Harrison Hut
About the Hut
The hut is open to all, there is no reservation system. Users should send $5/person/night to the Varsity Outdoor Club, Student Union Building, UBC, to help pay for upkeep. Please report problems to the above address.
The hut is a large gothic A-frame, sleeping 15 friendly people. It has a very efficient wood stove, and is surprisingly cozy and warm. Clothes and boots may be dried. Dead wood for fuel can be obtained from a small forest 50 m away; the use of the stove for the past 15 or so years does not seem to have damaged the forest. A Coleman stove and a Coleman lamp are provided, but you have to bring your own fuel. There is a pit toilet. Water may be obtained from a nearby creek.
Skiing
The prupose of the hut is to provide access to excellent backcountry skiing. There are several glaciers within easy ski access from the Hut, and several smallish peaks are nearby, offering suitable destinations for day trips.
Location and Access
Access is a problem. Though you can drive to within 4 km of the Hut, the unmarked routes to the Hut pass through extreme coastal bush. In addition, the road from Pemberton to the start of the trail is usually not plowed in the winter, and you might be stuck with 20 odd km of extra traveling on skis if you go in during the usual ski times. Finally, as if this isn't enough, the Forest Service is "Protecting" Meagher Hot Springs by restricting access to the roads past the Lilloet River Bridge. You should contact the Forest Service before attempting a trip to the Hut to check the status of the gate and the road. Snowmobiles and helicopters do not have the access problems listed, and they occasionally go into the Hut, but it is by no means busy. The original route went up the S fork of Barr Cr (unoficially known as Madhorse Cr), but the bush does not lend itself to elegant skiing at lower elevations. More recently parties have crossed Barr Cr and gone up the logged off block to the (W?). If you go in this route, you should stay on the ridge until about 5200 ft elevation and then drop down and cross Barr Cr. The Hut is at 693966. A GPS is great if the weather isn't perfect.
Note: The bridge over meager creek washed out in October 2003. It is expected to be repaired sometime in fall 2005. Maybe.
History
Built by the Varsity Outdoor Club in 1983 as a memorial to Julian Harrison, a Club past president and keen mountaineer. Julian was killed in an avalanche.