Harrison Hut route: Difference between revisions
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The VOC doesn't have a permit to build a trail (yet). First it would be good to establish the best location for a trail. More recon missions seem to be required to check the suitability of the following route options: | The VOC doesn't have a permit to build a trail (yet). First it would be good to establish the best location for a trail. More recon missions seem to be required to check the suitability of the following route options: | ||
* Presently flagged route from the [http://www.bivouac.com/RoadPg.asp?RoadId=1336 Barr Creek FSR] to the bench below Pine Bump. This appears to be the best ski route. | * Presently flagged route from the [http://www.bivouac.com/RoadPg.asp?RoadId=1336 Barr Creek FSR] to the bench below Pine Bump. This appears to be the best ski route. | ||
* Same general route as above, but make a steep-ish traverse around 1650m to avoid extra uphill. For both routes it should be investigated if there are options to build a bridge (unlikely) or stepping stones (maybe) to assist crossing | * Same general route as above, but make a steep-ish traverse around 1650m to avoid extra uphill. For both routes it should be investigated if there are options to build a bridge (unlikely) or stepping stones (maybe) to assist crossing the creek draining the Magic Carpet Glacier. This route might be better if in a whiteout and a blizzard, rather than trying to follow cairns above the treeline. Bram tried this route in June '08 (partly on skis, partly bushwacking), and it's fairly bushy. Will require a lot more work to get in acceptable shape than the high route below Pine Bump. | ||
* Follow the "old 1980's" route from the [http://www.bivouac.com/RoadPg.asp?RoadId=4963 New Hotsprings Creek FSR] and a steep traverse NE of Barr Creek to the hut. Somebody should walk this to see if it is good. | * Follow the "old 1980's" route from the [http://www.bivouac.com/RoadPg.asp?RoadId=4963 New Hotsprings Creek FSR] and a steep traverse NE of Barr Creek to the hut. Somebody should walk this to see if it is good. Roland walked it once and claims to have seen signs of snowmobiles up there. It probably is not a good idea to improve access for snowmobiles into the Hut. For this it would be good to check out the possibilities of building a bridge over Rollercoaster Creek (the one next to the hut, should be easy to build bridge; perhaps this bridge could also be used to access new outhouse in forest on E side of this creek) and check how hard the (much bigger) Madhorse Creek is to cross. | ||
* There has been some discussion regarding the possibility of a route to the Hut from the [http://www.bivouac.com/RoadPg.asp?RoadId=1366 South Creek FSR]. This would have the major advantage that we wouldn't have to drive the road to Meager, which the | * There has been some discussion regarding the possibility of a route to the Hut from the [http://www.bivouac.com/RoadPg.asp?RoadId=1366 South Creek FSR]. This would have the major advantage that we wouldn't have to drive the road to Meager, which the authorities close in the winter due to avalanches. Nobody has actually gone in this way, so we don't know if it is actually useable. On the map, it is a long way. It appears to be about 10km + 600vm from the Pemberton Meadows Road (generally plowed in winter) to the end of the South Creek FSR, then at least another 13km + 1300vm through the main valley and up the South Creek Glacier to the Zygo - Frozen Boot col. From here it is 4km and 600vm down to the hut on the Rollercoaster Glacier. Perhaps the north fork of South Creek to the Overseer - Madhorse col could be an option as well. This could be the easiest way to the hut in winter (1 long/2 shorter days to go in), but might be too complicated (bush + glacier crossing + length) for summer approach. | ||
==Previous work== | ==Previous work== | ||
Revision as of 01:30, 4 October 2008
Planning
From the current discussion (Sept.-Oct. '08) on the VOC message board it seems that some work on the outhouse and trail would be in order. Things to do and/or consider:
Outhouse
Seems that it wouldn't be a bad idea to replace the outhouse. Ideas on the message board abound. Ben might be writing a grant proposal to MEC to cover costs for flying in a new outhouse. If we are to build a sturdy outhouse, the option of hauling it in instead of flying it in, is not realistic. If we want to haul one in or build it from materials stored under the Hut, or from the existing outhouse, we should use a much flimsier design. Note that while the present outhouse is shabby, it mainly suffers from being full. The amount of capacity, and whether it needs to be useable in the winter, will depend on whether the Hut can ever be used as a winter destination. Right now, only helicopters and snowmobiles go there.
Trail
The VOC doesn't have a permit to build a trail (yet). First it would be good to establish the best location for a trail. More recon missions seem to be required to check the suitability of the following route options:
- Presently flagged route from the Barr Creek FSR to the bench below Pine Bump. This appears to be the best ski route.
- Same general route as above, but make a steep-ish traverse around 1650m to avoid extra uphill. For both routes it should be investigated if there are options to build a bridge (unlikely) or stepping stones (maybe) to assist crossing the creek draining the Magic Carpet Glacier. This route might be better if in a whiteout and a blizzard, rather than trying to follow cairns above the treeline. Bram tried this route in June '08 (partly on skis, partly bushwacking), and it's fairly bushy. Will require a lot more work to get in acceptable shape than the high route below Pine Bump.
- Follow the "old 1980's" route from the New Hotsprings Creek FSR and a steep traverse NE of Barr Creek to the hut. Somebody should walk this to see if it is good. Roland walked it once and claims to have seen signs of snowmobiles up there. It probably is not a good idea to improve access for snowmobiles into the Hut. For this it would be good to check out the possibilities of building a bridge over Rollercoaster Creek (the one next to the hut, should be easy to build bridge; perhaps this bridge could also be used to access new outhouse in forest on E side of this creek) and check how hard the (much bigger) Madhorse Creek is to cross.
- There has been some discussion regarding the possibility of a route to the Hut from the South Creek FSR. This would have the major advantage that we wouldn't have to drive the road to Meager, which the authorities close in the winter due to avalanches. Nobody has actually gone in this way, so we don't know if it is actually useable. On the map, it is a long way. It appears to be about 10km + 600vm from the Pemberton Meadows Road (generally plowed in winter) to the end of the South Creek FSR, then at least another 13km + 1300vm through the main valley and up the South Creek Glacier to the Zygo - Frozen Boot col. From here it is 4km and 600vm down to the hut on the Rollercoaster Glacier. Perhaps the north fork of South Creek to the Overseer - Madhorse col could be an option as well. This could be the easiest way to the hut in winter (1 long/2 shorter days to go in), but might be too complicated (bush + glacier crossing + length) for summer approach.
Previous work
June 20 - 21, 2008
Harrison Hut Recon June 2008
Door to the hut was finally installed. Some of the loose metal roofing was fixed with screws. Trail was flagged with blue flagging tape.
See also the VOC message board
Aug. 2 - 3, 2008
Pete and Kristen went up to the hut and did some more flagging of the trail, built some extra cairns on the traverse below pine bump and built a set of stone steps leading up to front door.
See TR on the VOC message board
Aug. 30 - Sept. 1, 2008
Annual mountaineering camp was held at Harrison Hut. A money drop box was installed, as well as some more work on screwing down the loose metal roofing was done.
See VOC message board