Abbot Pass hut facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Abbot Pass hut
General information
Type	alpine hut
Architectural style	Stone Cabin
Location	Abbot Pass
Country	Canada
Coordinates	51°21′50.598″N 116°17′24.7488″W / 51.36405500°N 116.290208000°W / 51.36405500; -116.290208000
Opened	1922
Owner	Alpine Club of Canada
Technical details
Material	Stone
Design and construction
Architect	Canadian Pacific Railway

The Abbot Pass hut is a special mountain cabin high up in the Rocky Mountains of Canada. It sits at an amazing height of 2,925 meters (about 9,598 feet) in a place called Abbot Pass. This hut is right between two big mountains, Mount Victoria and Mount Lefroy. It's also on the border between Banff National Park in Alberta and Yoho National Park in British Columbia. Even though it's close to the border, the hut is completely inside Banff National Park. It's one of the highest places people can live in Canada! The Alpine Club of Canada takes care of this hut.

In 2018, the hut was closed for a while. This happened because some erosion was noticed on the side of the mountain where it sits. Experts needed to check if the ground was safe.

History of the Abbot Pass Hut

Why is it called Abbot Pass Hut?

The pass and the hut are named after Philip Stanley Abbot. He was a mountaineer who sadly had an accident in 1896 while trying to climb Mount Lefroy. He was the first person to die in a climbing accident in North America.

Building the Hut

The hut was built in 1922. It was made by Swiss guides who worked for the Canadian Alpine Association. They built it to give shelter to their clients who were trying to climb Mount Victoria and Mount Lefroy.

Building the hut was very difficult. Much of the material was brought from Lake Louise on horseback. It crossed the Victoria Glacier. Then, it was pulled up the pass by ropes or carried on the guides' backs. This path was known as The Deathtrap. It was very dangerous because of avalanches and deep cracks in the ice called crevasses.

Who has owned the hut?

The Canadian Alpine Association ran the hut for 40 years. In the 1960s, they gave it to Parks Canada. Parks Canada fixed it up with help from volunteers. In 1985, Parks Canada gave the hut to the Alpine Club of Canada. The Alpine Club has fixed it up many times since then.

In 1992, the hut was named a National Historic Site of Canada. This means it's an important historical place. In 1997, a special plaque was placed outside its front door.

The Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House

Many guests at the Chateau Lake Louise hotel wanted to try mountaineering. A Swiss guide named Edward Feuz suggested building a rest stop. This rest stop would be between Lake Louise and the hut. So, in 1924, the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House was built. It was a place for people to stay overnight.

How to Reach the Abbot Pass Hut

You can get to Abbot Pass and the hut from two main directions. One way is from the Lake O'Hara area in British Columbia. The other way is from Lake Louise in Alberta. The Lake Louise route is much harder. People rarely use the hut in winter because of the danger from avalanches.

Getting There from Lake O'Hara

The path from Lake O'Hara is the most popular way to reach the hut. It is safer and less technical than the route from Lake Louise. This means it's not as difficult or dangerous.

The journey involves climbing about 900 meters (3,000 feet). It usually takes 3 to 5 hours or more to get from Lake O'Hara to the hut. The time depends on the weather and how strong your group is. You should not assume you can always reach the hut easily. Some groups have been stuck overnight on the trail or at the hut in bad weather.

Bus to Lake O'Hara

The first challenge on this route is getting on the bus to Lake O'Hara. Parks Canada runs this bus to control how many people visit the area. It can be hard to get a reservation for the bus. However, if you book a stay at the Abbot Pass hut with the Alpine Club of Canada, you automatically get a bus reservation. Make sure to carry proof of your reservation. Without it, you won't be able to get on the bus. The other option is to walk 10 kilometers (about 6 miles) up the access road. You would have to carry all your gear.

The Trail to the Hut

From Lake O'Hara, you can follow the marked hiking trails to Lake Oesa. There's a sign that marks the end of the Parks Canada trail. After this point, the path becomes more like scrambling. This means you might need to use your hands to climb over rocks.

The Alpine Club has built a trail to the hut. But parts of it can sometimes be covered by rockslides. So, it's helpful to have skills to find your way. The trail is steep and covered with loose rocks called scree. It's a good idea to wear a helmet to protect yourself from falling rocks. An ice axe is also useful if there's ice or snow on the trail. One person has died from an avalanche on this route. So, you should not go when avalanches are possible.

Getting There from Lake Louise

The route from Lake Louise has many serious dangers. A wide path leads from the Chateau Lake Louise along the lake. It goes past the teahouse and then to the Plain of Six Glaciers. After that, it continues into a deep gorge between Mount Victoria and Mount Lefroy. This area is known as The Deathtrap.

People going through this area should move quickly. This is because of the danger of falling ice (seracs) or avalanches from the glaciers above. This route also involves crossing several crevasses in the glacier. It might even be impossible to pass if there are too many deep cracks at the top. This is a very difficult route. Only strong mountaineers should try it, and only when there is a lot of snow covering the glacier.

Activities at Abbot Pass Hut

The hut is often used as a starting point for climbing on Mount Victoria and Mount Lefroy. Both mountains are over 3,400 meters (11,000 feet) high. The hut is also a goal in itself for hikers who like a challenge. One reason the hut is popular is that climbers can climb both Victoria and Lefroy in one weekend.

Climbing Mount Lefroy

The usual way to climb Mount Lefroy (3,423 m / 11,230 ft) is up its west face. You go straight up the slopes from the hut toward the top. There are paths up three different gullies from the hut. The best one to choose depends on how much snow there is.

Climbing Mount Victoria

The most popular way to climb Mount Victoria (3,464 m / 11,365 ft) is from the hut. You go along the southeast ridge to the south summit. Another popular activity is to cross Mount Victoria. You can do this in either direction, either to or from the hut.

Grizzly Bears in the Pass

Once, a grizzly bear was seen doing the traverse of Mount Victoria through Abbot Pass. This is a very rare sight for a bear! Grizzlies only visit the hut sometimes. However, a grizzly known as "Bear 125" used the pass regularly. Sadly, he was shot and killed in 2014 during a grizzly bear hunt in British Columbia.

Facilities at the Hut

The hut can sleep 24 people on its upper floor. It has a wood stove for heating and drying clothes. It also has a propane system for cooking and lighting. The kitchen has all the usual cooking tools you would need. The Alpine Club of Canada flies in wood and propane by helicopter every year.

There is an outhouse (a toilet building) a short distance from the hut. Human waste has to be flown out by helicopter, which costs a lot of money. So, visitors should avoid putting garbage in the toilet.

Nearby

• Mount Victoria
• Mount Lefroy
• Lake Louise
• Lake O'Hara
• Elizabeth Parker hut

Maps

This map shows trails and area highlights in detail This map shows trails and area highlights in detail