blanket road closure so that the road is open when sensors and telemetry indicate there is no snow or ice hazard. This type of solution is in place on the Sea to Sky highway and is what controls the variable speed zones. Lasers sense road temperature etc. MoTI already has two telemetry weather stations in Cypress Bowl. They can be viewed in avalanche.ca. There is another one on Deeks Peak.

Cypress Mountain Resort mans the gatehouse at Chippendale to close Cypress Bowl Road in winter between 11 PM and 7 AM. The closure is authorized by MoTI although there is not a written permit, according to Jesse Morwood of MoTI. Cypress employees are permitted to drive the road when closed because, according to Mr. Morwood, it is as though they are in a work zone. The road closure does not apply to them. The implication is that in work zones different rules apply. Where are these rules for work zones written down? Cabin owners, be they private or leaseholders, are an identified grey area. According to Mr. Morwood they are not permitted to drive the road when closed. I pointed out the grey area in that a cabin owner returning home late or having a medical emergency will ignore the gatekeeper and the road closure. Or perhaps the gatekeeper has an "understanding". Mr. Morwood did not contradict this scenario but neither did he add credence to it. So, it remains unaddressed and a grey area. Finally, there is the general public such as North Shore dawn patrol and ski mountaineers. These people are not permitted to drive the closed road.

Cypress Bowl Road is classified as an "arterial highway". For purposes of highway snow removal under the Ministry of Transportation maintenance specification chapter 3-300, the road is categorized as Winter Highway Classification A, which is the highest classification or possibly B, the second highest, according to Jesse Morwood.

The gate house was moved to Chippendale Road at the request of West Vancouver municipality as Chippendale residents wanted access to their homes from Cypress Bowl Road. MoTI gave permission to move the gatehouse but it was not written into a permit. The gatehouse belongs to BC Parks and authorization to move it from the West Vancouver works yard was communicated to MoTI by Larry Syroishko, park ranger.

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