SKAHA - 2007 AND BEYOND
The Land Conservancy of B.C. (TLC) and Skaha rockclimbers have been working hard on this, with support from Mountain Equipment Co-op, the Access Society, and others. Access at Skaha is in place for 2007, and TLC has secured an option to purchase 300 hectares of nearby private land (sublot 18 - southeast of Braesyde). Once the land is purchased, and needed services built, it will provide permanent public access to Skaha, but not until 2008. Thanks to TLC’s partners, a generous donation by the current owner, and other donations, much of the needed money has been raised. We need to raise $1 million by the end of April, and the climbing community must do everything it can to help.
1. ACCESS SOCIETY COMMITMENT - $10,000
The Board of the Access Society has committed $10,000 toward the Skaha purchase. It is a major investment for the Access Society, our biggest ever. The Board believes it important that the Access Society show strong leadership on this issue, on behalf of all the climbers of B.C. We hope that all climbers, and other climbing-related organizations and businesses, will follow our lead. It's essential for the climbing community to show that it supports the purchase, in all ways possible.
2. MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT CO-OP - MATCHING DONATIONS, UP TO $100,000
Mountain Equipment Co-op announced today that it would match donations by its members to The Land Conservancy's Skaha fund, up to $100,000 total. To donate, go to www.conservancy.bc.ca/MEC-skaha
Many thanks to MEC for its generosity and its leadership on this important issue. MEC also provided substantial seed funding to TLC, simply to support development of a solution.
3. EASTER WEEKEND EVENTS
TLC, Skaha rockclimbers, and the Access Society will be at Braesyde during Easter weekend, with information about what's happening, and how climbers can help. Saturday, Sunday and Monday mornings, and Saturday and Sunday afternoons. You can get information about TLC, the Skaha project, and the Access Society, meet representatives and talk about things, and make a donation or join on the spot. Sunday morning there may be refreshments.
4. PARKING AND ACCESS - 2007
Parking will continue at Braesyde through 2007. The arrangements are:
* $10/passenger car/day, $20/day for vans (6 - 15 passengers), $30/day for buses, $75 for an annual pass.
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Please use only Braesyde for parking and access. There is no legal parking along Valleyview Road, which leads to Braesyde, and all other accesses to Skaha require trespassing on private land. Carpooling is an economical alternative.
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Valleyview is a narrow, winding road. Please drive carefully, and watch for children, animals, and other safety concerns.
The Dunlop family continues to own Braesyde. They have generously provided public parking at Braesyde, and access to Skaha, since 1992. Thanks to the Dunlops for their hospitality, and to the city of Penticton and the Agricultural Land Commission for permitting the parking.
5. WHAT YOU CAN DO
* Make a donation to TLC, soon, and encourage all your friends to also do so. If you're a member of MEC, make your donation at www.conservancy.bc.ca/MEC-skaha, and double your donation. Otherwise, see the links below.
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Join the Access Society, renew your membership, and make a donation. Members + resources = more effective. Memberships, renewals, and donations are all helpful - $10,000 is a lot of money to us.
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If you can help with fundraising, or have ideas or connections that may help, contact TLC or the Access Society.
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Make sure all your friends know what's happening, and are helping. Spread the word!
6. SUPPORT THE LAND CONSERVANCY
Please send all donations to TLC. They encourage you to not only make a donation, but to also become a member.
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Donations & Membership: To join TLC, see www.conservancy.bc.ca/content.asp?sectionack=tlcmembership To make a Skaha-specific donation, see https://secure1.conservancy.bc.ca/donate/appeals/donate.asp?id=W-00013, or of course www.conservancy.bc.ca/MEC-skaha Or join and donate by mail.
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Contact Information: TLC's head office is at #301 - 1195 Esquimalt Road, Victoria, B.C. V9A 3N6, phone (250) 479-8053.
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Capital Campaign & Corporate Donors: If you can contribute a substantial amount, or know someone who might be able to, contact John Keller at TLC in Burnaby, at (604) 733-2313 or jkeller@conservancy.bc.ca
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U.S. Donors: TLC has made arrangements so that residents of the U.S. who donate can receive a U.S. tax receipt - please contact TLC about how to do this.
If for some reason the proposed Skaha purchase is unsuccessful, TLC will keep aside all money raised, and use it either for whatever other solution is arrived at for Skaha, or for another project of direct benefit to the climbing community of B.C.
TLC has been a faithful friend of B.C.'s climbing community. The Access Society helped lead the successful opposition to the proposed Stawamus Chief gondola in 2004. Since then, TLC (with help) bought the land that was to be the gondola base (the gravel pit), ensuring that inappropriate development didn't threaten the Park's values. The land is being leased to the Sea-to-Sky Highway project contractor, which helps pay for the purchase, and gives some time to consider what to do with it. TLC is also working on other Squamish-area projects.
7. MORE INFORMATION
TLC: www.conservancy.bc.ca
Skaha Climbers: http://skahabluffs.blog.com/
Special thanks to TLC, Bill Turner, MEC, Hugh Dunlop, Howie Richardson, Hugh Lenney, Drew Fullerton, Russ Turner and Sean Dougherty for all their help with this.
