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Hope, BC
Canada
7093 Posts |
Posted - 03/23/2007 : 10:48 PM
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Looks like Todays Chilliwack Progress front page claims:
"Overnight campers to be barred from Chilliwack River (As of May 1st)."
Section 58, (1)(b) order applies specifically to all portions of crown land between Vedder and Tamahi bridges in mid Chilliwack valley.
I always thought it would be fun/cool to just pull up a tent and camp. I can understand them wanting to save the environment from litter, destruction, etc.
I told all my friends back home in NS how cool it is you can simply pull up your tent and camp along the nice river with tons of salmon... Guess thats scrubbed now...
Any other thoughts? Were environmentalists fighting this for some time I am curious?
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Edited by - AcesHigh on 03/23/2007 10:52 PM
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Fruitvale, BC
Canada
90 Posts |
Posted - 03/23/2007 : 10:53 PM
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| Just do it! If you pack out what you brought in, I see no problem. It's the people leaving their junk/garbage around that screws it up for the rest of us. |
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 Trail cuttin, GPS packin bushwhacker, wiki hike compilin, who is now Hope-less
2542 Posts |
Posted - 03/23/2007 : 11:00 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by AcesHigh
Looks like Todays Chilliwack Progress front page claims:
"Overnight campers to be barred from Chilliwack River (As of May 1st)."
Section 58, (1)(b) order applies specifically to all portions of crown land between Vedder and Tamahi bridges in mid Chilliwack valley.
I always thought it would be fun/cool to just pull up a tent and camp. I can understand them wanting to save the environment from litter, destruction, etc.
I told all my friends back home in NS how cool it is you can simply pull up your tent and camp along the nice river with tons of salmon... Guess thats scrubbed now...
Any other thoughts? Were environmentalists fighting this for some time I am curious?
It's probably happened due to abuse. The area was a haven for partiers and the entire shore of the river was becoming a yearly garbage dump.
It's not going to make any difference whatsoever, unfortunately.
Also note that there are no outhouses in the area. |
Edited by - ShadowChaser on 03/23/2007 11:00 PM |
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Happy go lucky, plaid wearin, postholin, safeway gaitor sportin, old-school film shootin, giver of many regards
Abbotsford, B.C.
Canada
13441 Posts |
Posted - 03/23/2007 : 11:05 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by kootenaycat
Just do it! If you pack out what you brought in, I see no problem. It's the people leaving their junk/garbage around that screws it up for the rest of us.
Sickening, those who are too lazy to pack it out.
Regards |
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Satirical photoshop junkie who frolics in the mountains of the Chilliwack River Valley
Chilliwack, BC
Canada
6895 Posts |
Posted - 03/23/2007 : 11:16 PM
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| It was due to all the garbage and abuse from the Surrey Trailer Trash weekend warriors that comes out and thrash the place. Fine the *astards!! |
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Hope, BC
Canada
7093 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2007 : 01:13 AM
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I am assuming there is likely a great deal of people in here that maybe camped here sometime throughout their life...
It is a shame that it has come to this, hats off to environmental protection. I would also assume this will draw more people to the campgrounds requiring payment , so it does do 2 things... Help put some money back into camping and maybe a little towards environment, and also clean the environment along the river. Campgrounds will be packed this year especially out towards the Chilliwack lake, I can see it being booked solid.
Just imagine all the tourists abroad that have intentions of visiting this summer and camping there, and have no idea until they get there. There was also alot of handicapped people who camped along there as it was easy access as well, I used to see.
Many people will be shocked to learn of this throughout their life of camping there, as it is a beautiful place to camp right beside the rushing water.
Times have changed, and so has the environment.
I don't know the area too well, but does this meen Chipmunk Penninsula / towards Mt Cheam will be off limits to overnight camping as well? Anyone know? If not it will be overloaded with people too, and it already was last year.
I appreciate anyones responses in regards to this. |
Edited by - AcesHigh on 03/24/2007 01:14 AM |
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Outdoors addicted flyfishing, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking car crooner and resident motormouth
Da'Wack, BC
Canada
5368 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2007 : 02:12 AM
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Not likely as the chipmunk peninusula is forestry site.
Really the problem was caused by party car camping and the mess left behind.
And I'm still not sure what this initiative that keeps the environmental mess left behind from party-car-camping away from the Chilliwack river valley has to do with a HIKIING and BACKPACKING forum.
I'm glad it's been initiated. Have you seen the mess that has been left behind for residents to clean up?????
I'm done here.
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Hope, BC
Canada
7093 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2007 : 03:05 AM
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Actually there is lots of unmarked trails along that river and general area, I find it nice hiking out that way. Maybe now it will be more peacefull.
I do agree, there are alot of people that party out there and the rivers surroundings, they don't need to camp to make a mess. |
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North Vancouver, BC
Canada
1262 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2007 : 06:08 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Hiking_nut
You know, I really can't respect people that aren't man enough to post an email address,........ sounds like someone hiding in their parents basement behind a computer again....
This has nothing to do with hiking or backpacking!
This is just more lodge crap that needs to be nuked before it spreads and breeds!
I agree , this is just not the right place for this announcement. As to hiding in the basement I do not understand what difference posting his email address would have ? I've noticed a couple of women here who also deigned to put in there email address. By all means nuke it. |
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Popkum, BC
Canada
5887 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2007 : 07:26 AM
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Thanks for the info Aces.
Happy trails,
Lynn |
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Mysterious, pop can stove stashin', gps totin', overnighter virgin, wannabe tentmaker and foul weather wuss who rides a thumper to the trailhead with wonderdog Max to hike the Chilliwack Valley
Chwk
Canada
4908 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2007 : 3:02 PM
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It's high time they put an end to it. Why should others have to PAY to camp at Cultus/Chilliwack Lakes while others can simply squat and leave their garbage behind for free?
No outhouses AT ALL along that stretch of river - just think where it all goes!  |
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Satirical photoshop junkie who frolics in the mountains of the Chilliwack River Valley
Chilliwack, BC
Canada
6895 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2007 : 4:55 PM
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The Chilliwack River has in many respects become a dumping ground for both overnighters and day users, and not just along the river itself, but along many FSR's as well (ever checked out Foley Lake area or Tamihi FSR after a long weekend?).
There are now organized river clean-up days due to all the junk that gets left behind, not only from people who've camped along the river, but other river users like fishermen.
A few roads with river access have been deactivated, and I suppose that more will meet the same fate in the future. There's been some road spurs along the Slesse and Tamihi FSR's that have been deactivated due in part to irresponsible campers.
I heard a statistic once a couple years back of how many people travel into the Chilliwack River Valley on a given day (I can't remember the figure but it was alot higher than I would have guessed), and the fact remains that more the most part there are no toilets or garbage cans where the majority of these people are heading.
Back in the 80's I would drink the water straight from the river with no problems, but I wouldn't try that now.
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 | Dru
Mountain Grammar Police
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Sardonic sandbagging scoundrel, Cascade Climbers lobotomized spraymeister, space blanket flyer, new millennium vulgarian betaboy and friend to all squids
Climbing, a mountain
Canada
∞ Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2007 : 5:11 PM
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The Lower Chilliwack is almost unique in SW BC in that it was largely accessible/unregulated Crown land and yet directly adjacent to residential development. This led to squalid bush parties and free-for-all camping directly in front of people's houses. I mean, you can camp by the river on the Silverhope and not be across a paved road from someone's house.
I think this will push more of the bush party action further up the Chilliwack, above Tamihi bridge. If it reduces the onslaught somewhat that will be a good thing, but mostly it's about reducing the "in front of people's houses" aspect not about reducing the environmental impact. |
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Fleetwood not Surrey, bc
Canada
1125 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2007 : 6:00 PM
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| My grandparents live at the end of the tamahai-liumchen fsr (sorry for spelling?) they several times a year get confronted by drunk redecks kids/adults and have stolen and burned cars left on the road to the property! This won't elinate the problem but should decrease it ,but only if it is enforced! |
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387 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2007 : 6:47 PM
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As someone who goes to that area somewhat frequently and paddles that bit of river, I wish, in my ideal world, that we could camp along there.
But for years there was absolutely no way with all the partiers and their disgusting left-behind junk & crap (literally). Aside from disrespectin' the river, the environment and the neighbours, I'm sure road safety has been a big issue too. It's been scary around there!
I wish them luck in cleaning up that area, and I'm glad they're trying.
PY.
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Abbotsford, BC
Canada
1005 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2007 : 11:34 PM
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Thanks for concern about this issue and the heads up on this announcment.....! It is difficult to see the disregard for our outside home. What one would hope this post does, is to increase a sense of responsibility and sensibility towards wilderness...... certainly my reaction. I grew up near the Vedder River and it still occupies an emotional place in me. This should concern everyone... not the announcement, or the posting....but the wanton disregard for wildplaces. The camping ban gives superficial protection and perhaps that is the best we can do right now. |
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Hope, BC
Canada
7093 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2007 : 03:53 AM
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You guys have some good points....
As Dru has mentioned, now people/campers/partiers are liable to go further into undisturbed areas to move their parties to, and destroy areas elsewhere. Why not keep it contained?
I wonder why it had taken so long for them to not have washrooms, garbage cans, patrols etc... Why not charge people to camp as they do elsewhere along the river I wonder? I realize this is an expenditure for the township but it also brings money into the economy by drawing visitors abroad.
Putting cans , washrooms etc in would of helped, and slowed down the process of destruction by a hair... But now disgruntled people will just move their locations. It is an immediate fix for that stretch of highway I suppose.
Figured I'd throw this in too. |
Edited by - AcesHigh on 03/27/2007 03:55 AM |
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Mysterious, pop can stove stashin', gps totin', overnighter virgin, wannabe tentmaker and foul weather wuss who rides a thumper to the trailhead with wonderdog Max to hike the Chilliwack Valley
Chwk
Canada
4908 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2007 : 08:21 AM
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Probably because putting up an outhouse only means they'd have to replace it every weekend after the last crowd torches it!
Quite simply, they need to patrol the area and charge people for "camping". Seriously, why should people be allowed to use the area for "free" without cleaning up after themselves and causing wholesale destruction? Have you ever seen the amount of CRAP left there after a long weekend?
They should charge enough so that the revenue will offset the cost of staff needed to keep the area in order.
This is what has to happen when people refuse to act like adults and take responsibility for their actions!
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Edited by - TheShadow on 03/27/2007 08:23 AM |
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Chilliwack
Canada
244 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2007 : 09:21 AM
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Since the flood, the regional district has been putting a lot of money and time into installing large cement barriers and chain link fencing from the Vedder Bridge to the Tamahi bridge. What does this mean? Well, if you are determined enough, I'm sure parking off some side road and hiking your stuff over the fence isn't going to stop you from drinking, having fires or camping down along the river.
Last year, one of the most common call outs for Chilliwack search and rescue was the assist of tubers down the Vedder River between the Tamahi and Vedder bridges. Unless you are familiar of the river, this can be a dangerous area, especially on an inner tube.
Years ago, Chilliwack RCMP had numerous issues with the campers in Cultus Lake and now every season they have a dedicated group that patrols this area. This has seemed to work but you folks are right when you comment on the problem getting pushed to other areas. But what is the right solution? The problems go further out, the police have to drive further out, which can create further problems.
I've been on rescues where a helo is trying to land on a bar on the Vedder and junk if flying around, stuff left behind from car campers. I've seen dogs searching in the area finding the toilets left behind by campers (not pretty), there's been homeless people living on the banks, etc. It comes down to people looking after the area and cleaning up after themselves but society today is too lazy. You go to any high school or rec center parking lot after a saturday night and guaranteed you will find nothing but broken beer bottles. That's seems the way society is these days. Will you rectify the problem by stopping campers? Probably not. More and more land and trails will be ruined by all the garbage left behind. You can travel any forestry road and find junk people leave behind because they don't want to pay the fee to drop them off at the local dump. |
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387 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2007 : 10:00 AM
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I disagree with the argument that since people might drive further up and leave messes elsewhere that this area shouldn't be closed. That's just an excuse to do nothing and ignores the many problems. Sure it's an important consideration and something else that may have to be managed, but the way things were along there had to be addressed, so kudos to the FVRD for trying! (Even though I don't really like the sounds of concrete barriers and especially chain link fencing - what a mess if that chain link ever finds it way into the river or a flood!)
I agree that ideally they would be able to capture this demand for camping, install some facilities, charge people for the camping, and monitor things. Perhaps they will look at what's been done at the high-use Forest Rec Sites and offer contracts to people who want to manage it. I expect one of the problems is that the land has no real status (like a Forest Rec Site), so it's more awkward for a regional government to get resources for it and get organized.
Hopefully they'll figure something out and this ban will be the start of something of more progressive, but I think it was a necessary step.
PY.
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Abbotsford, BC
Canada
58 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2007 : 11:26 AM
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quote:
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Originally posted by Hiking_nut
You know, I really can't respect people that aren't man enough to post an email address,........ sounds like someone hiding in their parents basement behind a computer again....
This has nothing to do with hiking or backpacking!
This is just more lodge crap that needs to be nuked before it spreads and breeds!
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Are you serious? How can posting something about protecting a river from camping garbage not be considered valid "Conservation Corner" material? There are many hikes that begin from the Chilliwack River area and the last thing I want to see while starting out is some guy's McDonald's hamburger wrappers and a pile of TP.
I think this decision is good and agree with ShadowChaser about the lack of washroom facilities being as big an issue for that area.
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Edited by - bigfish on 03/27/2007 1:20 PM |
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Topic |
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Overnight Campers Barred from Chilliwack River
