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Murrin Park

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May 2008

    Murrin Finally Open
    The Murrin Park parking lot is now open. What was to have lasted for a few weeks turned into an almost three month closure of the parking facilities. BC Parks informed the Squamish Access Society on April 25th that the park would be open for the weekend of the 26th-27th, closed again for the 28th-30th and then open for good. Unfortunately this information was incorrect and intermittent closures persisted. This was in part to the gate not being able to close and open properly because of the new grade of paving. Now, however, the normal park hours are in effect.


April 11, 2008

    Closure Update
    The parking lot remains closed. Reports we received from park's staff on April 4th state that more contaminated soil has been found adjacent to the original highway excavation zone. They are aiming for an opening of the weekend of the 18th of April. Judging how things have been proceeding however, we would suggest you keep your Murrin tick-list on the back burner for a couple of more weeks.


March 2008

    Status: Extended Closure Due to Gas Spill
    The clean-up of the fuel spill at Murrin Park is taking longer than expected. Unfortunately, according to an article in the Squamish Chief newspaper, some of the fuel leached into Browning Lake. Whether the parking lot becomes accessible by the Easter weekend remains unsure. We would suggest having an alternate plan ready, and if it's open, consider it a bonus.


February 2008

    Status: Murrin Gas Spill
    Because of fuel contamination from a highway accident, the parking lot at Murrin Park is closed until March 9th 2008. For more information go to the following link:

    http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/murrin.html#visitoralert

    The SAS will work with Parks on ideas around potential official interim parking arrangements. Unofficially, there are various shoulder options for parking such as opposite Nightmare Rock; if you park there however, you do so at your own risk. If you have the chance to confirm with workers that it is okay, that may lend a degree of comfort that you won't be towed.


June 2007

    Status: Road changes; minor trail alteration at Pet Wall.
    Paving and painting in front of Nightmare Rock and southwards to the parking is nearing completion. The final bit of work here will be the southbound turn off lane for the parking spot, work on which is pending regulatory approval due to wildlife habitat (the bog). We all know what happens when two lanes pinch into one on the Sea to Sky, and this is exactly what happens in front of Nightmare. Climbers walking along the highway to approach the crag should be cautious of vehicles being squeezed onto the shoulder.

    The SAS recently had a work party clear away obstructions and snags at Pet Wall. The log which fell across the trail at the top of the stairs has been cleared, and the remaining debris from the old staircase was cleared away. At the northern most trail (the first one you come to) heading into Flight of the Challenger area and used by some to access Up Among the Firs crag, a very large, precariously perched snag over the trail was felled. Because of the proliferation of trails in this area, the rough trail/drainage was then decommissioned with felled lumber and debris. 10 yards further south along the main trail is another trail (better) which takes you to the same area, with a fork guiding pet wall climbers to Youth gone Wild, and guiding hikers and climbers heading to Up Among the Firs rightward via a cleared trail.


January 2007

    Status: No access restrictions; highway construction in area.
    Spring 2007 should see the completion of the new highway lanes at the north-end of canyon. The access situation to Nightmare Rock which was affected by blasting throughout 2006 should be normalized by early Spring 2007. The temporary third lane through the canyon which is planned for the Olympics will not be constructed until 2009. The southbound turnoff lane for which some trees have already been cleared will be finished around the same time as the Olympic lane. No physical danger to the Lost Boulders area along the west side of the highway is currently foreseen.

    The SAS has requested in meetings with the Ministry of Transport and the highway work contractor that the steep roadway at the parking lot entrance, which can make it a bit "interesting" to get back onto the highway in heavy traffic, be levelled out if possible once work gets underway to that section.

    In a meeting with the highway work contractor on January 10th 2007, the SAS was assured that outdated blasting hazard signage would be removed from near the Nightmare Rock area so as not to confuse those wishing to access the climbs.

 


October/November 2006

    Several developments here. According to the contractor, it plans on having traffic moving through the newly designed four lanes approaching from the north by December. Some of the boulders with problems on them at the base of Nightmare are now very exposed to traffic.


 

    We have received affirmation from our contacts at the contractor that no more incursion will occur at Nightmare. Here is what is left of the problem closest to the highway. Yes, it was on the road, but some of us had fun on it while it was there.

 

    Furthermore, forest clearing has begun for the southbound slowdown lane into Murrin Park. This has left a buffer of about 20-30 feet between the Lost Boulders and the new clearing. We are seeking confirmation that the depth of forest cleared to date is at its maximum. There is still a visual buffer, but the undergrowth and canopy has been reduced substantially- it will seem the highway is closer.

 


September 2006

    The present access situation in the Murrin Park canyon is focussed on the Nightmare Rock area. The highway in front of Nightmare is to be a new merging zone where four traffic lanes from the north merge into the existing two lanes through the middle of the canyon. The contractor, Peter Kiewit Sons', is pushing back the sides of the existing highway in front of Nightmare to make way for the merge. Expect intermittent closures due to blasting (which currently has been on hold for some weeks, but there are obvious signs of more to come). Signs indicating periodic closures are posted on the north and south ends of the crag near the highway.

    In the long term, the only change that is expected to the actual crag of Nightmare Rock is for greater proximity of the highway, the removal of some ground cover (roadside boulders and shrubs) and thus some higher noise-impact to contend with when you’re gunning for the redpoint on Sentry Box. The actual boulders that have been developed at the base should also remain intact, but may be affected by dynamite debris and the same sort of noise situation as the crag. There is some concern as to the effect on the Lost Boulders (on the west side of the highway, tucked in the woods) of a permanent south bound turning lane into the parking area. The crags on the east side will remain unaffected except for Browning Bluff at the far south of the corridor which will be re-enforced by steel rod.

    A temporary alternating third lane is planned for the 2010 games, with reversion to two lanes thereafter.
 

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Rockclimbing safely requires your personal judgement and ability. The safety of a rockclimbing venue is never guaranteed.
The Squamish Access Society tries to ensure the information on this site is accurate however it must not be relied upon in any way for your personal safety.

Squamish, British Columbia, Canada
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