Fay hut

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Fay hut
alpine hut
none
Named for: Charles Ernest Fay
Country Flag of Canada Canada
Province Flag of British Columbia British Columbia
Region Kootenay National Park
Location Prospectors Valley
 - elevation 2,108 m (6,900 ft)
 - coordinates 51°15′45″N 116°12′29″W / 51.2625, -116.20806
Built by Alpine Club of Canada
Style Log cabin
Material Wood
Built in 2005
Governed by Parks Canada
Operated by Alpine Club of Canada
For public Reservations required
Easiest access via Tokumm Creek
Capacity 12 in summer or winter
Heating Wood stove
Lighting / Cooking Solar / Propane
Sleeping Dormitory style
Drinking water Creek (boil or filter)
Human waste Outhouse (helicoptered out)
GPS coordinates NAD83 11U 555256 5679315
Map reference 82N/8 (Lake Louise)
Grid reference 552793
Website: http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/facility/fay.html

The Fay hut is an alpine hut located above Prospectors Valley in Kootenay National Park, British Columbia. Although the higher Neil Colgan hut has superseded it it as a base for climbs in the Valley of the Ten Peaks area, it still serves as a convenient base for hikers and skiers doing day trips in the area, and as an overnight stop for mountaineers continuing on to the Neil Colgan hut. Since it was built in 2005 to replace the original Fay hut, which was destroyed by a forest fire in 2003, it is one of the most modern of the Canadian alpine huts. The Fay hut is maintained by the Alpine Club of Canada (ACC).[1] Coordinates: 51°15′45″N 116°12′29″W / 51.2625, -116.20806

Contents

[edit] History

New Fay hut site in burned area
New Fay hut site in burned area

The original Fay hut was built in 1927 as a base for climbing in the Valley of the Ten Peaks area. Although it was predated by the Abbot Pass hut and the Elizabeth Parker hut, it was the first hut actually built by the Alpine Club of Canada (ACC). The other two huts were built by the Canadian Pacific Railway and turned over to the ACC some time later. The Fay hut was named for Charles Fay, a founder and the first president of the American Alpine Club. Charles Fay made 25 trips to the Canadian Rockies, participated in the first ascents of Mounts Victoria and Lefroy, and was an honorary member of the ACC.[2]

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Fay hut under construction
Fay hut under construction

The ACC operated the hut until 1972, when it turned it over to Kootenay National Park because it could not afford to pay for repairs after a tree fell through the roof. The Park operated it until 1991 when, in a reversal of philosophy, it returned it to the ACC because it did not want to pay for renovations to keep it operating. The ACC and its Rocky Mountain Section put a major effort into renovations and returned the hut to excellent condition. [2]

The original Fay hut was destroyed in 2003 [3] by a major forest fire that burned 12.6% of Kootenay National Park.[4]

The current Fay hut was rebuilt by the ACC in 2005, close to the site of the original hut. Construction involved the contribution of hundreds of thousands of dollars, and thousands of hours of volunteer time, by the members of the ACC and its Rocky Mountain Section. The new hut was a modern log building, prefabricated outside of the park and airlifted to the site in 140 loads by two Bell 407 helicopters in June and July 2005. 20 volunteers a week worked on site for 4 weeks in July, 2005 to assemble the structure. There was one further week of work done in 2006 to finish some small items not completed the year before. In June 2005 85 flights were made to load most of the materials needed to complete the project. This was completed by several volunteers over a four day period. In order for the actual construction to begin the site had to be cleared, a bridge built and a helicopter landing pad constucted.[5]

[edit] Access

Fay Hut in Winter
Fay Hut in Winter
Trailhead location 6.5 km (4.0 mi) west of Alberta border on Hw 93
Hiking/Skiing distance 12.8 kilometres (8.0 mi)
Elevation gain 600 metres (2,000 ft)
Approximate time 4-5 hours in summer / 5-11 hours in winter

In both summer and winter, start from the the Marble Canyon parking lot 6.5 kilometres (4.0 mi) west of the Alberta border on British Columbia Highway 93 (the Banff-Radium Hiqhway).

In summer, follow the well-marked trail along Tokumm Creek for about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) and then turn right at the trail sign indicating the route to the hut. The trail gains elevation and after about 1.5 km (1 mi) ascends a 50 m (160 ft) high rocky headwall. A rope hanging from the top of the headwall provides some help. The hut is only a few hundred metres east of the top of the rope. Note that the trail gains 450 of the 600 metres of elevation in the last 2 kilometres. The route should take about 4-5 hours.[1]

In winter, the trail follows the same route, but route-finding after leaving Tokumm Creek can be difficult. After crossing the small bridge at 10 kilometres (6.2 mi), watch for the signpost directing you into a drainage to the east. Head along the small creek for about 50 metres (160 ft) and, after encountering a small ice wall on the right, start the climb up. There is a fixed rope to help with a short section, although it may be buried by snow. At the top, the hut is a few hundred metres to the right, but without a defined trail or a GPS you may have trouble finding it. This route should take about 5 hours, but may take up to 11 if trail breaking is required, and many groups have had to bivy overnight near the headwall.[1]

[edit] Facilities

Fay hut dining area
Fay hut dining area
Heating Wood stove
Lighting Solar and Propane
Cooking Propane oven & range, cookware, dishes & utensils provided
Sleeping Dormitory style on thick foam mattresses
Capacity 12 in summer and winter
Drinking water From the creek (boil or filter)
Human Waste Outhouse (helicoptered out)
Dishwater Ground sump
Garbage Pack it out
Fay hut living area
Fay hut living area

The hut sleeps 12 in summer or winter on foam mattresses. It is equipped with both solar lighting and propane powered lamps. It has a propane stovetop and oven, and a wood-burning stove for heating in the winter.

[edit] Activities

The hut was originally built as a base for mountaineering in the Valley of the Ten Peaks area, but has since been superseded for that purpose by the Neil Colgan hut. However, it is still possible to make ascents in this area using Fay hut as a base, and peaks like Mount Little, Mount Fay, and Mount Quadra are the most common.[6] [7]

For hiking and backcountry skiing, the trip up Tokumm Creek itself is worthwhile and highly scenic. Continuing along the trail past the turnoff to the hut to the Kaufmann Lake junction is also a good objective,[8] but as of 2007, the trail past the turnoff had not been cleared of deadfall from the forest fire.[9] Skiing from the Fay hut to the Neil Colgan hut is also possible, but should be considered ski mountaineering and can be challenging if conditions are not ideal.[2]

[edit] Parks Canada information

Fay hut is in Kootenay National Park.[10] All vehicles stopping in a National Park must have a Park Motor Vehicle Permit. Annual or single day permits can be purchased at most Park entrance gates and Park visitor centres.[11]

Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho, and Glacier National Parks collect a fee for backcountry overnight use in the Parks. The fees collected from the wilderness passes go towards maintaining trails, supplying the voluntary registration service, avalanche forecasting, backcountry bridge-building, etc. Overnight users of the Fay hut (ages 16 and over) are required to pay this fee.[11]

The maximum group size for hiking is 10 persons. If your group is larger, you will need to split into smaller groups.

Natural hazards are part of every visit to the Rocky Mountains.[12] It is recommended that anyone participating in hazardous activities in the backcountry register with the Park Wardens. This registration is free and is the best method of ensuring that someone comes looking for you should the worst happen. You can register at any Parks Canada Visitor Centre.[13]

[edit] Nearby

[edit] Maps

Map reference 82N/8 (Lake Louise)
Grid reference 552793
GPS coordinates 51° 15' 45" N, 116° 12' 29" NAD83 11U 555256 5679315
Hut elevation 2,108 metres (6,920 ft)

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Scott, Jim (2002). Backcountry Huts and Lodges of the Rockies and Columbias. Johnson Gorman Publishing, pp. 64-65. ISBN 0921835582. 
  2. ^ a b c Haberl, Keith (1997). Alpine Huts: A guide to the facilities of the Alpine Club of Canada, 2nd ed, The Alpine Club of Canada, pp. 69-72. ISBN 0920330320. 
  3. ^ Mortimer, Mike (2003-08-06). Remembering the Fay hut. The Alpine Club of Canada. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
  4. ^ Kootenay National Park of Canada: A Fiery Summer. Stories About Canada's Natural Heritage. Parks Canada (2003-12-11). Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
  5. ^ Hardardt, Bruce (2005-07-04). Fay Hut update. The Alpine Club of Canada. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
  6. ^ Dougherty, Sean (2000). Selected Alpine Climbs in the Canadian Rockies. Rocky Mountain Books. ISBN 0921102143. 
  7. ^ Boles, Glen; Kruszyna, Robert; Putnam, William (1979). Rocky Mountains of Canada: South. The American Alpine Club/The Alpine Club of Canada. ISBN 0930410084. 
  8. ^ Scott, Chic (1998). Ski Trails in the Canadian Rockies, 3rd ed, Rocky Mountain Books, pp. 93-94. ISBN 0921102135. 
  9. ^ Patton, Brian; Robinson, Bart (2007). Canadian Rockies Trail Guide, 8th ed, Summerthought Publishing, pp. 320-321. ISBN 0978237501. 
  10. ^ Kootenay National Park of Canada. Parks Canada (2007). Retrieved on 2008-01-16.
  11. ^ a b Fees. Kootenay National Park. Parks Canada (2007). Retrieved on 2008-01-16.
  12. ^ Visitor Safety. Kootenay National Park. Parks Canada (2007). Retrieved on 2008-01-16.
  13. ^ Voluntary Safety Registration. Kootenay National Park. Parks Canada (2007). Retrieved on 2008-01-16.

[edit] Further Reading

[edit] External links