Elizabeth Parker hut
Encyclopedia
The Elizabeth Parker hut is an alpine hut located in Yoho National Park
in British Columbia
at an altitude of 2040 metres (6,700 ft) in a small subalpine meadow about 500 metres west of Lake O'Hara
. It is surrounded by some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the Canadian Rockies
. The hut actually consists of two buildings, the main hut itself and the nearby Wiwaxy cabin. It is maintained by the Alpine Club of Canada
.
(ACC).
For many years, climber and surveyor A.O. Wheeler
had a desire to begin a Canadian alpine club "similar to the European and other big alpine clubs of the world". In 1902 Wheeler tried to garner support for the idea through the country's leading newspapers. Elizabeth Parker, then on the staff of the Winnipeg Free Press
, chastised him for his lack of patriotism. Wheeler then asked Parker to support his plan for a truly Canadian club. Largely due to the efforts of Elizabeth Parker and the Winnipeg Free Press, the Alpine Club of Canada was formed in Winnipeg
on March 27, 1906. Mrs. Parker was one of six original honorary members.
The present Wiwaxy cabin, built in 1912 by the Canadian Pacific Railway
(CPR) was the first hut in the Lake O'Hara area. In the same year the ACC was granted a 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) lease for a future hut on the south shore of Lake O'Hara. In 1919, the CPR built the present Elizabeth Parker hut, and by 1923 had built a further 11 huts in the meadow. In 1923 - 1924, the CPR moved all but the first two huts down to the lake shore, and seven years later donated the last two in the meadow to the ACC. The club exchanged its lakeshore lease for a lease on the meadow, and in 1931 reopened the Elizabeth Parker hut for the use of its members.
The Elizabeth Parker hut has seen substantial renovations and upkeep over the years. It has had a new floor, a new roof, new timbers and new foundation logs, as well as completely new interior furnishings. The outhouses are new, a stove was added to the Wiwaxy cabin, and the entire meadow around the hut has been rehabilitated and reseeded. The Alpine Club has worked very hard to restore the appearance of the hut as closely as possible to its original state. The Canadian government designated the Elizabeth Parker hut as a Federal Heritage Building in 1997.
from a parking area. The Lake O’Hara trailhead is located on the south side of the Trans-Canada, 12 km west of Lake Louise, Alberta
and 13 km east of Field, British Columbia
. The turn-off to the trailhead is signed on the highway. After crossing the railroad tracks, turn right and drive about 200 metres to the parking area.
The easiest and fastest way of approaching the hut is via the Lake O'Hara fire road. The road is serviced in the summer months (mid-June to early October) by a Parks Canada
bus, which picks passengers up at the Lake O’Hara parking lot four times daily. The road is not open to private vehicles at any time. The road can be hiked, but mountain bikes are not permitted. The hike up the road involves 12 km of travel with 400 metres of elevation gain.
Parks Canada uses the bus service to control access to Lake O'Hara, and reservations are difficult to obtain directly, but people using the hut can make bus bookings through the ACC office or on-line at the time they are making their hut reservations. Note that Parks Canada will not let anybody on the bus without their reservation form.
From the bus drop off point at Le Relais day use shelter, it is less than 1 km to the hut on a good trail. From Le Relais, turn right onto a trail between the shelter and the Parks Canada outhouses. Follow the signed trail up and over a small hill. On the other side of the hill, the trail descends a short distance and then turns right and follows Schäffer creek to the Elizabeth Parker hut. From Le Relais, the walk to the hut takes about 10 minutes.
Winter access is the same as in summer (see above), but requires skis or snowshoes since the bus does not run in winter and the road is not plowed. It involves 12 km of travel with 400 metres of elevation gain.
The ski approach to the hut can take anywhere from 3-7 hours, depending on whether you are breaking trail, the weight of your pack and what type of skis you use. Do not underestimate this approach; you are in the backcountry
and there are 3 or 4 large avalanche
paths across the road. While avalanches rarely hit the road, you should find out the current avalanche forecast, cross the avalanche paths one at a time, and do not stop while in the avalanche tracks.
The Elizabeth Parker Hut is actually two buildings: the main hut and the Wiwaxy cabin. The main hut consists of a large kitchen area and a living room which houses sleeping quarters, tables and a wood burning stove
. The Wiwaxy Cabin has sleeping quarters only - users share the kitchen and living area with the main hut users.
The hut sleeps about 24 in summer and 20 in winter, split between the two buildings. Sleeping arrangements are dormitory style on thick foam mattresses. The main building sleeps up to 16 people comfortably on four-inch (102 mm) thick, covered foam mattress found on two long bunks. The Wiwaxy Cabin sleeps eight people comfortably on four-inch (102 mm) thick, covered foam mattress found on two bunk levels.
Heating is provided by a wood-burning stove
in the main cabin, and another in the Wiwaxy Cabin during winter months only. Firewood
is stored behind the outhouse. Users should replace all firewood used in the hut with cut and split wood from the pile. The hut has a good supply of tools including water buckets, axes, saws, shovels, etc.
The main hut is equipped with propane
powered lamps
, stovetop and oven
. Propane is supplied via a large outdoor tank. Cookware, dishes and eating utensils are provided. Drinking water
is available 30 m to the north of the hut from the creek
which runs down from Odaray Mountain but should be boiled or filtered
. An easily accessible pipe can be found under the bridge. During winter, there will be some unfrozen pools under the snow at the junction of two creeks approximately 80 m northeast of the hut.
Grey water disposal is in a ground sump
next to the hut. People can drain grey water directly down the sinks, but should ensure that the strainer is in place under the drain. They should not allow any food scraps (including coffee grounds) to enter the grey water sump or it will become plugged. They should periodically empty the strainer contents into the fireplace. The grey water sump occasionally freezes in the winter. In this case, they should dump the grey water (strained of food particles) within a three meter radius of the outhouse.
The outhouse
is located 25 m southwest of the front door of the main hut. People should not dispose of any garbage
in the outhouse. All paper garbage and food scraps should be burned, and all other garbage and unused food packed out. In the summer, all recyclables which are clean and separated may be taken to Le Relais day shelter. Garbage can be deposited in Parks Canada containers at the nearby campground. In winter all garbage and recyclables must be packed out.
The hut is used as a base for mountaineering and a starting point for trips to the Abbot Pass hut
.
The hiking
in the Lake O'Hara area allows views of high jagged peaks, tumbling glaciers and pristine alpine lakes. There are a variety of trails in the area, ranging from short, flat trails to long, steep hikes that wind their way up into the alpine. Early summer provides an abundance of wildflowers and raging waterfalls, while fall displays lovely golden larch trees. Wildlife can be seen throughout the year. For those looking for a little more adventure, a visit to the Elizabeth Parker hut can be combined with a trip to the Abbot Pass hut
perched high on the col between Mounts Victoria and Lefroy.
The Lake O'Hara area has an abundance of alpine rock climbing
and mountaineering
. Classics include Wiwaxy Ridge (5.7), Mt. Odaray (5.4/snow/ice), Mt. Hungabee (5.3/snow/ice), and Mt. Huber (scrambling and glacier). There are a number of scrambles
that one can do easily in a day from the Elizabeth Parker Hut. Wiwaxy Peak (via Wiwaxy Gap), Mt. Yukness, Mt. Shaeffer (from McArthur Lake) and Little Odaray all offer fine outings.
The Elizabeth Parker Hut is very popular for backcountry skiing
in winter. It is one of the few ACC huts which can be reasonably reached with light cross-country skis. The ski touring in the area ranges from easy, flat tours
to advanced ski mountaineering
.
The area has one well-known ice climb
on Wiwaxy Peak – Sad and Beautiful World (160 m, WI 4).
. 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.
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 Elizabeth Parker hut (ages 16 and over) are required to pay this fee.
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.
This map shows trails and area highlights in detail This map shows trails and area highlights in detail This map shows the trails and highlights of the area. The Alpine Club cabin marked on the south shore of Lake O’Hara is not the Elizabeth Parker hut. The hut is located at grid reference 457893
Yoho National Park
Yoho National Park is located in the Canadian Rocky Mountains along the western slope of the Continental Divide in southeastern British Columbia. Yoho NP is bordered by Kootenay National Park on the southern side and Banff National Park on the eastern side...
in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
at an altitude of 2040 metres (6,700 ft) in a small subalpine meadow about 500 metres west of Lake O'Hara
Lake o'hara
Lake O'Hara a lake at an elevation of 2,115 m in the alpine area of Yoho National Park, in the province of British Columbia, on the western side of the Great Divide with the province of Alberta and Banff National Park to the east...
. It is surrounded by some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the Canadian Rockies
Canadian Rockies
The Canadian Rockies comprise the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains range. They are the eastern part of the Canadian Cordillera, extending from the Interior Plains of Alberta to the Rocky Mountain Trench of British Columbia. The southern end borders Idaho and Montana of the USA...
. The hut actually consists of two buildings, the main hut itself and the nearby Wiwaxy cabin. It is maintained by the Alpine Club of Canada
Alpine Club of Canada
The Alpine Club of Canada is a mountain club with a National Office in Canmore, Alberta that has been a focal point for Canadian mountaineering since its founding in 1906. The club was co-founded by Arthur Oliver Wheeler, who served as its first president, and Elizabeth Parker, a journalist for...
.
History
The hut was named after the journalist Elizabeth Parker, one of the founding members of the Alpine Club of CanadaAlpine Club of Canada
The Alpine Club of Canada is a mountain club with a National Office in Canmore, Alberta that has been a focal point for Canadian mountaineering since its founding in 1906. The club was co-founded by Arthur Oliver Wheeler, who served as its first president, and Elizabeth Parker, a journalist for...
(ACC).
For many years, climber and surveyor A.O. Wheeler
Arthur Oliver Wheeler
Arthur Oliver Wheeler was born in Ireland and immigrated to Canada in 1876 at the age of 16. He became a land surveyor and surveyed large areas of western Canada, including photo-topographical surveys of the Selkirk Mountains and the British Columbia-Alberta boundary along the continental divide...
had a desire to begin a Canadian alpine club "similar to the European and other big alpine clubs of the world". In 1902 Wheeler tried to garner support for the idea through the country's leading newspapers. Elizabeth Parker, then on the staff of the Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg Free Press
The Winnipeg Free Press is a daily broadsheet newspaper in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Founded in 1872, as the Manitoba Free Press, it is the oldest newspaper in western Canada. It is the newspaper with the largest readership in the province....
, chastised him for his lack of patriotism. Wheeler then asked Parker to support his plan for a truly Canadian club. Largely due to the efforts of Elizabeth Parker and the Winnipeg Free Press, the Alpine Club of Canada was formed in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
on March 27, 1906. Mrs. Parker was one of six original honorary members.
The present Wiwaxy cabin, built in 1912 by the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
(CPR) was the first hut in the Lake O'Hara area. In the same year the ACC was granted a 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) lease for a future hut on the south shore of Lake O'Hara. In 1919, the CPR built the present Elizabeth Parker hut, and by 1923 had built a further 11 huts in the meadow. In 1923 - 1924, the CPR moved all but the first two huts down to the lake shore, and seven years later donated the last two in the meadow to the ACC. The club exchanged its lakeshore lease for a lease on the meadow, and in 1931 reopened the Elizabeth Parker hut for the use of its members.
The Elizabeth Parker hut has seen substantial renovations and upkeep over the years. It has had a new floor, a new roof, new timbers and new foundation logs, as well as completely new interior furnishings. The outhouses are new, a stove was added to the Wiwaxy cabin, and the entire meadow around the hut has been rehabilitated and reseeded. The Alpine Club has worked very hard to restore the appearance of the hut as closely as possible to its original state. The Canadian government designated the Elizabeth Parker hut as a Federal Heritage Building in 1997.
Access
The hut can be reached via Lake O'Hara Road, off the Trans-Canada highwayTrans-Canada Highway
The Trans-Canada Highway is a federal-provincial highway system that joins the ten provinces of Canada. It is, along with the Trans-Siberian Highway and Australia's Highway 1, one of the world's longest national highways, with the main route spanning 8,030 km...
from a parking area. The Lake O’Hara trailhead is located on the south side of the Trans-Canada, 12 km west of Lake Louise, Alberta
Lake Louise, Alberta
Lake Louise is a hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Improvement District No. 9 Banff . It is named for the nearby Lake Louise, which in turn was named after the Princess Louise Caroline Alberta , the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria, and the wife of John Campbell, the 9th Duke of Argyll, who was the...
and 13 km east of Field, British Columbia
Field, British Columbia
Field is an unincorporated settlement of approximately 300 people located in the Kicking Horse River valley of southeastern British Columbia,Canada, within the confines of Yoho National Park....
. The turn-off to the trailhead is signed on the highway. After crossing the railroad tracks, turn right and drive about 200 metres to the parking area.
Summer approach
| Trailhead location | 12 km west of Lake Louise, AB / 13 km east of Field, BC |
| Hiking distance | less than 1 kilometre |
| Elevation gain | 50 metres (165 ft) |
| Approximate time | 15 minutes |
The easiest and fastest way of approaching the hut is via the Lake O'Hara fire road. The road is serviced in the summer months (mid-June to early October) by a Parks Canada
Parks Canada
Parks Canada , also known as the Parks Canada Agency , is an agency of the Government of Canada mandated to protect and present nationally significant natural and cultural heritage, and foster public understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment in ways that ensure their ecological and commemorative...
bus, which picks passengers up at the Lake O’Hara parking lot four times daily. The road is not open to private vehicles at any time. The road can be hiked, but mountain bikes are not permitted. The hike up the road involves 12 km of travel with 400 metres of elevation gain.
Parks Canada uses the bus service to control access to Lake O'Hara, and reservations are difficult to obtain directly, but people using the hut can make bus bookings through the ACC office or on-line at the time they are making their hut reservations. Note that Parks Canada will not let anybody on the bus without their reservation form.
From the bus drop off point at Le Relais day use shelter, it is less than 1 km to the hut on a good trail. From Le Relais, turn right onto a trail between the shelter and the Parks Canada outhouses. Follow the signed trail up and over a small hill. On the other side of the hill, the trail descends a short distance and then turns right and follows Schäffer creek to the Elizabeth Parker hut. From Le Relais, the walk to the hut takes about 10 minutes.
Winter approach
| Trailhead location | 12 km west of Lake Louise, AB / 13 km east of Field, BC |
| Skiing distance | 12 kilometres |
| Elevation gain | 400 metres (1300 ft) |
| Approximate time | 3-5 hours |
Winter access is the same as in summer (see above), but requires skis or snowshoes since the bus does not run in winter and the road is not plowed. It involves 12 km of travel with 400 metres of elevation gain.
The ski approach to the hut can take anywhere from 3-7 hours, depending on whether you are breaking trail, the weight of your pack and what type of skis you use. Do not underestimate this approach; you are in the backcountry
Backcountry
A backcountry area in general terms is a geographical region that is:* isolated* remote* undeveloped* difficult to accessThe term may apply to various regions that are reasonably close to urban areas but are:* not immediately accessible by car...
and there are 3 or 4 large avalanche
Avalanche
An avalanche is a sudden rapid flow of snow down a slope, occurring when either natural triggers or human activity causes a critical escalating transition from the slow equilibrium evolution of the snow pack. Typically occurring in mountainous terrain, an avalanche can mix air and water with the...
paths across the road. While avalanches rarely hit the road, you should find out the current avalanche forecast, cross the avalanche paths one at a time, and do not stop while in the avalanche tracks.
Facilities
| Heating | Wood stove |
| Lighting | Propane |
| Cooking | Propane oven & range, cookware, dishes & utensils provided |
| Sleeping | Dormitory style on thick foam mattresses |
| Capacity | 24 in summer, 20 in winter |
| Drinking water | From the creek (boil or filter) |
| Human Waste | Outhouse |
| Dishwater | Ground sump |
| Garbage | Pack it out |
Stove
A stove is an enclosed heated space. The term is commonly taken to mean an enclosed space in which fuel is burned to provide heating, either to heat the space in which the stove is situated or to heat the stove itself, and items placed on it...
. The Wiwaxy Cabin has sleeping quarters only - users share the kitchen and living area with the main hut users.
The hut sleeps about 24 in summer and 20 in winter, split between the two buildings. Sleeping arrangements are dormitory style on thick foam mattresses. The main building sleeps up to 16 people comfortably on four-inch (102 mm) thick, covered foam mattress found on two long bunks. The Wiwaxy Cabin sleeps eight people comfortably on four-inch (102 mm) thick, covered foam mattress found on two bunk levels.
Heating is provided by a wood-burning stove
Stove
A stove is an enclosed heated space. The term is commonly taken to mean an enclosed space in which fuel is burned to provide heating, either to heat the space in which the stove is situated or to heat the stove itself, and items placed on it...
in the main cabin, and another in the Wiwaxy Cabin during winter months only. Firewood
Firewood
Firewood is any wood-like material that is gathered and used for fuel. Generally, firewood is not highly processed and is in some sort of recognizable log or branch form....
is stored behind the outhouse. Users should replace all firewood used in the hut with cut and split wood from the pile. The hut has a good supply of tools including water buckets, axes, saws, shovels, etc.
The main hut is equipped with propane
Propane
Propane is a three-carbon alkane with the molecular formula , normally a gas, but compressible to a transportable liquid. A by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining, it is commonly used as a fuel for engines, oxy-gas torches, barbecues, portable stoves, and residential central...
powered lamps
Gas lighting
Gas lighting is production of artificial light from combustion of a gaseous fuel, including hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide, propane, butane, acetylene, ethylene, or natural gas. Before electricity became sufficiently widespread and economical to allow for general public use, gas was the most...
, stovetop and oven
Oven
An oven is a thermally insulated chamber used for the heating, baking or drying of a substance. It is most commonly used for cooking. Kilns, and furnaces are special-purpose ovens...
. Propane is supplied via a large outdoor tank. Cookware, dishes and eating utensils are provided. Drinking water
Drinking water
Drinking water or potable water is water pure enough to be consumed or used with low risk of immediate or long term harm. In most developed countries, the water supplied to households, commerce and industry is all of drinking water standard, even though only a very small proportion is actually...
is available 30 m to the north of the hut from the creek
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
which runs down from Odaray Mountain but should be boiled or filtered
Water purification
Water purification is the process of removing undesirable chemicals, materials, and biological contaminants from contaminated water. The goal is to produce water fit for a specific purpose...
. An easily accessible pipe can be found under the bridge. During winter, there will be some unfrozen pools under the snow at the junction of two creeks approximately 80 m northeast of the hut.
Grey water disposal is in a ground sump
Sump
A sump is a low space that collects any often-undesirable liquids such as water or chemicals. A sump can also be an infiltration basin used to manage surface runoff water and recharge underground aquifers....
next to the hut. People can drain grey water directly down the sinks, but should ensure that the strainer is in place under the drain. They should not allow any food scraps (including coffee grounds) to enter the grey water sump or it will become plugged. They should periodically empty the strainer contents into the fireplace. The grey water sump occasionally freezes in the winter. In this case, they should dump the grey water (strained of food particles) within a three meter radius of the outhouse.
The outhouse
Outhouse
An outhouse is a small structure separate from a main building which often contained a simple toilet and may possibly also be used for housing animals and storage.- Terminology :...
is located 25 m southwest of the front door of the main hut. People should not dispose of any garbage
Waste
Waste is unwanted or useless materials. In biology, waste is any of the many unwanted substances or toxins that are expelled from living organisms, metabolic waste; such as urea, sweat or feces. Litter is waste which has been disposed of improperly...
in the outhouse. All paper garbage and food scraps should be burned, and all other garbage and unused food packed out. In the summer, all recyclables which are clean and separated may be taken to Le Relais day shelter. Garbage can be deposited in Parks Canada containers at the nearby campground. In winter all garbage and recyclables must be packed out.
Requirements
- Combination lock number for the hut door (call the ACC office to confirm before going to the hut)
- Sleeping bag
- Toilet paper
- Newspaper for lighting the fire
- Matches
- First aid kit
- 9 volt battery for the smoke detector
- Reservation form from the ACC (with bus reservation information where applicable)
- Parks Canada overnight or annual wilderness pass (the former will be on your reservation form if you purchase it through the ACC). Parks CanadaParks CanadaParks Canada , also known as the Parks Canada Agency , is an agency of the Government of Canada mandated to protect and present nationally significant natural and cultural heritage, and foster public understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment in ways that ensure their ecological and commemorative...
will ask to see your pass/receipt when you board the bus.
Activities
Abbot Pass hut
The Abbot Pass hut is an alpine hut located at an altitude of 2925 metres in Abbot Pass in the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, Canada. It is nestled between Mount Victoria and Mount Lefroy, straddling the continental divide, which, in this region, defines the boundary between Banff National Park in...
.
The hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
in the Lake O'Hara area allows views of high jagged peaks, tumbling glaciers and pristine alpine lakes. There are a variety of trails in the area, ranging from short, flat trails to long, steep hikes that wind their way up into the alpine. Early summer provides an abundance of wildflowers and raging waterfalls, while fall displays lovely golden larch trees. Wildlife can be seen throughout the year. For those looking for a little more adventure, a visit to the Elizabeth Parker hut can be combined with a trip to the Abbot Pass hut
Abbot Pass hut
The Abbot Pass hut is an alpine hut located at an altitude of 2925 metres in Abbot Pass in the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, Canada. It is nestled between Mount Victoria and Mount Lefroy, straddling the continental divide, which, in this region, defines the boundary between Banff National Park in...
perched high on the col between Mounts Victoria and Lefroy.
The Lake O'Hara area has an abundance of alpine rock climbing
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
and mountaineering
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
. Classics include Wiwaxy Ridge (5.7), Mt. Odaray (5.4/snow/ice), Mt. Hungabee (5.3/snow/ice), and Mt. Huber (scrambling and glacier). There are a number of scrambles
Scrambling
Scrambling is a method of ascending rocky faces and ridges. It is an ambiguous term that lies somewhere between hillwalking and rock climbing. It is often distinguished from hillwalking by defining a scramble as a route where hands must be used in the ascent...
that one can do easily in a day from the Elizabeth Parker Hut. Wiwaxy Peak (via Wiwaxy Gap), Mt. Yukness, Mt. Shaeffer (from McArthur Lake) and Little Odaray all offer fine outings.
The Elizabeth Parker Hut is very popular for backcountry skiing
Backcountry skiing
Backcountry skiing is skiing in a sparsely inhabited rural region over ungroomed and unmarked slopes or pistes, including skiing in unmarked or unpatrolled areas either within the ski resort's boundaries or in the backcountry, frequently amongst trees , usually in pursuit of fresh fallen powder...
in winter. It is one of the few ACC huts which can be reasonably reached with light cross-country skis. The ski touring in the area ranges from easy, flat tours
Ski touring
Ski touring is a form of backcountry skiing involving traveling over the winter landscape on skis under human power rather than through the assistance of ski lifts or snow vehicles. It can take place in terrain ranging from perfectly flat to extremely steep...
to advanced ski mountaineering
Ski mountaineering
Ski mountaineering is form of ski touring that variously combines the sports of Telemark, Alpine, and backcountry skiing with that of mountaineering...
.
The area has one well-known ice climb
Ice climbing
Ice climbing, as the term indicates, is the activity of ascending inclined ice formations. Usually, ice climbing refers to roped and protected climbing of features such as icefalls, frozen waterfalls, and cliffs and rock slabs covered with ice refrozen from flows of water. For the purposes of...
on Wiwaxy Peak – Sad and Beautiful World (160 m, WI 4).
Parks Canada information
Elizabeth Parker hut is in Yoho National ParkYoho National Park
Yoho National Park is located in the Canadian Rocky Mountains along the western slope of the Continental Divide in southeastern British Columbia. Yoho NP is bordered by Kootenay National Park on the southern side and Banff National Park on the eastern side...
. 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.
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 Elizabeth Parker hut (ages 16 and over) are required to pay this fee.
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.
Nearby
- Lake O'HaraLake o'haraLake O'Hara a lake at an elevation of 2,115 m in the alpine area of Yoho National Park, in the province of British Columbia, on the western side of the Great Divide with the province of Alberta and Banff National Park to the east...
- Abbot PassAbbot PassAbbot Pass lies between Mount Lefroy and Mount Victoria, in the divide between the valleys of Lake O'Hara and Lake Louise. It was named for Phillip Stanley Abbot who died in 1896 in an attempt to climb Mount Lefroy with Charles Fay, Charles Thompson, and George T...
- Mount VictoriaMount Victoria (British Columbia)Mount Victoria is a mountain located above Queens Reach of Jervis Inlet within the Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains of British Columbia Canada...
- Mount LefroyMount LefroyMount Lefroy is a mountain on the Continental Divide, at the border of Alberta and British Columbia in western Canada. The mountain is located on the eastern side of Abbot Pass.The mountain was named by George M...
- Wiwaxy PeakWiwaxy PeakWiwaxy Peak is a mountain peak near Lake O'Hara in British Columbia, Canada. It was named in 1894 by Samuel E.S. Allen for the Stoney First Nations word for "windy". The Burgess Shale animal, Wiwaxia corrugata is named after it....
Maps
| Map reference | 82N/8 (Lake Louise) |
| Grid reference | 457983 |
| GPS coordinates | 51° 21' 19.7" N - 116° 20' 38.6" W NAD83 11U 545726 5689508 |
| Hut elevation | 2,040m (6,700 ft). |
This map shows trails and area highlights in detail This map shows trails and area highlights in detail This map shows the trails and highlights of the area. The Alpine Club cabin marked on the south shore of Lake O’Hara is not the Elizabeth Parker hut. The hut is located at grid reference 457893
External links
- Elizabeth Parker hut at the Alpine Club of Canada
- Elizabeth Parker hut at bivouac.com
- Weather forecasts from Environment Canada
- Public avalanche bulletins from the Canadian Avalanche Centre
- Yoho National Park at Parks Canada
- Google Earth Find the Elizabeth Parker Hut at 51° 21' 19.52" N, 116° 20' 38.69" W (or search for Lake O'Hara)