The Section’s first camp at Fairy Meadows was July 20-27, 2013.
Access: Columbia West Forest Service Road (take the Kinbasket Lake Resort exit from the Trans Canada Highway) to km 64 at the Swan Creek staging location. The condition of this road varies from year to year so planners need to verify it’s condition each season. It is possible that some year this can only be determined by driving up and having a look. In 2013, we talked to the Columbia Forest District office in Revelstoke (250-837-7611). They weren’t easy to contact, weren’t particularly helpful and their information wasn’t accurate. Planners can try contacting Evans Forest Products in Golden (250-344-8800). I talked to Warren (250-344-8810) who seemed to know more than anyone about road conditions on both sides of the lake. This is useful because if the west side isn’t in condition, an alternative is to drive to about km 99 on the Columbia East FSR which directly across Kinbasket Lake from Swan Creek. Flight times would be almost the same. The east side road wasn’t “open” and available as an option for our camp in 2013.
Helicopter: remains the best and perhaps only sensible method of getting to the hut. Contact Alpine Helicopters in Golden ([email protected]) (250-344-7444). Paul was our contact there. Best to make the initial request for flight days the preceding fall and confirm as spring/summer approaches. In 2013, we were able to get 19 people and gear to the hut in 4 flights and also 4 flights out. Helicopter time was under an hour for each day and because we were able to share ferry costs from Golden, our total costs were about $4200.
Hut: has everything needed – “fridge” kept cool with pans of snow, propane stoves and oven, shower and sauna, running cold water, space for 20 people in the sleeping loft, all dishes, pots, etc. NOTE: window screens are often missing. Take a roll of window screening so that windows can be opened. In 2013, the mozzies were fierce and opening windows without screens was simply not possible. Also, take a package of mosquito coils and a few containers of mosquito repellent.
Water: comes from a pipe in the stream above the waterfall just below the upper meadow. It might take some fiddling, but getting this water running is well worth it with a large group. There is normally a drain/shutoff in the hut’s basement and usually the water intake is removed from the stream unless the hut is in use.
Mountaineering Objectives: There are 2 main glaciers in the immediate area. Granite Glacier is directly west of the hut is the access for Mt Colossal, Unicorn and anything over in that area. The Gothics Glacier is south of the hut and is accessed from Friendship Col. Friendship Col is bounded by Damon and Pythias, two easy and quick scramble peaks. A short glacier walk will get groups to Sentinel Peak which is directly above Pioneer Pass and which provides a panoramic view of the area. Doubletop Mtn was attempted on our 2013 camp. It is not recommended. It’s a long distance, involved climbing and descending several steep, rocky, gravelly slopes (dangerous with large groups) and the main peaks remain elusive even after great effort. There are easier, more accessible objectives. There are also some objectives across the Gothics Glacier but none of those were tried during the 2013 camp. It is suggested that the first day’s “snow school” be held at Friendship Col. There is a good location there in a scenic setting looking out over the Gothics Glacier where roping techniques and crevasse rescue can be practiced in safety.
Length of Camp: It is recommended to run the camp from Saturday to the following Saturday. This is most cost effective for the helicopter because they are often in that area on Saturdays and ferry costs can be shared with other groups in the area.
