MARK KINGSBURY HUT 

A true wilderness cabin, located in remote and rugged backcountry near the headwaters of Bobbie Burns Creek.  Tenured as a BC Forest Service recreation site, this new, 6-person cabin was funded and built by the Columbia Valley Hut Society in September 1999.  Canadian Mountain Holidays Inc. assisted by supplying windows and doors and provided helicopter slinging at discount rates.  The hard to access location serves as a base for experienced recreationalists to pursue cross-country exploration, climbing and ski touring opportunities at International Basin, and also explore debris left from old mining operations.  The hut also is well situated for ski touring on the Rogers Pass-Bugaboos traverse.  Relative inaccessibility and rugged terrain limits cabin availability to experienced backcountry users only.

Mark Kingsbury Hut

Summer Access:  

Turn west off Highway 95 at Parson and travel the Spillimacheen (North) and McMurdo Forest Service road (km 45.8) to car parking at km 56.8.  Walk or 4x4 the steep and narrow road from km 57 to the meadow edge.  (Vehicles and ATV’s are not allowed past this point.)  After 600 metres of wet meadow walking, pass the McMurdo Cabin and continue south along an old mine road for five to ten minutes.  From this point on, cross-country travel is required: (1) ascend SSE across glaciated bedrock and a small pocket glacier to reach the col at 2,540m (8,335’), (2) immediately ascend the west ridge and traverse the edge of the Spillimacheen Glacier, (3) continue traversing southerly while losing 355+ metres to an open forested meadow and the cabin site.  Estimated cabin to cabin time is 5-7 hours.

Winter Access:

As per directions above.  Snowmobile access is required (or helicopter from Golden) with staging/parking areas usually at km 27 or 21 on the Spillimacheen road.  The McMurdo Cabin generally serves as a jumping off point for travel to International Basin.  (Snowmobiles are prohibited in the ski zone south of the cabin).