Canada considers allowing PG/HG in national parks

[pink_albatross]

Canada is facing declining numbers of visitors to their parks (not sure that's an issue in our parks) and is trying to make them more attractive. Part of that effort includes considering zip-lining, via ferratas (ala Nelson Rocks in West Virginia) and hang gliding and paragliding in their parks. They are now in the process of talking to all stakeholders.

I think the impetus was that someone at the Banff National Park wants to build a via ferrata. Of course there are concerns of naturalists and environmentalists to address. But it's possible that the parks are favorably inclined to the whole idea, since it would also mean funds coming in from business licenses for the operators of the via ferratas and zipline (and tandem HG and PG operations presumably). The locals near the national parks are also in favor, since they expect more tourism dollars coming their way from the increased traffic.

This has been paraphrased from an article which appeared on the 6th of October in the Calgary Herald:
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/new ... b261ce&p=2

I'm assuming the Canadian HG/PG association will have more info?

-- ellis
p.s. bit of trivia: if anybody is interested in running a commercial tandem operation in the Shenandoah national park, you need to apply for a business license.
If granted it'll cost $200 a year (http://www.nps.gov/shen/parkmgmt/commer ... ations.htm)