Stanley Mitchell hut

Geobox| alpine hut
name = Stanley Mitchell hut
native_name =
other_name =
category =


image_caption =
official_name =
etymology_type = Named for
etymology = Stanley Mitchell
nickname =


symbol =
country = CAN
state_type = Province
state = BC
region = Yoho National Park
district =
municipality =
location = Little Yoho Valley
elevation_round = -2
elevation = 2060
prominence =
lat_d = 51 | lat_m = 31 | lat_s = 36 | lat_NS = N
long_d = 116 | long_m = 33 | long_s = 48 | long_EW = W
coordinates_no_title = 1
length = | length_orientation =
width = | width_orientation =
height =
depth =
volume =
area =
author_type = Built by
author = Alpine Club of Canada
style = Log cabin
material = Wood
established_type = Built in
established = 1940
date =
government_type = Governed by
government = Parks Canada
owner_type = Owned by
owner = Alpine Club of Canada
public = Reservations required
visitation = | visitation_date =
access = Little Yoho Valley trail
whs_name =
whs_year =
whs_number =
whs_region =
whs_criteria =
iucn_category =
free_type = Capacity | free = 24 in summer / 20 in winter
free1_type = Heating | free1 = Wood stove
free2_type = Lighting & Cooking | free2 = Propane
free3_type = Sleeping | free3 = Dormitory style
free4_type = Drinking water | free4 = Creek (boil or filter)
free5_type = Human waste | free5 = Outhouse
free6_type = GPS Coordinates | free6 = NAD83 11U 530293 5708485
free7_type = Map reference | free7 = 82N/10 (Blaeberry River)
free8_type = Grid reference | free8 = 303081


map_caption =
map_background =
map_locator =
map_locator_x =
map_locator_y =
website = http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/facility/stanley.html
footnotes =The Stanley Mitchell hut is an alpine hut located at an altitude of 2060 m (6,825 feet)in the Little Yoho Valley in Yoho National Park, British Columbia. It sits in a small meadow not far from the base of a mountain called The President. It serves as a base for hiking, scrambling, ski-touring and climbing the nearby mountains. The hut is maintained by the Alpine Club of Canada. [cite book
last = Haberl
first = Keith
title = Alpine Huts: A guide to the facilities of the Alpine Club of Canada
publisher = Alpine Club of Canada
date = 1997
pages = pp. 87-93
isbn = 0-920330-32-0]

History

Along with A.O. Wheeler and Elizabeth Parker, Stanley Mitchell was responsible for founding the Alpine Club of Canada in 1906, and from 1907 to 1930 he served as its Secretary-Treasurer. He had a great reputation as a gentleman among his fellow founders and the executive of the club, as well as the members he met at the club house in Banff. He died in 1940, shortly after the hut which bears his name was completed.

The Little Yoho Valley has long had a reputation as an excellent alpine climbing area as well as a magnificent skiing area. The Canadian military used the area during the summer of 1943 as a training site for mountaineering techniques. From 1954 to the mid-70s mountaineering legend Hans Gmoser used the hut as a base for his ski touring operation - a company which eventually became the heli-skiing operator Canadian Mountain Holidays.

The hut has undergone a few renovations, but is relatively the same as it was in 1940. It is presently in excellent condition; a comfortable facility set in beautiful meadow and mountain terrain, and a fine memorial to one of the Club's founders.

The Stanley Mitchell hut was designated a Federal Heritage Building in 1997.

Access

The Little Yoho Valley is located on the north side of the Trans-Canada Highway, 21 km west of Lake Louise, Alberta and 3.7 km east of Field, British Columbia. The turn-off to the trailhead is signed as "Takakkaw Falls" on the highway. Follow the Yoho Valley Road to the Takakkaw Falls parking lot (13 km from the highway). In summer, park at the most northerly point (closest to the Parks Canada campground). In winter, follow the Yoho Valley Road for approximately 1 km and park at the locked gate. The rest of the road is unplowed in winter.

ummer routes

The Stanley Mitchell hut is a one-and-a-half storey log building. The hut consists of a large kitchen area and a living/dining room with tables, seats and a wood burning stove. It has a good supply of tools including water buckets, axes, saws, shovels, etc.

The hut sleeps 24 in summer and 20 in winter. The sleeping quarters have 4-inch thick covered foam mattresses and are in a small room on the main floor and a large upstairs loft. Sleeping arrangements are dormitory-style, on two long bunks (bring earplugs!).

The hut is lit by several propane lights. It has a wood-burning stove for heating and drying clothes. Firewood is stored behind the hut. Please replace all firewood you use in the hut with cut and split wood from the pile.

The kitchen is well supplied with dishes, cutlery, utensils, pots and pans and bake ware (including roasting pans, cookie sheets, bread pans and muffin pans). There is a full size propane oven, as well as some two-burner propane stoves for cooking. Propane is supplied by the Alpine Club via a large outdoor tank. Drinking water is available from a small spring-fed creek running through the meadow 60 m south of the hut. It is advisable to boil or treat the water before drinking it. [ cite web
last =
first =
title = Drinking Water In The Great Canadian Outdoors
publisher = Health Canada
date = 2007
url = http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/water-eau/drink-potab/water_outdoors-eau_plein_air_e.html
accessdate = 2008-01-02] In the winter you can dig down to the creek or melt snow for water.

Grey water disposal is in a ground sump next to the hut. Grey water can be drained directly down the sinks, but it is important to ensure that the strainer is in place under the drain. Food scraps (including coffee grounds) should not be allowed to enter the grey water sump or it will become plugged. Periodically, the strainer contents should be emptied into the fireplace. The grey water sump occasionally freezes in the winter, in which case the grey water (strained of food particles) should be dumped within a three meter radius of the outhouse.

The outhouse is located 30 m west of the front door of the main hut. No garbage should be dumped in the outhouse. All paper garbage and food scraps should be burned, and all other garbage and unused food should be packed out.

Requirements

* Sleeping bag
* Toilet paper
* Newspaper for lighting the fire
* Matches
* First aid kit
* 9 volt battery for the smoke detector
* Combination lock number for the hut door (call the ACC office to confirm before going to the hut)
* Reservation form from the ACC (to show the custodian)
* Parks Canada overnight or annual wilderness pass (the former will be on the reservation form if you purchase it through the ACC).

Activities

The hiking on established trails in the vicinity of the hut is excellent, with interesting trips back down the valley toward Twin Falls (such as the Whaleback trail and the Marpole Lake trail) as well as up past the hut toward Kiwetinok Pass. [ cite book
last = Patton
first = Brian
coauthors = Robinson, Bart
title = The Canadian Rockies Trail Guide, 8th Edition
publisher = Summerthought
url = http://www.summerthought.com/canadian.rockies.trail.guide.htm
date = 2007
isbn = 0-9782375-0-1 ] [cite book
last = Copeland
first = Kathy
coauthors = Copeland, Craig
title = Don't Waste Your Time in the Canadian Rockies: The Opinionated Hiking Guide
publisher = Hikingcamping.com
date = 2004
url = http://hikingcamping.com/time_canadian_rockies.php
isbn = 0-9689419-7-4 ]

The big mountaineering objectives of the area are The President and the Vice President. The routes from the col between the two peaks are excellent moderate mountaineering challenges that see a fair number of beginners brought along. The Vice President also offers a very good snow and ice route on the north face. The North Ridge and East Face of Mount McArthur to the northwest are also very good alpine outings. [ cite book
last = Dougherty
first = Sean
title = Selected Alpine Climbs in the Canadian Rockies
publisher = Rocky Mountain Books
date = 1993
isbn = 0-921102-14-3 ]

Besides the President and Vice President, the other peaks in the area are primarily scrambling outings. Some of the most common objectives are Mount Kerr, Mount Polinger, Kiwetinok Peak and Isolated Peak. There is also very good scrambling along Whaleback Mountain. [ cite book
last = Kane
first = Alan
title = Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies, 3rd Edition
publisher = Rocky Mountain Books
date = 1999
url = http://www.rmbooks.com/books/dousel.htm
isbn = 0-921102-67-4 ]

Author Chic Scott raves about the backcountry skiing in the Little Yoho Valley in the winter, referring to both the skiing terrain and the warmth and atmosphere at the Stanley Mitchell Hut. According to Chic, the valley, with its perfect terrain, excellent snow and ski runs which end at the door of the hut is the "Gem of the Rockies". cite book
last = Scott
first = Chic
title = Summits & Icefields: Canadian Rockies
publisher = Rocky Mountain Books
date = 2003
url = http://www.rmbooks.com/books/scosum.htm
isbn = 1-894765-46-X]

It is an awfully long way to haul ice climbing gear, but if you are really keen, you will be rewarded with ascents of the lovely Twin Falls (100 m, WI 4-5). [cite book
last = Josephson
first = Joe
title = Waterfall Ice Climbs in the Canadian Rockies
publisher = Rocky Mountain Books
date = 2002
url = http://www.rmbooks.com/books/joswat.htm
isbn = 0-921102-68-2 ]

Parks Canada Information

Stanley Mitchell hut is in Yoho National Park. 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. cite web
last =
first =
title = Fees
work = Yoho National Park
publisher = Parks Canada
date = 2007
url = http://www2.parkscanada.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/yoho/visit/tarifs_fees_e.asp?park=4
accessdate = 2008-01-02]

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 ACC huts (ages 16 and over) are required to pay this fee. cite web
last =
first =
title = Fees
work = Yoho National Park
publisher = Parks Canada
date = 2007
url = http://www2.parkscanada.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/yoho/visit/tarifs_fees_e.asp?park=4
accessdate = 2008-01-02]

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

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. [ cite web
last =
first =
title = Visitor Safety
work = Yoho National Park
publisher = Parks Canada
date = 2007
url = http://www2.parkscanada.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/yoho/visit/visit6_e.asp#voluntary
accessdate = 2008-01-02]

Nearby

* The President and Vice President
* Mount McArthur
* Mount Kerr
* Isolated Peak

Maps

* cite map
publisher = Gem Trek Publishing
title = Lake Louise and Yoho
scale = 1:50,000
series = Guides for Hiking and Recreation in the Canadian Rockies
year =
edition =
section =
url = http://www.gemtrek.com/lakelouise.html
isbn = 1-895526-64-7
accessdate = This excellent map shows the trails and highlights of the area.
* cite map
publisher = Canadian Government
title = 82N/10 (Blaeberry River)
scale = 1:50,000
series = National Topographic System (NTS)
edition =
section =
url = http://maps.nrcan.gc.ca/index_e.php
accessdate = The hut is found on the bottom right hand corner at grid reference 303081
* cite map
publisher = Canadian Government
title = 82N/8 (Lake Louise)
scale = 1:50,000
series = National Topographic System (NTS)
edition =
section =
url = http://maps.nrcan.gc.ca/index_e.php
accessdate = The parking lot and trailhead are on the upper left corner
* cite map
publisher = Canadian Government
title = 82N/9 (Hector Lake)
scale = 1:50,000
series = National Topographic System (NTS)
edition =
section =
url = http://maps.nrcan.gc.ca/index_e.php
accessdate = The middle part of the trail is on the lower left corner
* cite map
publisher = Canadian Government
title = 82N/7 (Golden)
scale = 1:50,000
series = National Topographic System (NTS)
edition =
section =
url = http://maps.nrcan.gc.ca/index_e.php
accessdate = if you wish to climb the President and Vice President.
* cite map
publisher = Druid Mountain Enterprises
title = Touring the Wapta Icefield, by Murray Toft
scale = 1:50,000
edition =
section = Bow-Yoho Traverse
url = http://www.canrockbooks.com/si/010165.html
accessdate = Contains the critical areas of the above four maps

References

Further reading

* Cite book
last = Scott
first = Jim
title = Backcountry Huts and Lodges of the Rockies and Columbias
date = 2002
publisher = Johnson Gorman Publishing
isbn = 0-92183-55-82
* cite book
last = Beers
first = Don
title = The Wonder of Yoho
publisher = Rocky Mountain Books
date = 2003
url = http://www.rmbooks.com/books/beewon.htm
isbn = 0-921102-29-1
* cite book
last = Corbett
first = Don
title = The 11,000ers of the Canadian Rockies
publisher = Rocky Mountain Books
date = 2004
url = http://www.rmbooks.com/books/cor11000.htm
isbn = 1-894765-43-5
* cite book
last = Gadd
first = Ben
title = Handbook of the Canadian Rockies
url = http://www.bengadd.com/BenGaddBooks.htm
publisher = Corax Press
date = 1996
isbn = 0-9692631-1-2

External links

* [http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/facility/stanley.html Stanley Mitchell Hut] at the [http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/ Alpine Club of Canada]
* [http://www.weather.ec.gc.ca/ Weather forecasts from Environment Canada]
* [http://www.avalanche.ca/ Public avalanche bulletins from the Canadian Avalanche Centre]
* [http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/yoho/index_e.asp Yoho National Park of Canada]
* [http://earth.google.com/ Google Earth] You will find the hut at 51° 31' 36" N, 116° 33' 48" W.