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More lighting required In last week’s Pique, there was a letter to the editor about a hit and run on Highway 99. The pedestrian was not seriously injured.

More lighting required

In last week’s Pique, there was a letter to the editor about a hit and run on Highway 99. The pedestrian was not seriously injured.

On the night of July 29, a very dear friend of mine was tragically struck and killed while walking along Highway 99, attempting to catch a bus.

Pedestrians walk the highway at night, and drivers drift onto the shoulder.

There are an inadequate number of buses running on busy weekends (i.e., Crankworx). When buses are full, people inevitably walk — most likely in the same direction as traffic if they were trying to catch a bus.

I counted 12 bus stops on Highway 99 between Function Junction and Alpine Meadows that are not lit. Some require pedestrians to walk more than 100 feet along Highway 99 from the nearest access.

The reflective paddle is a joke! It’s ineffective for waving busses down, let alone illuminating any number of would be bus riders waiting in the dark. All bus stops on Highway 99 need at least one light and enough lighting from either the Valley Trail or a side street. This means only one or two streetlights per stop, a far cry from the overwhelming light pollution some people might fear.

Please voice your opinion on this issue, either to the municipality (mayors office@whistler.ca and transit@whistler.ca) or by simply writing a letter to the editor.

Let’s make this safer before someone else loses a best friend or family member. It’s a matter of public safety and community preservation.

Brian Anderson

Whistler

Collective efforts appreciated

This letter was addressed to Tourism Whistler members. A copy was forwarded to Pique for publication.

A sincere thank you is extended to everyone who committed their support in the lead-up to the recently cancelled KISS concert. While we are all disappointed that the event did not materialize, we must also be very proud of the collective effort that occurred. This exemplifies not only our resort's spirit of community, but it also verifies our capacity to embrace opportunities.

The resort has an extraordinary scope and depth of expertise from which to draw and we are confident that the lessons learned from this recent experience will make us better able to successfully host future events.

Many individuals and organizations came to the table within a very short time-frame — and none were more responsive than those within the accommodations sector. Shortly after learning that the concert was a real possibility, a request for room assistance was distributed by Tourism Whistler — and Whistler's accommodation providers replied with typical generosity and without hesitation. Within 24 hours we had secured 100 per cent of the rooms requested! Thank you for your ongoing support of event opportunities in Whistler.

It is this type of commitment to collaboration among our in-resort partners that sets our community apart. It's an asset that lends itself to achieving extraordinary things — and one which we must continue to value and nurture.

While it is was very unfortunate that the event producer decided to cancel the KISS concert in Whistler, we remain respectful of the role played by third party event organizers in bearing the risks associated with delivering major events.

The Resort Municipality of Whistler, Tourism Whistler and Whistler-Blackcomb will continue working together with you and other members of the broader community to create an environment that will attract third party event organizers and foster the successful delivery of major events in Whistler.

Arlene Schieven

Vice President of Marketing, Tourism Whistler

John Rae

Manager of Strategic Alliances, Resort Municipality of Whistler

Rob McSkimming

Vice President of Business Development, Whistler Blackcomb

State of trails a shame

This letter was addressed to Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts, responsible for B.C. parks. A copy was forwarded to Pique for publication.

I am writing to inform you of the lack of maintenance of some of our trails in the Whistler area. Approximately three weeks ago, I reported the lamentable and unsafe state of the Rainbow Trail to the Resort Municipality of Whistler but apparently, my concern fell on deaf ears...

Saturday, Sept. 15, my friend and I hiked the Madley to Rainbow Trail and down Rainbow once again to find the trail was still in the same deplorable state. The trail needs widening by cutting back the overgrowth at the beginning of the trail, which never happened this year... therefore that area has no chance to dry up and it is quite unpleasant as one cannot avoid the branches that will dump their dew and or rain water onto the hiker. This can very easily discourage a casual tourist from discovering the beautiful trail up ahead.

Also, the bathroom at the beginning of the trail (where the Flank Trail meets the Rainbow Trail) has no seat, no tissue and is filthy. At this particular spot, we encountered a Korean hiking group, about 24 people, and they were going to use that facility. We felt quite ashamed and told them this was not the norm and that we would report it.

Additionally, many trees that fell during the winter have not been removed from the trail and the boardwalks need repair, as many are falling apart, shaky and very unsafe... and so on.

As for the Madley to Rainbow, no maintenance for quite a while, judging from the state of it, and it’s easy to lose your way as some of the trees with the markers leading you on are down. We went off the trail a few times; at one time, we thought we may have to go back.

Last but not least, the campsite at Hanging Lake. The bathroom shack is down so we did not attempt to use it but on the way down Rainbow we encountered a hiking club of approximately 20 people heading up to Hanging Lake for a couple of nights. I am sure that site will not be recommended to any other clubs without some reservation! What a darn shame, as it is so beautiful.

As mountain hosts on Whistler, winter and summer, I recommend many hikes to our visitors. I cringe to have done so for the Rainbow Trail this summer. What a shame!

Pierrette Walker

Whistler

A friend in need

This is directed towards the many friends, colleagues, dart teams, and businesses in Whistler who know the wonderful Mike Burns.  As many of you may know, we have just temporarily lost a vital person who for years has worked hard to deliver top service and enhance the visitor experience here in Whistler. You may know him as a long-term local or from previous jobs, as he has held many here in Whistler, always working with our guests. Michael Burns, one of Whistler’s Visitor Information employees had an accident recently landing him in a Vancouver hospital where he has received the first surgery of many.

The accident happened from a fall where he suffered multiple injuries to his face. A person who has made a living from talking to our guests, whether providing them with information, taking them on snowshoe tours, bear tours, canoe tours, hiking and even driving taxi for years, will be unable to talk for a while.

He also competed as a local dart guru so some may know him from the many years of kicking your butt in darts!

Friends and colleagues, along with the dart teams, will be holding a fundraiser to help out our wonderful friend on Thursday, Sept. 27th at 7 p.m. at Tapley’s Pub — a long term local fav!

It’s ironic to think that us locals, on a daily basis, every season throw ourselves off mountains because we live for that, and choose to do so. For Mike, he did not choose for his body to shut off for those split seconds which caused so much damage.

Thank you kindly in advance for your support, and let’s work together to bring this long term local back to tip top condition, hopefully in time for Christmas!

Teryle Lilgert

on behalf of Friends, Colleagues, Dart Teams of Mike Burns

Karma

When I got home from walking my dog this past Saturday, I realized that my cell phone had fallen out of my pocket. I ran back to the spot where I thought it would be but no luck. I drove to the village to use a payphone so I could call my boyfriend and let him know that I lost my phone. To my surprise he already had my cell phone!

A very nice man named Jeff found my cell phone on the corner of Lorimer and Piccolo while riding his bike, and called the last number dialed. He rode his bike to Spruce Grove where my boyfriend was playing ball to give him my cell phone!

WOW! Thank you so very much Jeff! That is some good karma!

Kat Phillips

Whistler

New eyesore in Whistler

The new tower for the Peak to Peak Gondola on the Blackcomb side is visible from a wide range of locations in the valley, from Powerline Hill south of Function Junction to Spruce Grove, Blueberry Hill, Whistler Cay Heights, and many other locations.

At the public information meeting Stuart Rempel from Whistler-Blackcomb (WB) told me that the visual impact would be minimal and specifically stated that the cables would not be visible due to the distance they will be from the village. He produced photos taken from specific locations in the village with the gondola superimposed on it with the gondola barely showing. (This photo is still on the WB website.) This is clearly false as you can see the cables clearly on the existing lifts from many locations in the village and valley.

Whistler originated on the strength of its natural environment. Originally Whistler was a summer resort attracting visitors because of its lakes, rivers, mountains, and wilderness qualities. When Whistler became a ski resort, again it was the natural environment that visitors came to enjoy. As Whistler expanded with the opening of Blackcomb, again it was the natural environment that attracted the visitors. As Whistler grew, restaurants, shops, and hotels were added to develop a “full destination resort.” But the main attraction was still the outdoor recreation activities that the natural surroundings provided.

Then we gradually saw a shift in the cache of Whistler from a healthy human-powered outdoor recreation mecca to a place where many people visit and sadly never leave the artificial manmade village to explore the natural wonders of the area, including Garibaldi Park; Brandywine Falls; the Ancient Cedars; Nairin Falls; Cheakamus River Falls & Canyon; Alta, Nita, Alpha, Green, and Lost Lakes; the Spearhead Traverse; Singing Pass; the River of Golden Dreams; Black Tusk; the Garibaldi Neve Traverse; the High Note Trail; the Flank Trail; and Comfortably Numb, to name a few.

There are also many outdoor events that are unique to Whistler that only a fraction of our visitors and residents take advantage of, such as the Cheakamus Challenge, the Loonie Races, the Rubble Creek Classic, the Comfortably Numb Run, the Sea to Sky Trail Ride, the Randonee Rally, and Bio Blitz. While some of Whistler’s events are geared for the hard-bodied athlete, many of them are specifically designed for novices as a way of introducing more people to the activities many of us participate in on a daily basis.

What is truly sad is that the community of Whistler, and specifically WB, has had to resort to a $51 million Disneyland style ride to attract visitors when the valley already abounds with so many great choices. Nothing exemplifies how far we have deviated from the foundations of Whistler’s long-term success than the new Peak to Peak Gondola, (which is actually nowhere near the peak of either mountain, as anyone who has taken the time to look at a map will realize in a matter of seconds. Although relatively speaking it is a lot closer to the peak of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains than the Black Tusk is to the top of 7th Heaven, as was portrayed in the infamous marketing photo from the late 1990s).

Equally disappointing is the looming presence of the new towers that will stand as an ever-present icon visible from much of the valley as a reminder to us all, residents and visitors alike, of just how far out of touch we are from our roots.

Is the future of Whistler really dependant upon a plethora of Disneyland style rides, Barely Legal Hotrod backcountry tours, more frequent Big Dog Shootouts with 400 to 500 snowmobiles on the last of our glaciers, winter and summer snowmobiling on Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, ATV tours on every forestry road in the valley plus Whistler & Blackcomb Mountains, and Hummer Tours on the Blackcomb Glacier? Did they really solve the global warming problem and specifically its effects on the ski industry while I was out hiking with my family last weekend?

The Peak to Peak Gondola illustrates that it is clearly time to harness all the talents of Intrawest’s marketing gurus and combine them with all the ingenuity, creativity, perseverance, and foresight that went into laying the original foundations for Whistler’s success to guide us back to our roots based on the natural splendors of the area. It is time for all of us, individual residents, community leaders, and the business community alike to realize that what makes Whistler such a special place is the abundance of natural splendors that the area is graced with. As 2010 rapidly approaches we have an opportunity to demonstrate to the world just what makes Whistler unique, and it is not the Peak to Peak Gondola. The choice is yours.

Bryce Leigh

Whistler

Helping out in FJ

Thanks to Delish Catering for supplying water to all the people of Function Junction who were stranded out in the hot sun due to the propane leak evacuation last week.

Pete Williams

Shaw Carpet and Floor Centre.