Bookings
Reservations are required for all stays at the hut. Please see the Hut Booking page for booking information.
Modern Backcountry Accommodation
The hut runs on solar, wood pellets and propane. Solar energy is stored in a bank of batteries that power the lighting, fans and auger in the wood pellet stove. There are several power outlets for charging personal devices. This is the only ACC backcountry hut that uses a high efficiency wood pellet stove for heating. This system is clean and straightforward to operate: guests simply ensure there are pellets in the stove’s hopper and then adjust the control dials to the desired temperature. The wood pellet stove helps ensure that visitors do not cut down the area’s old krummholz trees for firewood. The hut has four propane cooktop burners. It is expensive to fly in propane so we ask guests to conserve propane through measures such as preheating water in a large pot on top of the wood pellet stove. The outhouse uses an innovative urine/solid separating system. This is the first time this technology has been used in the ACC’s hut network. In the absence of urine, the weight of the waste is much reduced and removal is much easier. Urine diversion is the critical component in creating a low-hazard and low-odour waterless toilet. NO dogs or other animals, except guide animals, are permitted in the hut. Please keep dogs away from the tarns near the hut as those provide our drinking water.
The Hut Experience
Staying in a backcountry hut is a shared, rustic experience. Sleeping, kitchen and living areas are communal, and foam mattresses, cooking and eating utensils are provided. Guests are expected to bring their own sleeping bags, food and personal items.
All of our huts are user-maintained, meaning that the custodial work of keeping the hut clean, fetching water and shovelling snow is done by the guests. ACCVI maintains and resupplies the hut.
Facilities
| 12 in 2 rooms with 6 bunks each | |
| Mattress pads provided, bring your own sleeping bag | |
|
Propane stove (propane supplied). Pots, pans, dishes and utensils provided |
|
| Outhouse | |
| Solar LED lighting | |
| Wood pellet stove – fuel provided | |
| Snow melt, creek, tarns |
Current Conditions
Check the hut conditions page which shows a recent image and weather data for the hut. Other information on current conditions (road, trail.snow etc) may be found on the Facebook page. Weather forecasts can be obtained from Mountain Forecast for Klitsa Mountain (near 5040 Peak). An estimate of snow levels on Marion Main is available from DriveBC webcam at Taylor River and Sentinel Hub. Please visit Avalanche.ca for current conditions: https://avalanche.ca/en/map
Hišimy̓awiƛ
Hišimy̓awiƛ means “Gather Together” in the Barkley Sound dialect of the Ucluelet First Nation.
The pronunciation is: [Hi-SHIM-ya-wit], although the final “barred lambda” or “running man” can also be pronounced [tsh] or [tl]. The three i’s are all short.
About the hut
Perched on a spectacular ridge at 1350m on 5040 Peak, the new ACC Vancouver Island hut provides access to extensive summer alpine hiking and superb winter and spring skiing.
5040 Peak’s location provides access to high alpine ridges that can be used to reach other peaks in the heart of Vancouver Island including Nahmint Mountain with its 200m high French Falls and Adder Peak which is speckled with sapphire blue lakes. When visiting this area please keep in mind the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation saying “His-shuk-nish-tsa-waak” which means “We Are All One”.
Camping
There is space to camp available nearby, on the gravel to the east of the hut, but hut facilities are reserved only for those staying in the hut or who have reserved space. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to use the outhouse, donations for maintenance are appreciated, there is a donation box inside the hut or follow this link to the Alpine Club of Canada donations page.
Campers may use the hut for emergency purposes, for example if an unexpected severe storm comes in. Otherwise if it’s just rain or snow they should be prepared to camp in regular mountain weather.
Access
Location: Lat/Long 49.18916667, -125.28750000
Quick Description: Summer: A 2.4km hike up the Cobalt Lake Trail. Winter: Up to 12km ski. Distance depends on the snow line on the Marion Creek Forest Service Road.
A 4WD/AWD vehicle is required to access the trailhead.
Elevation Gain to Hut: Summer: 700 m (2300 ft). Winter: up to 1175 m (3850 ft).
Approach Time: Summer: 2-3 hours. Winter: 4-12 hours.