Skaha?

[glassgowkiss]

so what is the deal? when can we start climbing there?

[G-spotter]

April?

[glassgowkiss]

no i mean is what is the deal with access to the cliffs? or is there any right now. (there is simply less simons in canada)

[G-spotter]

They bought the lot but have not built access to it. Currently the only way you can get to the crags is by trespassing.

[jmace]

really you think they will have roads and parking spots in a month ?

[G-spotter]

Yes.

[jmace]

WOW, thats great for some reason I thought they still had to fund raise for the construction

 

 

[G-spotter]

" Be assured that many people are aware of the current situation that in spite of the acquisition of Sublot 18, there is much work that needs to be done for access to the Bluffs via Sublot 18 to be possible. Easter is coming in rapidly and alternatives to the Braesyde Farm access must be found. Be patient - and watch this spot for further news.

 

Sean Dougherty, skaha.org

 

8 February 2008"

 

I think they are trying to open by Easter based on the comment above?

[jmace]

Easter is a month early this year as well..

[fern]

feel free to continue discussing easter timing by email or elsewhere. Any further Skaha specific chatter can stay here...

[Blake]

Does anyone actually know when Skaha will be both legally accessible and legally climbable? Dru, please do not reply with useless information that is not a known date.

[G-spotter]

When they open the new parking lot.

[jmace]

As is was pretty obvious there was no way they could build a road, trail and parking in such short time it comes as no surprise that Skaha will NOT be open for Easter.

 

in addition no parking or roads will be built till next fall, possibly a trail to the new sublot will be built if they can get approval. So as it stands all access points are illegal

 

http://skaha.org/

 

 

[jmace]

Parking and access have been secured via the Braesyde Farms!

 

Parking lot opens on the 15th of this month

 

March 13, 2008 - a City of Penticton Press release.

 

During the 2008 season, rock climbers and other visitors to the popular Skaha Bluffs will once again have access to conveniently located parking, thanks to an agreement reached with Skaha Bluffs area property owner Hugh Dunlop.

 

"We appreciate Mr. Dunlop's cooperation in ensuring users of the popular recreastional area continue to have access to parking again this year", said City Adminisrative Services manager Al Colombo.

 

The City of Penticton, provincial Ministry of Environment and The Land Conservancy of British Columbia (TLC) have contributed to an agreement that will once again permit short-term access to parking on private property located near the climbing area.

 

A long-term solution is still under negotiation. As announced earlier this year, the BC government, TLC and the Nature Conservancy of Canada have partnered with other supporters in the purchase of a 304-hectare property adjacent to the Skaha Bluffs climbing area.

 

" We are in negotiations for an easement through another piece of privae property that would allow access over the long term", said Anne Armstrong, TLC's regional manager, Okanagan Region. "And we are confident these negotiations will come to a satisfactory conclusion."

 

 

http://www.skaha.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=40&Itemid=1

 

Edited March 14, 2008 by jmace

[hafilax]

That's great news. Smith Rock may not be AS inundated with Canuks over the holiday.

[glassgowkiss]

i don't get it. first the access is restricted, then the parcel is purchased for several millions of dollars and now the access is back to Dunlop farm! What happened to the purchase of the lot?

[Blake]

the parking/road etc improvements on the new lot have not been constructed.

[glassgowkiss]

this is the part i don't get:

" We are in negotiations for an easement through another piece of private property that would allow access over the long term", said Anne Armstrong, TLC's regional manager, Okanagan Region. "And we are confident these negotiations will come to a satisfactory conclusion."

 

i thought the land deal was done and now they are planning on road/parking lot/camping

[G-spotter]

The piece of land that they bought is accessed through another piece of private property. Until they secure access to the land they bought, no road & no parking lot.

 

Camping was never in the plan. Private campground owners in Penticton complain it is unfair competition.

[jmace]

ya they sure did make it sound that way

 

A long-term parking solution is still being negotiated, that is, an easement through other private property to sublot 18, the land that was recently purchased and which provides room for parking etc.

 

Sure sounds alot different than

 

By buying the property, TLC and their partners will provide a permanent access route to one of Canada’s premier climbing destinations: Skaha Bluffs.

[glassgowkiss]

that is exactly the point! I mean the whole issue was misrepresented from minute one. looks like for now purchase of this several million dollar property secured two things: jack and shit. i wonder which property owner will grant access for several hundreds of cars a day to cross their property?

[G-spotter]

The difference is that there is no requirement for a property owner to grant access to Crown land but there is an obligation for a property owner to grant access to another piece of private property? but they probably have to compensate