Grand Wall Boulderfields trashed by movieshoot.
Re: i was there...
i have to disagree entirely. neither of those trees were in fact snags, nor were they any danger. the fact that they have been moved doesn't really bother me very much and all the replanting work you claim will get done should be a great way to see that some areas can return to what they were like before the forest saw so much climber traffic.fernpolice wrote: Two rotting alder snags were removed from the “easy in an easy chair” area after having been determined unsafe for both park users and, incidentally, the film crew.
And how is education supposed to make me feel smarter? Besides, every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain. Remember when I took that home winemaking course, and I forgot how to drive? --Homer Simpson
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fernpolice
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alder trees...
Can we agree to disagree on the condition of the alders? (One fell into six pieces before it hit the ground) And can we agree to agree that the planting will not turn the area into a manicured country park but rather break up visually and physically some areas are completely devoid of vegetation?
Just out of a walk-through with a few of the bouldering crowd, another walk-through tomorrow with more climbers / boulderers and, with any luck, a hard copy plan for next week's clean-up.
Just out of a walk-through with a few of the bouldering crowd, another walk-through tomorrow with more climbers / boulderers and, with any luck, a hard copy plan for next week's clean-up.
count to ten...
Here is the letter that was sent today setting out the issues and what needs to be done to remediate the impacts caused by the filming.
Todd
_______
Stawamus Chief Provincial Park November 2005
Vinland Productions' Filming Operation -- Impact on the Grand Wall Boulders
________________________________________________________________
November 29th 2005
To Rob Cocquyt of BC Parks and Monty Bannister of Vinland Productions
From Tyrone Brett and Kevin McLane of the Squamish Access Society,
Endorsed by Mandoline Clarke, Vice President of the Climbers' Access Society of BC.
The recent filming in the Stawamus Chief Grand Wall Boulders had an immediate and significant impact on both the forest floor environment and multi-year volunteer efforts by climbers to establish defined trails, no-go zones, travel corridors, etc. Accordingly, climbers requested direct input to specific aspects of the contracted remediation. We appreciate the fully cooperative position taken by Vinland and BC Parks.
Walk-through group inspections were conducted on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th of November 2005, by D'Arcy Bloom, Pam Bourdon, Tyrone Brett, Jack Fieldhouse, Tyler Leversage, Kevin McLane, Jim Sandford, and Curtis Suave, with Rob Cocquyt of BC Parks and Margaret King of the Greens crew. The action list on page 2 was compiled by the climbers named above.
We understand that clean-up and Greens remediation are expected to wrap over the next ten days. We request a post-cleanup walk-through be arranged when the work is done, and look forward to full and amicable resolution of the matter.
More generally, it is the position of the Squamish Access Society and CASBC that the appropriateness of commercial filming in Stawamus Chief Provincial Park, particularly of this magnitude, is highly contentious and increasingly impacting public enjoyment of the park. Although the
film set was technically "open to the public", the intense working atmosphere in such a small area, long days, and bizarre comings and goings created an oppressive environment for the enjoyment of climbing, and for others walking in the area. Although we recognize it was not intentional, the operation's presence amounted to a defacto closure.
It is our considered view that the operation could have been profitably conducted in other similar locations in Squamish that would not have brought such a strong downside for the public. Notwithstanding these comments, we hold the unequivocal view that the film industry is important to Squamish, and merits full community support.
As has been well noted by all, a considerable public outcry erupted when the weather improved late in the production and climbers became aware of the full extent of the impact. It is our position that fair public notice was not served that the operation was to begin and a contracted remedial cleanup would follow. One email communication immediately before startup was grossly insufficient to inform the public at large. Signs could have been placed in the Chief parking area a month prior to start-up, notifying of the event, with commentary that full remedial work would be conducted. Although we contend again the use of this site was inappropriate, had such measures been adopted, the media furore and the anger directed at the film company and BC Parks could have been avoided on this occasion.
Requested Remediation
The list is arranged in a roughly counter-clockwise direction through the area.
1. Revert the access road back to a two-person wide trail, starting from the point where the blacktop narrows, using organic material deposited at the sides, and for the westside trampling to be restored to natural appearance.
2. Regarding gravelled trail surfaces: gravel is okay on the trails where it presently exists, with the provisos that:
-- the trail off the Grand Wall trail, leading north to Easy Chair/Rat Rock, be narrowed.
-- new gravel is applied to the Grand Wall trail, narrowing in width as it moves off east.
-- all gravel trails have well-defined boundary edges.
-- include a topping of organic matter.
-- all underlying fabric is to be removed.
3. The Y-Junction of the Grand Wall trail and northward to Easy Chair/Superfly/Rat Rock is to be clearly defined. The area within the Y between the trails to be re-planted with natural veg.
4. Bar off the southern exit route from Superfly across to Grand Wall trail and
-- backfill below the Superfly tree roots, enough only to even out the slope.
-- gravel over the root below the start.
-- pull staples out of Superfly tree
-- open out the side of the Superfly--Rat Rock trail at RR's north boundary.
5. A deeper base of gravel is needed, especially west and north of Superfly, as far as the rise up to Rat Rock, to cover high spots and small exposed roots. This trail must be narrowed as discussed. Single-wide width is important. The greater depth of gravel will not be apparent but will give the trail greater permanence. Include topping of organic matter.
6. Build some natural-looking granite steps the last few metres up to Rat Rock to address the boggy run-off.
-- effectively close off the minor trail west off the southwest corner of Rat Rock
-- the trail area at the northwest corner of Rat Rock to be treated with coarse organics
7. Define the trail around the north side of Rat Rock with boundaries and along the north edge of that trail, replant the pit-like feature with natural veg.
8. ATD north side basin to be strategically planted with naturals.
9. Cacodemon southwest corner - strategic planting of naturals, with a trail boundary to define north-south travel route close to Cacodemon.
10. Gravelled arterial trail west of Easy Chair to be narrowed and boundaried. Include topping of organic matter.
-- cut down 2 movie stumps to forest floor level.
11. Decommission movie access trail from the pointed boulder west of Easy Chair.
12. Between Easy Chair and the access road, the new pile of organic detritus and remains of the unsafe trees should be removed.
13. Decommission and restore/replant the wide boardwalk movie access just south of 12.
14. On completion, a joint walk-through be conducted by all parties to inspect and conclude.
Todd
_______
Stawamus Chief Provincial Park November 2005
Vinland Productions' Filming Operation -- Impact on the Grand Wall Boulders
________________________________________________________________
November 29th 2005
To Rob Cocquyt of BC Parks and Monty Bannister of Vinland Productions
From Tyrone Brett and Kevin McLane of the Squamish Access Society,
Endorsed by Mandoline Clarke, Vice President of the Climbers' Access Society of BC.
The recent filming in the Stawamus Chief Grand Wall Boulders had an immediate and significant impact on both the forest floor environment and multi-year volunteer efforts by climbers to establish defined trails, no-go zones, travel corridors, etc. Accordingly, climbers requested direct input to specific aspects of the contracted remediation. We appreciate the fully cooperative position taken by Vinland and BC Parks.
Walk-through group inspections were conducted on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th of November 2005, by D'Arcy Bloom, Pam Bourdon, Tyrone Brett, Jack Fieldhouse, Tyler Leversage, Kevin McLane, Jim Sandford, and Curtis Suave, with Rob Cocquyt of BC Parks and Margaret King of the Greens crew. The action list on page 2 was compiled by the climbers named above.
We understand that clean-up and Greens remediation are expected to wrap over the next ten days. We request a post-cleanup walk-through be arranged when the work is done, and look forward to full and amicable resolution of the matter.
More generally, it is the position of the Squamish Access Society and CASBC that the appropriateness of commercial filming in Stawamus Chief Provincial Park, particularly of this magnitude, is highly contentious and increasingly impacting public enjoyment of the park. Although the
film set was technically "open to the public", the intense working atmosphere in such a small area, long days, and bizarre comings and goings created an oppressive environment for the enjoyment of climbing, and for others walking in the area. Although we recognize it was not intentional, the operation's presence amounted to a defacto closure.
It is our considered view that the operation could have been profitably conducted in other similar locations in Squamish that would not have brought such a strong downside for the public. Notwithstanding these comments, we hold the unequivocal view that the film industry is important to Squamish, and merits full community support.
As has been well noted by all, a considerable public outcry erupted when the weather improved late in the production and climbers became aware of the full extent of the impact. It is our position that fair public notice was not served that the operation was to begin and a contracted remedial cleanup would follow. One email communication immediately before startup was grossly insufficient to inform the public at large. Signs could have been placed in the Chief parking area a month prior to start-up, notifying of the event, with commentary that full remedial work would be conducted. Although we contend again the use of this site was inappropriate, had such measures been adopted, the media furore and the anger directed at the film company and BC Parks could have been avoided on this occasion.
Requested Remediation
The list is arranged in a roughly counter-clockwise direction through the area.
1. Revert the access road back to a two-person wide trail, starting from the point where the blacktop narrows, using organic material deposited at the sides, and for the westside trampling to be restored to natural appearance.
2. Regarding gravelled trail surfaces: gravel is okay on the trails where it presently exists, with the provisos that:
-- the trail off the Grand Wall trail, leading north to Easy Chair/Rat Rock, be narrowed.
-- new gravel is applied to the Grand Wall trail, narrowing in width as it moves off east.
-- all gravel trails have well-defined boundary edges.
-- include a topping of organic matter.
-- all underlying fabric is to be removed.
3. The Y-Junction of the Grand Wall trail and northward to Easy Chair/Superfly/Rat Rock is to be clearly defined. The area within the Y between the trails to be re-planted with natural veg.
4. Bar off the southern exit route from Superfly across to Grand Wall trail and
-- backfill below the Superfly tree roots, enough only to even out the slope.
-- gravel over the root below the start.
-- pull staples out of Superfly tree
-- open out the side of the Superfly--Rat Rock trail at RR's north boundary.
5. A deeper base of gravel is needed, especially west and north of Superfly, as far as the rise up to Rat Rock, to cover high spots and small exposed roots. This trail must be narrowed as discussed. Single-wide width is important. The greater depth of gravel will not be apparent but will give the trail greater permanence. Include topping of organic matter.
6. Build some natural-looking granite steps the last few metres up to Rat Rock to address the boggy run-off.
-- effectively close off the minor trail west off the southwest corner of Rat Rock
-- the trail area at the northwest corner of Rat Rock to be treated with coarse organics
7. Define the trail around the north side of Rat Rock with boundaries and along the north edge of that trail, replant the pit-like feature with natural veg.
8. ATD north side basin to be strategically planted with naturals.
9. Cacodemon southwest corner - strategic planting of naturals, with a trail boundary to define north-south travel route close to Cacodemon.
10. Gravelled arterial trail west of Easy Chair to be narrowed and boundaried. Include topping of organic matter.
-- cut down 2 movie stumps to forest floor level.
11. Decommission movie access trail from the pointed boulder west of Easy Chair.
12. Between Easy Chair and the access road, the new pile of organic detritus and remains of the unsafe trees should be removed.
13. Decommission and restore/replant the wide boardwalk movie access just south of 12.
14. On completion, a joint walk-through be conducted by all parties to inspect and conclude.
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