Editor's note: A new hut on Vancouver Island – ACC member Chris Jensen will be keeping us updated with photo galleries on the progress of the building of the ACC’s newest hut that, once complete, will expand the western edge of the ACC’s hut network by more than 150km. Stay tuned for more updates from the Vancouver Island Section.

Dec, 2019: This post has been updated with the name of the hut changed to Hišimy̓awiƛ [Hi-SHIM-ya-wit].

All photos courtesy of Chris George.

Installing the front deck joists. Photo by Chris George.

Vancouver Island's first ACC hut

Volunteers were busy this fall building the ACC’s first hut on Vancouver Island. The 12-person hut is located 5040 Peak, 35km west of the City of Port Alberni. More than 30 volunteers joined for the final weekend of construction for the year.

Preparing the Yellow Cedar tree that will be used for the hut’s front center post. Thank you to the hereditary chief from the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation that donated the three trees that form the hut’s front posts. Photo by Chris George.

We used two Mountain Hardware Space Station tents for out work camp. One tent was a bunk tent and the other the kitchen tent. These tents took on several big coastal storms! Photo by Chris George.

Volunteers and videographers at sunset. We had clear skies and great views for the final weekend of construction. Photo by Chris George.

How to get there

The hut is reached by a steep 2-3 hour hike from a gravel road that is accessed near Sutton Pass on Highway 4. The hut’s location provides access to high alpine ridges that provide amazing views from sea to summit. From 5040 Peak people can reach other peaks in the heart of Vancouver Island including Nahmint Mountain with its 200m high French Falls. The area also provides one of the best places on the Island to enjoy views of the Broken Groups Islands in Pacific Rim National Park. An overview video on the hut can be viewed here.

Just in time for winter

Winter was just around the corner and it was time to pack up. The 2017 goal was to build the hut to weather tight and thanks to the many dedicated volunteers we got it closed up before the big snows started to fall. Hoorahh! On October 29 under clear blue skies the helicopter arrived and flew down the work camp and tools for the season.

Slinging tools and work camp down from the hut site. Photo by Chris George.

Get involved next summer

Work on the hut’s interior will begin again next summer. If you are interested in helping out to build the hut then please contact us at [email protected]. The project can also use additional funding to finish the interior and improve road access. Please consider supporting the project through a donation at the button below.

We look forward to opening the hut for public use by October 2018. Once completed this will be the ACC’s 33rd backcountry hut.

Guests have great views of Triple Peak from inside the hut. Photo by Chris George.

Preparing the metal cladding for installation. Photo by Chris George.

Thanks to all our volunteers

A huge thank you to all of the people, organizations and businesses that have helped to make this hut possible including members and staff of The Alpine Club of Canada, Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, Ucluelet First Nation, Tseshaht First Nation, Port Alberni Thunderbird Firefighting Crew, Kestrel Helicopters, Cascara Construction, Tectonica Management Inc., Fast + Epp Structural Engineers, Pacific Homes, MEC and the Island Coastal Economic Trust.

Follow the Hišimy̓awiƛ build process

You can learn more about the project, and make a donation, on the Vancouver Island Section's website.

Hut Info

Donations can be made at The Alpine Club of Canada's website. Under Donation Type, please select “Hišimy̓awiƛ”.

Make a Donation

You can also get minute to minute updates on this hut build and find out how you can volunteer at the ACC Vancouver Island Hišimy̓awiƛ page on Facebook.

Join the Group

Photo gallery of the Hišimy̓awiƛ build, 2017