The gate is at 49.68051,-123.12036, 770m elev? about 1.4km walk to the upper gondola station. We have parked here a couple of times, there is room for a few cars. I would expect the current condition of the 4x4 road to be quite icy now. I haven't heard of any problems heading up on the road this way while the gondola has been closed.

Speaking of gondola, I heard they have installed the new cable and have 4 cars on the line that weren't destroyed. So hopefully it will be open by summer. I think we'll buy passes this year, it's been a while since I've hiked up there and there is such great terrain.