OpenStreetMap
Cokely Backcountry Skiing. Change set #45377916 by InfiNorth; approx Jan 21, 2017. Incorrect location of ski resort
Posted by Robert Copithorne on 7 February 2017 in English.i would appreciate seeing comparisons of the area designated as abandoned ski resort, with the area designated cokely backcountry skiing. I believe their might be two areas, not one. If there are any old maps available to help resolve this issue, I would really like to see them.
I have an old brochure from the Mount Arrowsmith Ski Resort with a rough sketch of the ski trails, but nothing to tie the map in to. My view of the area I picked as a ski area fits the map better than the new area in my view. I can see how the new area could also be a ski area, but what distinguishes the areas?
Please reply as as I am anxious to resolve this issue.
Discussion
Comment from Alan Trick on 7 February 2017 at 15:31
This map from the FMBC may be useful.
By the looks of it, the old ski resout was probably about here.
Comment from Alan Trick on 7 February 2017 at 15:32
Also, according to “A Brief History of the Arrowsmith Massif” the old ski resort is completely gone, including the towers, so it’s probably not worth mapping.
Comment from Robert Copithorne on 7 February 2017 at 20:44
Thank you for sending the FMBC map and the article on Arrowsmith Massif. The article was very interesting, but I wish it had been illuminated by a few sketches or old maps.
I’ve seen the FMBC map before, and it was helpful in a number of ways. I have been looking for old maps of the area but so far have only found a few. Unfortunately, the FMBC map makes no reference to a ski activities in the area of the northern park (Regional Park - Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District portion), although it does show ski trails in the southern park.
My intention with my mapping efforts is to show the land use of the Alberni Valley, centred on Port Alberni, which would approximate what one would see on the ground. My main source of information on the Arrowsmith area are the Bing Aerial photos. Examining them I discovered an unusual land formation in the area of what I determined to be north of Pass 40, south of Pass 60 and east of Pass Main and McBey Creek . There’s some confusion between different maps as to the names of some of the roads on Arrowsmith, so I have tried to sort them out as best I can. One of my main sources of information has been Forest Cover Maps produced by MacMillan Bloedel back in the 1990’s. These are the source maps from which the MB road maps were made so I have more confidence in their accuracy.
Here’s a screen print of the area I’m concerned about, which also shows the ski trails to the east at the end of “Old Ski Hill Access” road. I assumed that the old ski trails had been developed by Rosseau and friends. The area I thought was a ski hill shows a perimeter road, and numerous cuts through the timber. This isn’t consistent with logging practices; my assumption was that this area had also been developed for skiing, either alpine or cross country, so I set the land use as such. Perhaps the name, Mt Arrowsmith Ski Area, was fanciful, although I did call it Abandoned.
I can see a minor road circling the hill with two small lakes at its top. There are also indications of cut trails, appearing to be in a pattern consistent with ski trails. Since my main concern is land use, I felt it was reasonable to designate the area as an abandoned ski area. I do know that there was a cross country ski area developed by voluntary labour in the 90’s, which may account for the land use formations.
My intention was to visit the area this summer and confirm the existence of ski trails, either alpine or cross-country, and possibly the location of the old ski chalet. That the ski lifts and other equipment have been removed is not a problem for me as I am concerned with the what is visible on the ground now. I.e. the current land use.
I will keep making inquiries until I can definitely establish what created the land forms I described. I the meantime, i think the land use designation I originally developed should be reinstated, with a “Fixme” attached to verify it through a ground survey. Surely this is how mapping should proceed in steps, as knowledge is gained.
I appreciate any and all information I can get on the and there land use questions, and thank you and anybody else for replying.
Robert Copithorne
Comment from Alan Trick on 7 February 2017 at 20:47
I see, I probably can’t be of much help at the moment, but you may have luck contacting members of ACC Vancouver Island
Comment from Alan Trick on 8 February 2017 at 01:40
I found the area you where describing with the OSM History Viewer. That area does look a little like it used to be a ski area. I’m not sure why InfiNorth deleted it. Maybe send them a message or comment on the changeset.