EDITOR,
I am a retired Australian teacher and a climber who has made extended visits to Squamish to climb on the Chief three times over the past 26 years. Now that I am no longer working, I am hopeful that my visits will be able to be more frequent. In May this year, my husband and I will be returning to Canada for a climbing trip, and the most anticipated venue on our climbing circuit is back to Squamish. I was appalled to hear that the provincial government is currently considering the construction of a tourist gondola in the heart of Stawamus Chief and Shannon Falls provincial parks. In the time that we have been visiting this general area, there has been considerable development and a huge increase in the number of visitors. The natural beauty of the area is quite sufficient to draw visitors who are attracted to the environment and excited by the potential of climbing, rafting, kayaking, mountain biking, hiking and backcountry skiing. In the near vicinity, there is already untold access to gondolas and other touristy attractions at Whistler and Blackcomb. Squamish is different from Whistler and attracts a different crowd, most of whom would agree with me that a gondola is out of place, that it will detract from the value of the area and disturb the unique values of the parks.Di Batten
Hobart, Tasmania
Australia
