Updated: Thu Jul. 31 2008 22:29:20

ctvbc.ca

Whistler Air and Perimeter Bus Lines Ltd. Appear to be among the biggest beneficiaries as stranded tourists and commuters seek alternatives after Tuesday's massive rock fall on British Columbia's Sea to Sky Highway.

The B.C. Ministry of Transportation says 16,000 vehicles use the Sea to Sky to travel between Vancouver and Squamish at this time of year.

But after a section of the road, located 20 kilometres south of Squamish was buried under a mountain of rock on Tuesday, many of those vehicle drivers are looking at other options, including air transportation and alternative routes.

A spokesman for Tourism Whistler said Whistler Air is operating flights out of Whistler on an almost continual basis, offering space to passengers on a first come first serve basis.

Meanwhile, as construction crews work to remove the fallen rock, Perimeter Bus Lines is taking stranded passengers via an alternative route to Vancouver, that winds its way through Duffy Lake Road, down through the Fraser Valley and on to Hope.

For first responders, and people who need emergency assistance, the provincial government has made a helicopter available through the B.C. Ministry of Forests.

Below, please find a list of other alternatives that are available to people who find themselves stranded in the Whistler and Squamish area.

Car to/ from Whistler

Guests travelling via their own vehicle or by rental car are reminded that Whistler is accessible via Highway 99 north via Lillooett (the Duffy Lake road) and the Fraser Valley. This drive is approximately seven hours. It is a beautiful trip with plenty of options of towns to stop in for a meal or rest break. This route offers spectacular scenery and a glimpse in the gold rush and first nation's history of British Columbia. Check www.drivebc.ca for the latest road conditions. Please also tune to Mountain FM at 102.1 on your FM radio or listen on line at www.mountainfm.com for traffic reports every 15 minutes.

Bus to/ from YVR via Lillooett

Perimeter Whistler Express is currently offering bus service to Vancouver International Airport (YVR) each day at 10am and 2pm via the Duffy Lake road. They estimate that this service will take approximately eight hours. They are offering a departure from YVR to Whistler each day via the same route, departing at 9:30am and 1:55pm, stopping at Vancouver hotels. There will be a $50 surcharge, bringing the cost per person to $105. Their toll-free telephone number is 1-877-317-7788.

Whistler Skylynx is offering service between Whistler and YVR on July 31 and August 1, 2008 via the Duffey Lake road. July 31: Departing YVR at 12pm and Whistler at 1pm. August 1: Departing Whistler at 8am and YVR at 12pm. Operators of the service, Pacific Coach, will be reviewing the possibility of extending this service depending upon the status of the highway in the coming days. For more information visit call 1-800-661-1725 or visit www.whistlerskylynx.com

Bus to/ from Squamish

The Squamish Whistler Commuter is running normally, and can get people to and from Squamish, where there is access to a water taxi or float plane (see below). The Resort Municipality of Whistler is currently investigating the possibility of expanding the service during the highway closure. Details will be released as information becomes available. The current schedule for the Squamish Whistler Commuter is available online at www.bctransit.com

Floatplane and helicopter to/ from Vancouver and Victoria

• Whistler Air
  Whistler Air offers scheduled and charter service between Whistler and downtown Vancouver on a daily basis. Rates start at $159 per person for scheduled service to Vancouver. Whistler Air is also offering a first come first serve service in addition to scheduled service. These flights will run back to back between Whistler and Vancouver all day long. Please direct people to the floatplane dock to secure a seat on the next available flight.
  1-888-806-2299 www.whistlerair.ca
  
  
• West Coast Air
  West Coast Air offers daily service between Whistler and downtown Victoria, and also has aircraft available for charter to Vancouver.
  1-800-347-2222 www.westcoast.com
  
  
• Sea to Sky Air
  Sea to Sky Air flies from Whistler and Squamish to Vancouver.
  604-898-1975 www.seatoskyair.ca
  
  
• Glacier Air
  Glacier Air flies between Squamish Airport and the south terminal at YVR.
  604-898-9016 www.glacierair.com
  
  
• Blackcomb Helicopters
  Blackcomb Helicopters are offering a special rate of $800 per person one way to Vancouver Airport's south terminal on aircraft departing during the road closure.
  604-938-1700 or 1-800-330-HELI (4354) www.blackcombhelicopters.com
  
  
• Helijet
  Helijet offers service between Whistler and Vancouver
  604-273-4688 or 1-800-665-4354 www.helijet.com

Train service between Vancouver and Whistler

NOTE: Whistler Mountaineer has confirmed that it will not be operating on July 31 and August 1. Due to the extensive damage and clean-up on the tracks, they are hoping to have the first rail travel date on Tuesday, August 5; however confirmation of this is still pending. Rocky Mountaineer Vacations, operator of the Whistler Mountaineer rail service, is contacting all guests that are booked and advising them of the options to re-book or reimbursement.

Sea travel between Squamish and Horseshoe Bay

• Squamish Tug
  Squamish Tug is operating a water taxi service between Squamish and Horseshoe Bay. This service runs every two hours, 24 hours per day. The fare is $40 per person, unless the water taxi is not full, in which case the fare could rise to $80 per person. They expect that they will be running this service until the highway re-opens. 604-898-3733. Note that, per above, the Squamish Whistler Commuter provides service between Whistler and Squamish.

• BC Ferries
  BC Ferries and the provincial Ministry of Transportation are looking into the possibility of a ferry between Porteau Cove and Darrel Bay, just south of Squamish.

Please Add Comments(3)

Henry Lorteau
very interesting how companies say they will provide the service but you have to pay tooth and nail for it which is unfair,any way people can rip people off

Sarah B
I just called and it is not $40 per trip, it is $60. What a crock, people are stranded and they jack up the rates.

Alexander Gray
Squamish Tug's water taxi only holds 12 people max. They are restricting luggage to one bag per person and they cannot guarantee that they will be able to take a bicycle so you could be stranded if that is your plan. Irony is that they charge you more if not full so that goes along with the previous comment. Even though gas is up in price they are making some good money there and back. Whilst I was trying to adopt the green approach to avoid wasting gas looks like I will be driving the long way round at the weekend with my bike on the roof.