ACC Hut Ambassador Program

Editor’s Note: With the ACC’s growing network of backcountry huts, it can be quite difficult to have a consistent set of eyes and ears on the ground. While we do have seasonal custodians at a few of them, and the maintenance team visits the huts on a regular basis, it’s still quite sparse for the coverage that’s sometimes required - enter the ACC Hut Ambassador Program.

In this article, Custodian Coordinator Wendy Loughridge writes on the inception of the program and describes what it’s all about. If you’d like to join, there’s a link at the bottom to contact Wendy!

ACC huts and the birth of the ambassador program

When the Alpine Club of Canada was founded in 1906, it was through the efforts of individuals like A.O. Wheeler and Elizabeth Parker, a unique set of people who were passionate about the mountains and its culture. During that time and through the decades following, dedicated mountaineers were stewards of the amazing hut system we know today.

As decades pass and we arrive into the early millennia, the hut system’s expanded and so has its popularity. The ACC continues to watch over and manage these huts in order to provide the best experience possible, and has recently implemented the ambassador program as a commitment to this.

Who the Ambassadors are

Today, the Ambassador program is a group of amazing volunteers dedicated to the well-being of the ACC hut system.

Our ambassadors come from all walks of life, from casual hikers, skilled climbers, seasoned skiers to general lovers of the Canadian wilderness - they all have their heart in it.

The ambassadors participate in a one day training session where they learn all the ins and outs of the huts in order to assist guests in the best way possible. Their duties include reporting maintenance issues, counting supplies, changing lighting mantles, outhouse barrels - the list goes on. They’re the eyes and ears in the field. Without the ambassadors, the task of managing and maintaining the huts would be much more difficult.

Ambassadors have been known to volunteer for larger projects as well, such as deep hut cleans, maintenance service trips and backcountry build projects. Every year we’re amazed by the individuals that volunteer their time and energy to do these less-than-glamorous jobs.

Going forward

The next time you come across an ambassador, give them a friendly “hello” and a handshake! They’ve changed out the mantles, swapped the outhouse barrels, and checked for your supplies - all voluntarily.

Moving forward, we are working to evolve the ambassador program to keep up with expansion of the club and the needs of its users. Ambassadors are an integral part of our organization and we anticipate exciting new developments for the program!