Kees & Claire Hut Update: Running Water, Live Views, and Winter Prep
Running water at Kees & Claire
Running water from the taps at Kees & Claire. Photo by Dan Kim.
We are excited to announce that water is now flowing from the taps at the Kees and Claire Hut.
The project began two years ago with an exploratory well drilled in front of the hut. Since then, we've developed the well into a viable water source, connected it to the building, installed an engineered treatment system, and recently completed the final plumbing connections. Taps in the kitchen and bunk level have been running since the start of the summer season, sparing guests the trek down to the lake to collect water.
We've invested in water treatment equipment and soon, we hope to have Vancouver Coastal Health certify that water can be safely consumed right out of the tap. At this point, we're still working through the regulatory process and in the meantime, well water is available to guests but remains classified as non-potable.
This project was made possible in part by the friends and family of Pauline Joly de Lotbinère, who passed away in 2024. In her honour, a memorial plaque will be installed in the kitchen later this summer.
New webcam feed now live
This summer, volunteer custodian Jack Casey installed a high quality webcam at the Kees and Claire Hut. The new camera provides real-time images of Russet Lake, Fissile and Whirlwind, and the skies over Garibaldi Park.
This is a great new resource for Spearhead backcountry users to check conditions and see what’s happening around the hut. Are you interested to know what conditions are like at the hut right now? Check it out!
The new Kees & Claire Hut webcam feed.
Winter is right around the corner
The Kees and Claire Hut is gearing up for another busy winter of hut operations and great skiing. Winter season volunteer recruitment begins in less than two weeks, with the intake form going live on Sept. 1.
Last winter, our custodian team comprised roughly 90 members and was our biggest cohort yet. During our core season from January to April, members of our custodian team were present to greet and assist guests almost every single night, losing just three nights to a severe storm cycle in March. That’s an incredible 107 out of 110 nights covered by volunteer hospitality.
Volunteering as a custodian is one of the best ways to get out into the Whistler backcountry and give back to the community at the same time. It's a flexible volunteer opportunity that allows you to choose your dates and meet like-minded skiers and boarders.
If you have an AST-1 and around 40 days of experience, we’d love to have you on the team. No prior hut custodian experience is needed! Keep an eye out on our social media channels for recruitment announcements coming soon.
