Stellar Heliskiing Tenure Expansion

[kootenayskier]

Stellar Heli-skiing has applied to expand it's commercial tenure into additional areas currently used by local recreational ski-tourers here in the West Kootenays, such as the terrain accessed from the Empire Cabin. Their proposed expansion will also encroach on other commercial operations, such as Carlyle Lodge. I'm opposed to a bunch of wealthy Swedes appropriating local ski touring terrain, and have registered my opposition at http://www.arfd.gov.bc.ca/Applicatio...p?PostID=55079 , which also provides a copy of the plan and map of the proposed expansion. There are already plenty of other options for the global elite to spend their loot.

[pano-dude]

Voiced my disapproval for this also.

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[crashidy]

Heli ops keep expanding and sled/touring areas keep getting diminished. Interesting.

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[hutash]

...but think of all the dentists who will have to fly further afield.

I always find it odd the heli ops want to take over local areas, but I guess it is all about saving time and gas.

[swissiphic]

tried a few times, link doesn't seem to work

[BCMtnHound]

Heli tenures typically can not restrict access to public skiers and snowmobilers, unless they obtain a controlled recreation tenure. Usually, it is only adjacent or overlapping commercial tenures that get directly impacted with respect to access. In this region, new controlled recreation tenures are not being considered at this time unless they are attached to a major resort tenure (think the proposed Valmount Glacier Destination resort). But I have not read this specific proposal. Biggest issues up here are between M.Weigele, the local sledding clubs, and the mtn caribou recover strategies. The caribou specifically will likely result in reduced area for play by either heli or sleds under new legislation being considered at the national regulatory level.

[S_jenks]

Link wasn't working for me either.

But I definitely am not warm to this idea of expanding their ops area.

I must admit though that I lack knowledge of heli-skiing permits, much less in Canada. Would like to see a map showing their current operation boundary vs. the proposed expansion. Do they have good justification for it (ex: safer terrain during high avvy danger that they lack), or is this just a money grab?

[t.odd]

https://arfd.gov.bc.ca/ApplicationPo...eyword=4404298

first result, far right "page" tab to the right of date column will take you to pdf's...these links should take you to pdf's too...
https://arfd.gov.bc.ca/ApplicationPo...65&action=view
https://arfd.gov.bc.ca/ApplicationPo...66&action=view

[swissiphic]

https://arfd.gov.bc.ca/ApplicationPo...eyword=4404298

first result, far right "page" tab to the right of date column will take you to pdf's...these links should take you to pdf's too...
https://arfd.gov.bc.ca/ApplicationPo...65&action=view
https://arfd.gov.bc.ca/ApplicationPo...66&action=view

hmmmm; links don't work either.

[t.odd]

hmmmm; links don't work either.

weird, I previewed and clicked through to check that they did....

does this link work? https://arfd.gov.bc.ca/ApplicationPosting/search.jsp
just type in "Stellar" into search field...

[el hefe]

Heli tenures typically can not restrict access to public skiers and snowmobilers, unless they obtain a controlled recreation tenure. Usually, it is only adjacent or overlapping commercial tenures that get directly impacted with respect to access. In this region, new controlled recreation tenures are not being considered at this time unless they are attached to a major resort tenure (think the proposed Valmount Glacier Destination resort). But I have not read this specific proposal. Biggest issues up here are between M.Weigele, the local sledding clubs, and the mtn caribou recover strategies. The caribou specifically will likely result in reduced area for play by either heli or sleds under new legislation being considered at the national regulatory level.

They cannot restrict access but they sure can ski the hell out of it. We have had it happen around here, at first it didn't seem like a big deal but there are areas that used to be fun and easy access zones that I haven't hit in years because it is skied out now.

Also I have had them see us and score the goods in the area we are in before we can get our laps in. Frustrating.

[kootenayskier]

The original link was working this morning, but try this:
https://arfd.gov.bc.ca/ApplicationPo...p?PostID=55079
This tenure expansion won’t restrict public access, but ski touring around helis or in areas where all the classic lines are regular tracked by heli groups sucks, and the government’s own compatibility matrix asserts the incompatibility. Locals have been skiing in these areas for more than the 30 years of my experience, and have established multiple ski touring cabin, with access routes and agreements with local sledders, yet in their application these ignorant foreign elitists deny that there is even any public recreational use to accommodate. Fuck em.

[BCMtnHound]

They cannot restrict access but they sure can ski the hell out of it. We have had it happen around here, at first it didn't seem like a big deal but there are areas that used to be fun and easy access zones that I haven't hit in years because it is skied out now.

Also I have had them see us and score the goods in the area we are in before we can get our laps in. Frustrating.

Just opened the application and did a quick look. Looks like they recognize some of the more likely areas of public conflict, but have downplayed the public use and emphasized their benefit to such users in the way of safety. Certainly if they are racing into zones ahead and above of a touring group, as you have experienced, that would seem to fly in the face of the safety aspect.
I also wonder how the caribou sec11 strategies will impact any of these proposed plans.
I thought Retallack was partnering with the lower Kootenay Band for heliski areas that seem to overlap somewhat with these proposed areas. That consultation section for 1st Nations interest and values is exceptionally short and light on content. There must be far more ongoing in that regard.