OLIVE
HUT
|
Distance:
7.5 kms Hut
Elevation: 2 850 m (8 500’) Elevation
Gain: 670m (2 200’)
|
Built in 1991 by the Invermere
Forest District, this small stone hut commemorates the deaths in separate
helicopter crashes of Peter and Brenda Olive.
Most costs were covered with a donation from the Olive family for the
purpose of facilitating non-motorized, mountaineering pursuits. The hut serves as a high elevation base for climbing various
peaks of the Starbird Ridge complex, traverses of Catamount and North Star
glaciers, and ski mountaineering. It
sits on a granite rib on the east edge of Catamount Glacier and provides a
panoramic view of Mt. Harmon, the Black Fang and other nearby peaks.
Only mountaineers and hikers with glacier travel experience should use
the area.
Olive Hut becomes crowded if
party size exceeds 4; suitable tenting space is also available. Melting snow is the only on site water supply.
 |
| Olive Hut |
Summer
Access:
Travel west of Radium Hot Springs on
the Horsethief Forest Service Road for 13.5 kms (alternatively, 18.5 kms north
of Invermere via the Westside road). Turn right onto the Forster FS road
and park at the road’s end trailhead at km 42 (last 2-3 kms are rough for
cars). The Thunderwater Lake Recreation Trail is followed for about 3 kms,
past North Star Creek to the SW edge of the meadows (usually wet). Ascend
to above the glacier’s tongue by keeping east of the outlet stream (a faint
footpath may be visible). Another 3 kms of relatively flat glacier travel
(lower crevassed sections) will bring you to the backside of the rock rib
buttress and an easy scramble to the hut.
Winter
Access:
Snowmobiles (or a 20-minute
helicopter flight from Invermere) are needed for travel up Forster Creek to the
approach climb at treeline. Park there. All snowmobiles are
prohibited above and south of this point (1,890 m / 6 200’) including
Catamount-North Star glaciers; restriction signs are posted. Snowmobiling
staging is possible at two parking areas (total riding distance 27-30 kms):
|
