Outdoor Vancouver Newsletter

Feb 28, 2022
Edition #109

In this newsletter:

B.C. Parks Camping Reservation Changes
Outdoor News
Book of the Month
Friends of Garibaldi Park Society - Day Pass Survey
KidSport MOVE430 Challenge

1. 2022 B.C. Parks Camping Reservations

Earlier this month, B.C. Parks announced a number of updates to their online campsite reservation system. The previous website, Discover Camping, has been retired and all bookings will now take place at bcparks.ca. Additionaly, further updates include:

A new booking platform and user-friendly interface;
More flexible search options designed to meet campers’ needs (ability to filter search by date, availability, equipment type, and itinerary booking feature);
Ability to pre-fill account details and set booking preferences;
Updated availability views, including options to browse availability by map, calendar, or list;
More campsite photos to assist with site selection; and
An accurate system clock.

The new BC Parks website launched on March 14. Reservations will then begin one week later on March 21, with most frontcountry campgrounds, reservable bouncountry, and backcountry permits being available for booking. Groupsite bookings will be available on March 24.

I wouldn't blame anyone who has struggled booking campsites with B.C. Parks previously for being a little skeptical that everything will run smoothly out the gate. But hopefully these updates lead to an improved reservation experience.

See more details from B.C. Parks here.

2. (Mostly) Local Outdoor News

1. Hiker badly injured after falling down icy cliff at Buntzen Lake viewpoint. @TriCity News
2. 4 hikers rescued from the base of mountain in Golden Ears Prov. Park. @MR-PM News
3. 3 avalanches near Pemberton Saturday leave one dead, RCMP say. @The Star
4. Five skiers rescued after avalanche on Rainbow Mountain. @Pique
5. North Shore Rescue members put their lives on the line. @NS News
6. Coquitlam SAR heeds call on Burke Mountain for reality-based training. @TriCity News
7. Sexual assault in North Vancouver prompts warning for hikers. @DH News
8. B.C., Lil’wat and N’Quatqua release new visitor strategy for Tenquille Lake. @Pique
9. Crowd of bystanders a challenge for helicopter pilot during rescue at popular B.C. viewpoint. @CTV News
10. Climate change forces Parks Canada to dismantle, remove historic mountain hut. @CBC

3. Book of the Month - Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills

Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills is a classic outdoors book which was originally published over 60 years ago. It is often considered the gold standard of textbooks for rock climbing and mountaineering.

It has been revised and updated over the years to stay up-to-date with the times, with the most recent edition being the 9th, released in 2017.

Even if mountaineering is above and beyond the scope of the hiking you typically do, there is a wealth of valuable information in this book. A few of the topics covered are clothing and equipment, camping, navigation, Leave No Trace, first aid, mountain weather, and wilderness travel, to name just a few of the chapters.

"Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills is the text beloved by generations of new climbers—the standard for climbing education around the world where it has been translated into 12 languages. For the all-new 9th Edition, committees comprised of active climbers and climbing educators reviewed every chapter of instruction, and discussed updates with staff from the American Alpine Club (AAC), the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE), and the Access Fund.

From gear selection to belay and repel techniques, from glacier travel to rope work, to safety, safety, and more safety—there is no more comprehensive and thoroughly vetted training manual for climbing than the standard set by Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, 9th Edition."

Learn more about the book here.

We compile the books we feature every month in our Book Store.

4. Friends of Garibaldi Park Society - Day Pass Survey

Passing this along from our friends, the Friends of Garibaldi Park Society:

"We at Friends of Garibaldi Park Society have identified a gap in the survey scope that BC Parks sent to 2020 day pass users. We recognized that the BC Parks survey did not provide an opportunity to collect information from those who were unsuccessful in obtaining a day pass nor those who chose not to try to obtain a day pass and are seeking deeper insight from all users on their outdoor adventures over the last two years.

BC Parks has yet to commission a new survey for feedback on the 2021 changes to the day pass system, so our survey also addresses the impacts of the changes BC Parks made to the day pass system."

Survey Link: https://forms.gle/A4k57zeLCXTwVb2KA

Survey closes March 15.

5. KidSport MOVE430 Challenge

In April, KidSport B.C. will be providing us with a fun way to motivate ourselves to get outside hiking while contributing to a great local charity at the same time.

The MOVE430 Challenge is a virtual event that challenges you to move for 30 minutes each day in April.

Simply commit to any MOVEment, such as, running, walking, hiking, climbing, yoga, cycling, swimming, workout for at least 30 minutes for 30 consecutive days beginning April 1st, 2022 and track it to complete the challenge!

There are daily, weekly, and a grand prize. You can participate solo, or as part of a team.

KidSport aims to remove financial barriers to sport by providing grants to help cover the cost of registration fees for kids aged 18 and under. 100% of registration fees go to helping B.C. kids play sports.

Registration is already open, so if you're interested you can learn more here!

Until next month!
Karl

GREAT HIKES FOR MARCH

Mount Gardner (Bowen Island)
Burnett Falls (Sechelt)
Burnaby Mountain (Burnaby)