The Canadian news last night showed a massive land/mountain slide the taking out the only direct roadway from Vancouver BC to Whistler.

The railway is below the highway at the edge of Howe Sound and presently under 20feet of truck size boulders. Scalers were on the side slope dropping loose material making a safe site for the workers to procede in the clearing out. The scale of teh rock is immence, showing dump trucks hauling one boulder alone!

Kevin Falcon, Minister of Highways for BC said that all estimates show a 5day solid work period to clear the highway, no estimate on the railway. The Minister says that the need to come up with a solution for future prevention and is going to start a study on this immediatly. (Why not suggest a rock shed?)Called the Sea top Sky Highway, currently being upgraded for the 2010 Olympics the area was one zone previously marked for no work. Presently stranding tourist and locals alike, the only way in or out is by small plane or an 8 hour drive north then east through the Fraser Canyon. A nearby industrial ferry terminal is unsuitable for public use. Anyone planning a trip to Whistler should be aware of all the above.

cheers/ Railwayguy