Robson Valley

 

Forest Tourism Opportunities Study

 

March 2000

 

Ministry of Small Business, Tourism and Culture

Forest Renewal B.C.

Northern Development Commission

 

 

Catherine Berris Associates Inc.

lions gate consulting inc.

 

 

 


 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

 

 

Numerous government agencies, tourism operators and recreation groups provided information that assisted us in this project (see Appendix A for list of operators and government contacts). We gratefully acknowledge and thank all of you.

 

The following are the clients and consultants:

 

 

Clients

 

Ministry of Small Business, Tourism and Culture

·        Stephen Connolly

 

Forest Renewal B.C.

·        George McRae

 

Northern Development Commission

·        Harold Demetzer

 

Consultants

 

Catherine Berris Associates Inc. (CBA)

·        Catherine Berris, Principal-in-charge

·        Bill Gushue, GIS Analyst

·        Heather Breiddal, Data Entry and Technical Support

 

lions gate consulting inc.

·        Steve Nicol, Economist

 

CBA Subconsultants

·        Elaine Gillette, Consultation, Data Collection, and Mapping

·        Jeremy Pillon, Consultation

·        Chriss Suessmilch, Initial Operator Identification

 

 

Photographs:

All photographs are courtesy of Elaine Gillette, with the exception of the first photograph, taken by Catherine Berris.

CONTENTS

Executive Summary

1.0  INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................. 1

1.1  Context and Purpose.................................................................................................... 1

1.2  Related Work............................................................................................................... 2

1.3  Study Methods............................................................................................................. 3

2.0  SITUATION ANALYSIS...................................................................................................... 4

2.1  Description of Region.................................................................................................... 4

2.2  Communities................................................................................................................ 5

2.2.1  Description of the Valemount Area.................................................................. 5

2.2.2  Description of the McBride Area...................................................................... 6

2.2.3  Competitive Position...................................................................................... 7

3.0  TOURISM PRODUCT ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS................................ 9

3.1  Introduction.................................................................................................................. 9

3.2  Product Selection......................................................................................................... 10

3.3  Major Product Assessment and Recommendations......................................................... 14

3.3.1 Resort/Lodge.................................................................................................. 14

3.3.2 Hut Development............................................................................................ 18

3.3.4  Ecotours....................................................................................................... 26

3.3.5  Mountain Biking............................................................................................. 33

3.3.6  Cat Skiing..................................................................................................... 36

4.0  TOURISM DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATIONS................................................... 38

4.1  Gaps and Constraints................................................................................................... 38

4.1.1  Implementation.............................................................................................. 39

4.1.2  Packaging..................................................................................................... 40

4.1.3  Regional product guides................................................................................. 41

4.1.4  Internet  promotion......................................................................................... 42

4.1.5  Research services......................................................................................... 43

4.1.6  Site identification and servicing....................................................................... 45

4.1.7  Interpretive and directional signage.................................................................. 46

4.1.8  Trail development........................................................................................... 47

4.1.9  Land use....................................................................................................... 48

4.1.10  Human Resources....................................................................................... 51

APPENDIX A: CONTACT LIST............................................................................................... 52

APPENDIX B: QUESTIONNAIRE........................................................................................... 57

APPENDIX C: LODGE/RESORT AND HUT SUITABILITY.................................................. 58

APPENDIX D: SNOWMOBILING SUITABILITY..................................................................... 68

APPENDIX E: WILDLIFE VIEWING SUITABILITY................................................................ 69

APPENDIX F: MOUNTAIN BIKING SUITABILITY.................................................................. 71

APPENDIX G: SUMMARY OF MAPS.................................................................................... 72

BIBLIOGRAPHY......................................................................................................................... 79

 

 

Photographs

 

Robson Valley Near McBride – Typical Winter View......................................................... 4

Blueberry Alpine............................................................................................................... 15

Market and Socio-economic Assessment......................................................................... 16

Holliday Creek Alpine........................................................................................................ 16

Blackman Alpine............................................................................................................... 17

Eagle Valley Hut............................................................................................................... 18

Cariboo Lake.................................................................................................................... 19

Ozalenka Cabin................................................................................................................ 20

South Kiwa Glacier and Lake............................................................................................ 24

South Dore River.............................................................................................................. 26

Morkill River...................................................................................................................... 27

Eagle Glacier.................................................................................................................... 28

Lake at Dunster Cabin...................................................................................................... 29

 

 

 

 

MAP INFORMATION

 

Original map data from the project authors has been presented on Provincial digital base map layers in Adobe Portable Document Format (‘.pdf’). Some data has been generalized (simplified) in an attempt to maintain reasonable download times and ensure map readability.

 

Limitations in how Adobe works within internet applications may preclude information on the maps from being correctly displayed. This problem is particularly prevalent in large .PDF files.  Examples include capability maps which display the basemap information, but no capability. If this occurs, please download the PDF file displayed on screen (even if there appears to be missing information), then launch Adobe Acrobat independently from (outside of) your internet application. The maps should display correctly in Adobe Acrobat outside of your internet application.

 

 

Simplified / Generalized Maps

 

Existing Tourism Use

File Size

 

Study Area Base Map

2,226KB

 

Tourism Operator Facilities / Base of Operations

1,106KB

 

Tourism Features, Routes and Activity Sites

1,339KB

 

Tourism Use

1,486KB

 

 

 

Tourism Product Suitability

 

 

Cat Skiing

1,107KB

 

Hut

1,110KB

 

Mountain Biking

1,110KB

 

Resort / Lodge

1,112KB

 

Snowmobiling

1,115KB

 

Wildlife Viewing

1,117KB

 

 

 

Original Report Maps

 

Tourism Capability

File Size

 

Summer Use Capability

3,697KB

 

Winter Use Capability

3,188KB

 

 

 

Tourism Product Suitability

 

 

Cat Skiing

3,096KB

 

Hut

3,651KB

 

Mountain Biking

3,157KB

 

Resort/Lodge

3,651KB

 

Snowmobile

3,163KB

 

Wildlife Viewing

3,519KB