If Lake Lucille (or Lucille Lake, depending on who you talk to) ever was a ‘local secret,’ it is not anymore.
If you were at the beach area on the Canada Day long weekend — or any recent summer weekend — you would have noticed a sea of bodies both on the sand and in the water.
It looks a bit more like the beach at Alice Lake than a hidden gem.
After all, it is right along the increasingly popular Sea to Sky Trail network. (Not to mention a fun, but questionable bike/skateboard ramp that lands users in the water.)
Unlike the provincial park, though, there are no amenities at Lucille.
There are no trash cans or washrooms.
Take a wee walk into the forest beside the beach and where folks are doing their business becomes clear — there are spots of toilet paper and human feces.
With the number of small children and families enjoying the relatively large crisp lake and sandy stretch of beach, it is no wonder why two seems to be the forest’s favourite number.
The beach area is a fair walk from where you can park and a bit of a drive from either Squamish or Whistler (and a long one from Vancouver), so it makes sense that people would eventually need to go to the loo.
It is safe to say it’s time for some type of washroom facilities there and the powers that be seem at least open to considering the idea.
Lucille Lake area is under the jurisdiction of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District.
SLRD Area D director Tony Rainbow told The Squamish Chief that he would look into it and thought washrooms could possibly be put in.
On the lake’s increasing popularity, Rainbow said he gets it and doesn’t want environmental damage, such as what happened at Joffre Lakes, which was heavily impacted by greatly increased visitation to the point that the provincial government put in stricter controls, to occur at Lucille.
“I know exactly what’s happening, and I know it’s going be a real challenge,” he said.
When it comes to installing trashcans, unfortunately, that is unlikely.
“If you have garbage bins, then you’ve got to service them. We just don’t have the budget to do that,” Rainbow explained.
So, folks need to remember the cardinal rule of recreating — pack out what you packed in.
Rainbow also said the area may need some signage as well to help explain to visitors what is what.
“We’ll look at that and see what see how I can improve it,” he said.
Hopefully, this is something that can happen sooner rather than later because, like a potty-training child, the lake can’t really wait much longer before someone has to go.
