In 2011, there will be significant changes to our Parking Plan. Please read on for full details.
The Basics
Roads & Emergency Lanes
For most of the year, the farm is just open field. We layout roadways specifically for the event, although when you arrive, they might not be easily distinguishable. If you find a “totally awesome” camp spot that is completely clear of settlement, though camps are set up near by, check with a Parking Wayfinder before setting up camp. If you set up in a Fire Lane or access road, you’ll have to tear down and set up somewhere else all over again – and no one wants to do that! Tip: if there are a bunch of little flags in the ground, it’s probably a lane way!
Vehicles parked in Fire Lanes, access roads, or other places where vehicles are not permitted will be towed. Towing fees (up to $160) will apply.
Towing & Locksmithing
We hope you don’t need to, but if you’re having car trouble or have locked your keys in your vehicle, you can connect with these services by visiting BASScamp. A Shambassador will be more than willing to help you. :)
The Rules of Our Roads
- Shambhala is an Idle Free Zone. If you will be stopped for more than 10 seconds and you are safely out of traffic please shut off your engine so we can all breathe easier.
- All vehicles are subject to searches. You have the right to refuse searches, however, we have the right to refuse your entry to the festival if you do.
- Vehicles must be parked where directed. Please note that there is limited space to camp with your vehicle.
- Guests who choose to camp in the “Car Free” Zone, or those who do not wish to purchase a parking pass for the other Camp Zones must park their vehicle in the designated Free Parking Lot.
- On the grounds there is a one way policy in place. Please follow the directional signs and obey the traffic guides.
- If you find a “totally awesome” camp spot that is completely clear of settlement, yet there are camps set up near by, check with our Parking Wayfinders before setting up camp. Should you set up in a fire lane or access road, you’ll have to tear down and set up somewhere else all over again – and no one wants to do that! Tip: if there are little flags in the ground in sight, it’s probably a lane way.
- Vehicles parked in Fire Lanes, access roads, or other places where vehicles are not permitted will be towed. Towing fees (up to $160) will apply.
- The Speed Limit on the ranch is 5km per hour.
- Pedestrians & cows always have the right of way.
Preserving the Farm & 2011 Parking Changes
Background
For five magical mountain days every year, we gather and we celebrate. We celebrate with our goodness, our love, our respect and our community.
Then, when it’s over we head home, and the Salmo River Ranch goes back to being a peaceful farm in a quiet Kootenay valley. One of the biggest challenges we face every year is trying to make sure that when the festival is done, the farm can go back to its regular routine and the cows can go back to their grazing.
Across British Columbia, only 5.0% of the land is usable agricultural land and an even smaller portion,only 1.1% of the province, is considered to be prime farm land. In 1973 the provincial government formed a commission to protect the limited amount of farm land, and Agricultural Land Reserves (ALRs) were identified.
The Salmo River Ranch where Shambhala takes place every year lies inside one of these areas and all of us, as Shambhazens, have a responsibility to help preserve this land.
As the festival has grown from 500 people gathering for a weekend party to 10,000 people forming the largest city in the West Kootenays for a week in the summer, the impact that we are having on the land has grown as well.
Despite people’s best intentions cars compact the soil and garbage gets left behind. Every year it gets a bit harder to restore the farm to its pristine condition. In recent years the Agricultural Land Commission has expressed concern that the amount of soil compaction* on the farm has become significant enough that mitigation measures need to start being implemented.
[*Soil compactionoccurs when heavy traffic compresses the soil, causing it to lose pore space. Affected soils become less able to absorb rainfall, thus increasing runoff and erosion. Plants have difficulty in compacted soil because the mineral grains are pressed together, leaving little space for air and water, which are essential for root growth. Compaction of agricultural soils is a concern to many agricultural soil scientists and farmers, since soil compaction due to heavy field traffic may reduce plant growth.]
This year, to help preserve the farm land, the free parking for people that choose to camp in the car-free zone (now called Metta) will be moved to a new location, outside of the ALR.
You’ll still be able to drive down as far as the Drop Zone to unload all of your camping supplies before returning back to the long term parking and there will be shuttles running between the parking and the camping areas as well. The more people who choose to leave their cars in the long term parking, the less impact we’ll have on the farm land and the more prime camping spaces will be available for everyone to use.
For people that still want to camp with their cars in the Sunshine (“Overflow”), Starlight or Jersey Camp Zones (the fields on either side of the main road, Starlight being the larger area) there will be a small fee to help offset the costs of the remediation work that takes place once the festival is over.
The parking fee will be $40 for the areas closest to the Downtown area (Starlight & Jersey) and $20 for the North field (Sunshine).
The fees are double for RVs and oversized vehicles because of the extra space they take and impact they have. Parking Fees are mandatory for vehicles this size, as our parking lot is not within the festival camping boundaries.
The Parking Lot will have dedicated Security Guards.
(NOTE: A map is coming SOON so that you can have a visual of the boundaries of each Camp Zone)
| Sunshine Camp | Starlight / Jersey Camp | Metta Camp | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reg. Size Vehicle
(Up to 7 passenger) |
$20 | $40 | N/A |
| Oversize Vehicle
(8+ passenger) |
$40 | $80 | N/A |
| No Vehicle /
Use Free Parking Lot |
FREE! | FREE! | FREE! |
*Oversize Vehicles cannot park in Free Parking Lot.
If we all do our part to lessen our impact on the land, it will help ensure that the Salmo River Ranch stays green and healthy for years to come. Anything we can do to reduce the number of cars will help not only the farm, but the environment as well. Fewer cars on the road means less pollution being pumped into the atmosphere.
Consider carpooling with friends or check out pages that are available on facebook or sites like kootenayrideshare.com. Road trips are a great opportunity to have a blast with old friends, make new ones and do your part to help reduce our overall carbon footprint.
Thank you for joining us on our journey toward making Shambhala a greener festival and preserving the beautiful farm land the festival is held on.
