Hut Capacity

The Kees and Claire Hut has 38 bunks divided into 6 sleeping areas.

Equipment

Provided at Kees and Claire Hut: 

• Four 2-burner propane cooktops, complete with supplies and equipment for cooking and dining, such as pots, plates, utensils, mugs, glasses, Bodums, and teapots. (Personal cookstoves are not to be used within the hut)

• Sleeping mats are now provided!

Items to bring to Kees and Claire Hut:

• 3 Season Sleeping Bag (The sleeping area is kept to 5-7 Celcius)

• Wash towel for doing dishes

*Please respect that this is a backcountry hut and we ask that everyone pack out everything they pack in.

Water At The Hut

While a water system is planned for the future, there isn’t currently water available on tap at the hut. At this time water must be collected from Russet Lake or from melting snow. Guests are asked to pitch in and obtain their own water from Russet Lake or transport snow as needed. Wastewater disposal is provided at the hut.

Hut Facilities

• Propane generator with batteries for power storage and LED lighting

• Twelve USB ports for recharging GPS units

• Free-standing propane stove in Brett’s Lounge

• Propane direct-vent heaters and a propane furnace

• Ventilation

• Three urine/solid separating toilets with waste collection to minimize environmental impact

• Engineered dispersion field for urine and greywater

• Custodian Room

Location

The hut is located just above Russet Lake (50° 1’ 20″ N / 122° 52′ 23″ W). It is accessible via the Musical Bumps from Whistler Mountain or by climbing up the Singing Pass trail from Whistler Village.

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. After riding Harmony or Peak Chair, you’ll ski to the designated Flute Bowl footpath and exit the resort area. Then enjoy a few ups and downs between you and the hut. Climb over Flute Summit and Oboe Summit to Singing Pass and then up to the Kees and Claire Hut above Russet Lake.

   • RESPECT WB AVALANCHE CLOSURES:

     • Note that WB Patrol will sometimes close access to this area due to avalanche hazard levels or active avalanche control work. In such cases, you will not be allowed to purchase a backcountry ticket, nor are you allowed to exit the resort through a closed area. If they try to purchase a backcountry ticket, they will be denied if access is closed due to avalanche hazards. If they call the phone line and it says that access back into our tenure from the backcountry is closed, then so will access through our tenure via the current designated uphill hiking route. (Or via our alpine lifts once they are in operation)

     • For closure status info call 604-905-2324. Option 1 is for Whistler, option 2 is for Blackcomb and option 3 is the forecast.

     • Returning to the resort? The same rules apply! Be sure to call the info line above to confirm if you can re-enter the resort.

     • In case of closure, there are two alternatives: the Singing Pass trail out of the valley, or the Harmony to Oboe Basin Traverse which is marked by a gate at the bottom of the Harmony Express, and by signage on trees where the trail comes out in the Oboe Basin drainage. This trail goes both ways so should WB’s tenure be closed, you can return via either of these routes.

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