Spearhead: Pushing the Boundaries of BC's Backcountry
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ต.ค. 2019
- Nestled between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains in British Columbia, the Spearhead Traverse is a classic winter route renowned for its incredible terrain. 'Spearhead: Pushing the Boundaries of BC's Backcountry' celebrates the history of the route, first skied in 1964, while asking how do we manage the impact on these spaces as they gain popularity.
Learn more about the Spearhead Huts Project: spearheadhuts.org
Directed by: Seth Gillis
Produced by: Origin - กีฬา
In my opinion, these huts do not need Kickstarter money - they are an obvious benefit to Vail Resorts. Vail (Whistler) Resorts can afford the huts and the tourists coming to this will inevitably stay in Whistler at least 1 night and will buy lift passes to access the huts. Plus, (I hope this is already the case), but most of the money generated by the huts should be going to BC Parks and increased parking access to Singing Pass - Whistler benefits greatly from Garibaldi Park as their backyard and yet pays nothing towards our (BC's) underfunded and overburdened park system. PS Beautiful shots of one of my favourite places!
It's *Vail, and although the access is through Blackcomb mountain most typically the entire traverse is BC parks land and has nothing to do with Vail resorts of Whistler Blackcomb. How the hut's profits are managed I do not know but I can assure you the only benefit Vail sees is from the off shoots of in village lodging, eating and single use lift tickets (they have a specific day ticket for backcoutry access that allows you one ride to the top) .
@@jeah2 oops thanks for the correction. I understand that it is on BC Park land, that does not change my above statement because the access is primarily through Vail and will economically benefit Vail and we (the users) will pay our fair share when we stay at the huts, once built, like the hotels we stay in at Whistler.
Seems like there's some bad communication feelings between BC parks and Vail / Whistler. Maybe there's legal issues with trying to get funding for a park through a private business (either as a general canadian law or as a issue of borders) I'm not sure what the reason but I agree it does sorta suck to be asked to donate to a public utility that should be able to be funded either by normal tax or resort tax
@@hebs007 as well as the overnight parking fees.
@@CallMeAGansterOfLove ...then there's the large $$ donor that gets exclusive use of the hut for a week or 2 each year.
I think people are being a little too gloom and doom here. Notice how the "crowds" we see are right at the access points, ie, the places in the backcountry that are less than ~5 miles from the gates. Even with the advent of better backcountry equipment, 99% of backcountry users aren't venturing to lines and mountains that take some legitimate work to get to. I saw mention in the comments about how this is Vail Resort's fault. I live in Vail Colorado and can confirm that yes, the easiest backcountry stuff to get to now in my town does get tracked out and impacted--but the harder mountains to get to, the places that are deeper in the backcountry, that really take skill and planning and knowledge to access, are still often hidden gems. If you really take issue with more people skiing these wild places, don't have children--it's population growth more than anything that is making our world smaller and more crowded. Get creative and explore more ranges, or deeper into the ones you already know. And fight climate change--climate change will do far more damage to the snowpack of the mountains we love than a few more people knowing of places due to Instagram.
Benjamin Gadberry
Solid response there Benjamin
“Don’t have kids”
Such pearls of wisdom from someone like yourself are a genuine blessing. Only the lucky few get to receive such meaningful and succinct advice from you.
@@jimbojims You more than anyone else, please don't have kids.
Also don’t have kids because they’re gross and stupid.
Well said!
Thanks guys for making our playground safer and more comfortable for everyone, cant wait to get out there!
truly extraordinary. Seth you are a genius! Stunning cinematography and storytelling!!!
I was invited by my friend and his Dad to come to BC for a week, 2 summers ago and we hiked up whistler and his day would not stop talking about this route. It cool to see what he was talking about
Beautiful footage!
Stoked Maelle and Joris dad is mentioned.... My brother Andy and I grew up skiing at Whistler and the local North Vancouver mountains. We recognize many of those ski lines. At one point in the 90s my brother Andy almost lived on Decker he skied it at least 50 times. We have skied the traverse over 50 times combined on its own. Skied countless lines over a twenty plus period of time. We were not so into hitting the bars after to let people know what we were doing. By chance we were both Elite mountain bike racers in cross country and downhill so were were able to carry over that fitness into the mountains. Walk, climb, skin, repeat. Inspired by Trevor and Eric because they were ripping skiers. You guys need to follow skateboarding surfing history in California....Dogtown.... where they do there best to find the originals of the area that were getting it done. You interview the same people again and again and again. Many more characters made it happen.
Great and challenging people!
Some are saying that by making this video that it just advertises spearhead. It does do that but part of the video is to inform people of the problems that are occurring and ways they are trying to prevent it. A single video isn't going to make spearhead super busy when there is plenty of info on the area all over the internet
great little flick! Stoked to see Matt Gunn, an old childhood friend
matt gun is a scrambling legend!
So cool!
production on this is excellent
Awesome.
That was a Great Video Thanks :) The 8 people that did not like this video,,,, Probably want the Back Country to be left alone :(
Did it back forth many times in the 80’s before Whistler became infested. Never saw anyone out there.
8:51 incredible shot!
DOPE film
Nice video! Good work on it.
One way to manage the impact is to not advertise, too late.
Got to get those sponsors and backers and likes and “thumbs up”.
Absolutely superb video. If someone happens to know... Can you share the opening piece of music. It’s right on the tip of my tongue. But I can’t quite recall.
My knees just shook
my home . my play ground. :)
sickest drop happens at 8:30
we want to bring people up to these amazing places but responsibly .
Did anyone catch that the photo at 4:11 is actually the legendary mountain guide Conrad Kain back in the 20's?
yes, of course.
"Do you wanna not bring people out to these amazing places?"
Depends what that means. I think a parking lot and a Tims would make it a fraction as amazing as it is now.
What's the name of the 11:40 minute song?
Man I miss BC
8:31 Holy sheeeeit
Well, me & the rest of the world are on our way.
Sure thing
@@georgegaines3575 savior. Go up them tell em
RIP spearhead
Looks snowy
The backcountry is a dangerous place, and you're right, Shovel, Probe, Beacon, aren't enough; ecological impact of increased usage is a reasonable concern; But if we look at the data, the back country skiing death rate in the last ten years in Canada hasn't increased in direct proportion to the increase rate of back country usage, has it?
I love the videos about the snow. But I’m 64 and logged over 500 miles self substained in the back-country using Arc’Teryx outerwear with little or no snow. How about some videos in the brush or mountains with thick underbrush. BTW I won’t wear anything else for my rain gear.
That's what is great about the spearhead, no bushwhacking. Check out the 'backyard project' for the more challenging approaches: vimeo.com/83515832
Wait…people wear Arc’teryx outside of West 4th Ave?
The one in Rockies is the watch traverse???? Like sawatch?
Wapta
I hope more and more people get out there, more open groomers for me!
Seems like you don't need huts but a quota system.
"For all the people who remember the Spearhead Traverse the way it used to be, here's my middle finger!"
That's what this film says.
Yeah keep the crowds in Whistler. I don't want line ups like that on my trails.
So when can i take my snowmobile there?
Try not climbing mountains right next to one of the biggest tourist destinations on the planet. It would be like going to cancun during spring break and complain the beaches are too crowded.
Would you still to that run if you had to do it alone, couldn't make a video about it or tell people about it?
If the answer is no, then you do it for the wrong reasons.
I really don't understand how adding infrastructure is supposed to improve safety and reduce human impact - that just don't add up?! Without putting a permit system in place this is only going to continue to commercialize and deteriorate in quality (of visitor). Hmmm...
'loved to death' is an exaggeration
I really love(d) the Spearhead. Which is why I really despise these media campaigns. Short sighted marketing/peacocking that does the opposite of "addressing the impact on these spaces as they gain popularity". The true beauty of such a classic traverse, is the mystery and the sense of accomplishment. When you travel the Spearhead in proper style for the first time, it looks impossible....like "how do I get through this place?". GPS tracking, huts,instagram photos, blogs, and paved path reduce this classic line to a trade route.Turned into another Joffre Lakes/Quarry Rock/Horseshoe Bend/ name-your-intstagram-location. Fine. Let everyone "do" the Spearhead. Adventure turned commodity. I'll keep my secret stashes...umm...secret.
White titles in front of snow shots makes them almost impossible to read. A bit amateurish video post-production.
Guess that’s the last time I do the spearhead.
Thanks for ruining the “slightly less accessible” backcountry and making it a damn highway.
less talking more skiing
10:42 ... Amidst the narrators pleas for better backcountry awareness decision making ... Some dopey snowboarder does the old “falling leaf” down Decker ... STOP WRECKING THE SNOW!
There's no shortage of skiers & snowboarders side slipping straight-line terrain.
Problem is as you make more comfortable accomodations like huts, you eliminate the skill set required to go there, and invite more and more less qualified skiers. I prefer less people and keep the area less crowded. Too bad to see back country areas being invaded by pretenders.
pretenders? how are these people pretending? it sounds more to me you depend on your own machismo narrative to make you feel better than others and when people appreciate the same thing you see it as de-valuing the crutch you use to define yourself. I agree with less crowds and keeping the back county's spirit alive but blaming people who are partaking in the exact same activities you do is gate keeping and hypocritical.
Sad sad sad…..keep your home quite stop promoting tourism! There is always an alternate motive!
More of a loop and not really a traverse
Too many people take away from the beauty of the mountains. Nothing wrong with seeing some good people out there, but seriously this traverse looks like the worst aspects of European skiing - too many people. That’s my two cents.