FIRST SPEARHEAD HUT OPEN FOR BUSINESS

As ski touring gains popularity in North America, there is a rising demand for more backcountry huts to provide shelter for the night or a warm place to rest. Thanks to a group of dedicated supporters, the Spearhead Huts Project is well underway on the Spearhead Traverse, a popular backcountry skiing and hiking route in Garibaldi Provincial Park near Whistler. The first of three planned huts will be open this winter.

Located at Russet Lake, the Kees and Claire Hut has 38 bunks in six different sleeping areas. The hut offers propane cooktops with basic equipment for cooking and dining, propane heaters, LED lighting, three toilets, wastewater disposal, and 12 USB ports for recharging mobile GPS units. A water system is planned but won’t be in operation this season, so water can be collected from Russet Lake or by melting snow.

The hut is open to the public, but there is a fee to stay there: adults are $45 per night, and children under 14 are $30. For more information or to make a reservation, visit spearheadhuts.org.