Garibaldi Provincial Park Documents

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: Created: 15 February 2016

Garibaldi Park 1990 Master Plan

GaribaldiPark1990MasterPlan.pdf

Garibaldi Park 1990 Master Plan, BC Parks, 1990.

This should need no introduction. This is the plan that expired in 1995 and we want updated for 2020.

Selected Quotes

Page 2

The purpose of this master plan is to guide the expansion of backcountry recreational opportunities and the protection of the Lower Mainland's most important wilderness.

Page 19

Hiking/Backpacking Objectives: To encourage a range of hiking opportunities from short level interpretive trails through to high elevation routes. In an effort to maximize the wilderness atmosphere many of these routes will not be designated trails.

Page 22

Other Activities: Park policy throughout British Columbia's park system provides for a variety of socially constructive recreation activities. However, not all of these activities are necessarily in keeping with the wilderness role of Garibaldi Park. Given that and the fact that other opportunities are available in close proximity to the park, heli-hiking, snowmobiling, and hunting are not deemed acceptable activities for Garibaldi Park.

Page 25

The complexity and size of Garibaldi Park necessitates a phased program for implementing the number of resource and visitor management proposals over the five year term of the plan.

Appendix I, Page 22

Garibaldi Provincial Park provides a wide range of alpine backcountry recreational opportunities from day hiking to multi-day backpacking excursions. Access is achieved from five trailhead parking areas; Diamond Head, Black Tusk, Cheakamus Lake, Singing Pass and Wedgemount Lake.

Appendix IV, Page 3

Given the strong support for the wilderness role, it is understandable that there would also be strong support for a large nature conservancy area. The proposal to have most of the park as a nature conservancy and the concerns to have the flexibility in the future to add trails are not mutually exclusive. Although the boundaries of a nature conservancy area are intended to be permanent, they could be altered in the future to accommodate trails, for example, if it is determined that this would best meet the needs of British Columbians.

2020 Commentary

From page 2, the plan envisages expansion of backcountry recreation opportunities. Contrast that purpose statement with BC Parks actions to limit park access to five trailheads. They obstruct access but do it in such a manner that they are not identified. Instead, they use the proxy services of Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations to deactivate logging roads that have historically been used for recreation access. They enjoin compliance and enforcment officers to pursue and harass park users maintaining heritage trails along lawfully established recreation corridors.

From page 22, heli-hiking is an unacceptable activity. Why then, is heli-skiing acceptable?

From page 25, it is clear that the 1990 Master Plan has a five year term. That term expired in 1995. The park has been operating without a valid master plan for the last twenty years.

From Appendix I, page 22, the plan states there are five trailhead parking areas. Somehow, current park managers have taken the specious interpretation that the park cannot be accessed from anywhere except the five trailheads. That interpretation clearly violates the intent of the Park Act, namely The Class A parks named and described in Schedules C and D of the Protected Areas of British Columbia Act are dedicated to the preservation of their natural environments for the inspiration, use and enjoyment of the public.

From Appendix IV, page 3, it is clear that BC Parks recognizes that trail development properly done poses no risk to wilderness values in the wilderness conservancy zone. It is even more puzzling why Parks continues to pursue its reckless policy of denying access to Darling Lake and Mamquam Icefield along the lawfully recognized backcountry recreation corridor and pursues a policy of obstruction and harassment of trail volunteers maintaining the heritage Darling Lake Trail.