Travel to the Hut

Location

The hut is located just above Russet Lake (50° 1’ 20″ N / 122° 52′ 23″ W). It is accessible by climbing up Singing Pass or via the Musical Bumps through the Oboe Traverse. If the upper mountain is open then Flute access is a great option. Please refer to the WB Terrain Status Map.

Travel to and from the KC Hut

ALL guests should be competent and completely self-sufficient with proper emergency equipment and knowledge to hike, ski, or snowshoe into the hut. You are solely responsible for your own safety. We do not give refunds if guests are unable to reach the hut due to unforeseen circumstances. It is rugged mountain terrain, prepare and travel accordingly. In winter, guests must be capable of backcountry navigation, breaking trail, avalanche assessment, hazard avoidance, and more.

Do not reserve the hut if you or anyone in your party is a novice, unprepared, physically unable, improperly equipped, or inexperienced. Refunds ARE NOT given for avalanche danger levels exceeding a party's comfort zone. It is the guest's responsibility to be familiar with the route, the terrain, the snow conditions, weather conditions, and the hazards involved BEFORE you decide to book and then travel to the hut.

Hut Access – WINTER

There are 2 primary ways to access the Kees and Claire Hut in winter:

1. Via Singing Pass from Whistler Village

  • Singing Pass is your only option in the event that Whistler Blackcomb’s backcountry access points are closed due to avalanche danger or control work, it is also your only option for access with Snowshoes. Whistler/Blackcomb does not allow snowshoes or foot traffic on their controlled ski runs. This access point also saves you from purchasing a lift ticket. However, to access the start of the Singing Pass trail you must first skin up the climber’s left side of the Lower Olympic Run on Whistler Mountain. Therefore, please review WB’s uphill skiing policy before you head out, and be careful and respectful of downhill skiers and WB’s safety rules.

2. Via Whistler Mountain.

Access from Whistler Mountain requires buying a day ticket or a backcountry ticket.

  • Uphill traffic is only permitted on Designated Uphill Routes within the resort boundary.

    For Avalanche terrain closure status please refer to https://whistlerblackcombterrainmap.com/. This map is updated in real time, please check before entering any of the Avalanche Mitigation Areas.

if terrain and routes are in RED – it is closed and no access is allowed

If terrain and routes are yellow – experts only, use caution

If terrain and routes are green – use normal caution

Access via Oboe Traverse can be accessed by the Whistler Village Gondola and skiing or riding (No Hiking) to the bottom of Harmony Chair. This traverse drops down and contours across Moose Meadows and parallels the resort boundary. You must not come back in at bottom of Symphony Chair if chair is not open. The traverse contours around and is fully cut out to the bottom of Oboe Basin.

If the Harmony or Peak Chairs are open - you will ski to:

  • The designated Flute Bowl access route.

  • If the Avalanche Closure is in place at Flute you can wait for Avalanche Control to finish or ski to the bottom of Flute Bowl Via the rescue road.

  • You must stay on the uphill route marked with small green signs and not go above the Avalanche Mitigation Area signs while avalanche work is going on. A reminder that this lower route ends in backcountry avalanche terrain.

  • If Flute Uphill Access route is open then proceed up the road to the top of Flute.

RESPECT WB AVALANCHE CLOSURES: 

  • Note that WB Patrol will close access to Avalanche Mitigation Areas due to avalanche hazard levels or active avalanche control work.

  • You are not allowed to access or egress the resort through a closed area. Again, please check: https://whistlerblackcombterrainmap.com/ for up-to-date avalanche closures.

  • Returning to the resort? The same rules apply! You must check the Terrain Status Map before entering any of the resort boundaries.

For further information please refer to the Whistler Blackcomb Backcountry page or talk to a friendly Ski Patroller.

Hut Access– SUMMER

The Kees and Claire Hut can be accessed in one of three ways:

  1. Musical Bumps from Top of Peak Express.

    • After riding the Whistler Gondola to Roundhouse Lodge hike down to the Peak Express and take that lift to the Peak. Follow Matthew’s Traverse and Burnt Stew into Symphony Bowl. Cross Symphony on a mix of roads and trail heading to the Flute-Piccolo Col. A trail leads over Flute Summit and Oboe Summit to Singing Pass and then up to the Kees and Claire Hut above Russet Lake.

    • Approximately 9.4 km and 515 m of elevation gain, 2.5-4.5 hours.

  2. Musical Bumps from Roundhouse Lodge.

    • After riding the Whistler Gondola to Roundhouse Lodge a trail network can be followed past Harmony Lake and Symphony Lake to the Flute-Piccolo Col. A trail leads over Flute Summit and Oboe Summit to Singing Pass and then up to the Kees and Claire Hut above Russet Lake.

    • Approximately 10.5 km and 760 m of elevation gain, 3-5 hours.

  3. Singing Pass Trail

    • From Whistler Village trail leads from Whistler Village to Singing Pass and Russet Lake.

    • Approximately 14 km and 1450 m of elevation gain, 4-6 hours. 

Whistler Overnight Parking

Overnight guests of the Kees and Claire Hut are directed to pay park in Day Lot 4. There are 6 designated parking spots for Garibaldi Park on the west side of Lot 4 which should be used first, however other stalls in Lot 4 can be used once those are full.  Payment is required all year round. Payment should be made on paybyphone.com (or using the paybyphone app) for Lot #4078 (this is the parking number of Garibaldi Park visitors) or in person at Municipal Hall during business hours. Guests must display a printed reservation for the hut in the windshield of the vehicle.

Overnight parking is also available in the Conference Centre underground and Whistler Public Library as well as some hotels.

The Resort Municipality of Whistler has also posted information about overnight parking.

Weather

Whistler Blackcomb Weather and TempsSea to Sky Avalanche Bulletin Fissile Peak Forecast From Mountain-Forecast.comWhistler Village 7 Day Forecast from The Weather Network

Contact

Reservations@spearheadhuts.org