Cypress Mountain turns to parking fees to cut down crowds without winter day pass system

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — With people off work for a few weeks, the ski hills are, predictably, packed, and one operator is blaming the province for the crowds.

If BC Parks had kept its day-pass system going through the winter — which is expected to far outweigh previous seasons in terms of crowds and search-and-rescue calls — the long waits and packed roads to get to Cypress Moutain would have been different, says Russell Chamberlain, the hill’s president and general manager.

RELATED: North Shore Rescue breaks all-time record for calls-out in a year

He argues the pass system could have helped limit visitors to the neighbouring provincial park and control traffic in the area altogether.

BC Parks had indicated there would be a day-pass system in place following a summer pilot project that limited visitors, but that never happened.

“We supported it so it would be ready for the winter because our volumes are significantly higher in the winter for park visitation across the board,” Chamberlain tells NEWS 1130. “I really wasn’t given enough reason other than they weren’t going to roll it out over the winter. In my view [it’s] unacceptable, irresponsible and shameful.”

He says he had expected the pass system to return until he found out about the cancelled program Dec. 14.

With the province backing out of its promise to reduce crowds, Chamberlain says Cypress has to charge parking fees in its Nordic lot and adjacent lots where backcountry skiers and snowboarders usually park.

RELATED: Popular North Shore ski resort operating below 50% capacity per pandemic orders

The province has directed people to check Cypress and Mt. Seymour’s Twitter accounts for traffic information after some people waited hours to get on the mountain.

On Thursday morning, Mt. Seymour had tweeted its backcountry parking lot was full shortly before 10 a.m.

But Chamberlain argues checking Twitter isn’t a meaningful measure to control the traffic.

“We need to find a way of controlling demand,” he says. “By having a day-pass system, people could plan and pick their days to come and then they could look for other activities within the region.”

Critics had blamed the initial day-pass pilot for pushing people to trails further away and sending crowds to unmaintained trail networks.

RELATED: BC Parks says day pass pilot can be adjusted after system criticized

While the ministry hasn’t explained why it abandoned the system, in an emailed statement to NEWS 1130, it acknowledges this year has been unprecedented for BC Park visitor numbers.

“The resort operators have traffic control plans in effect to manage traffic during peak period,” the email reads. “We’ll be monitoring these parks closely during the holidays and making adjustments if necessary. We are asking everyone to stay local and explore their own communities, which may mean choosing another activity if your favourite destination for winter recreation is too crowded.”

However, Chamberlain says it’s difficult to control access into the park even with COVID-19 safety plans in place.

“It’s just harmful to our business. We’re doing our best to manage it, but BC Parks should have had a plan in place to act responsibly,” he says.