imported>JJMC89 bot III: Moving :Category:Buildings and structures destroyed in 2009 to :Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 2009 per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2024 November 7#Category:Buildings and structures by decade of destruction

2024-11-20T20:56:37Z

Moving Category:Buildings and structures destroyed in 2009 to Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 2009 per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2024 November 7#Category:Buildings and structures by decade of destruction

New page

{{Infobox building
| name = Fay hut
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =

| logo =
| logo_size =
| logo_caption =
| image =
| image_size =
| image_caption =

| map_type = Canada British Columbia
| pushpin_relief = 1
| image_map =
| map_caption = Location of the hut in British Columbia

| location = [[Prospectors Valley]]
| address =
| location_city =
| location_country = {{CAN}}
| coordinates = {{coord|51|15|45|N|116|12|29|W|display=inline,title}}

| former_names =
| alternate_names =
| etymology =
| status =
| cancelled =
| topped_out =
| building_type = [[Mountain hut|alpine hut]]
| architectural_style = Log cabin
| material = Wood
| classification =
| altitude =
| namesake =
| groundbreaking_date =
| start_date =
| stop_date =
| est_completion =
| completion_date =
| opened_date = Original: {{Start date|1927}}<br>Rebuild: {{Start date|2005}}
| inauguration_date =
| closing_date =
| demolition_date =
| destruction_date = Original:{{bulleted list|{{End date|2003}}|forest fire}}Rebuild:{{bulleted list| {{End date|2009}}|structure fire}}
| cost =
| ren_cost =
| client =
| owner = [[Alpine Club of Canada]]
| affiliation =
| height =
| architectural =
| structural_system =
| size =
| floor_count =
| floor_area =
| elevator_count =
| grounds_area =
| architect = [[Alpine Club of Canada]]
| architecture_firm =
| developer =
| engineer =
| known_for =
| website = {{URL|http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/facility/fay.html}}
| embed =
| embedded =
| references =
| footnotes =
}}
The '''Fay hut''' was an [[Mountain hut|alpine hut]] located above [[Prospectors Valley]] in [[Kootenay National Park]], [[British Columbia]]. Although the higher [[Neil Colgan hut]] superseded it as a base for climbs in the [[Valley of the Ten Peaks]] area, it still served as a convenient base for [[hiking|hikers]] and [[ski touring|skiers]] doing day trips in the area, and as an overnight stop for [[mountaineering|mountaineers]] continuing on to the Neil Colgan hut. A new hut was built in 2005 to replace the original Fay hut, which was destroyed by a forest fire in 2003. The Fay hut was maintained by the [[Alpine Club of Canada]] (ACC).<ref name="JimScott">{{Cite book
| last = Scott
| first = Jim
| title = Backcountry Huts and Lodges of the Rockies and Columbias
| year = 2002
| edition =
| publisher = Johnson Gorman Publishing
| url =
| isbn = 0-921835-58-2
| pages = 64–65
}}</ref>

The new Fay Hut was destroyed by a building structure fire in April 2009. It was unoccupied at the time. The last occupants left at 11 am on April 2. The next group came in on April 4 and found the building burned to the ground. The most likely cause was the ignition of the roof material caused by pyrolysis of the wooden components from leaking hot exhaust gases from the wood fireplace. The last occupants at the hut were using the fireplace and the fire occurred shortly after the last occupants had left the hut. The solid foam plastic insulation in the attic likely contributed to a hot fast fire dripped down in burning streams to the floors below.<ref>{{cite web
|last = Robertson
|first = Joe
|title = STRUCTURE FIRE, Origin and Cause Report, Fay Hut
|publisher = The Alpine Club of Canada
|date = 2009-04-09
|url = http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/facility/forms/Fay_Origin_Cause_Report.pdf
|access-date = 2014-04-12
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120210020730/http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/facility/forms/Fay_Origin_Cause_Report.pdf
|archive-date = 2012-02-10
}}</ref> All that was left of the building was the metal from the roof, lying on the ground. The hut was not insured and was underutilized, so it is unlikely it will be rebuilt again.<ref>
{{cite news
| last = Peters
| first = Robert L.
| title = Fay Hut… burned down.
| publisher = Robert L. Peters
| date = April 6, 2009
| url = http://www.robertlpeters.com/news/?p=1563
| accessdate = 2009-04-11}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Fay Hut new site 2004 015.jpg|thumb|left|300px|New (2005) Fay hut site in burned area]]
The original Fay hut was built in 1927 as a base for climbing in the [[Valley of the Ten Peaks]] area. Although it was predated by the [[Abbot Pass hut]] and the [[Elizabeth Parker hut]], it was the first hut actually built by the [[Alpine Club of Canada]] (ACC). The other two huts were built by the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]] and turned over to the ACC some time later. The Fay hut was named for [[Charles Ernest Fay|Charles Fay]], a founder and the first president of the [[American Alpine Club]]. Charles Fay made 25 trips to the [[Canadian Rockies]], participated in the first ascents of Mounts Victoria and Lefroy, and was an honorary member of the ACC.<ref name="Haberl">{{Cite book
| last = Haberl
| first = Keith
| title = Alpine Huts: A guide to the facilities of the Alpine Club of Canada
| year = 1997
| edition = 2nd
| publisher =The Alpine Club of Canada
| url =
| isbn = 0-920330-32-0
| pages = 69–72
}}</ref>

[[File:Fay Hut Under Construction.jpg|thumb|left|300px|The new Fay hut under construction (2005)]]
The ACC operated the hut until 1972, when it turned it over to [[Kootenay National Park]] because it could not afford to pay for repairs after a tree fell through the roof. The Park operated it until 1991 when, in a reversal of philosophy, it returned it to the ACC because it did not want to pay for renovations to keep it operating. The ACC and its Rocky Mountain Section put a major effort into renovations and returned the hut to excellent condition.<ref name="Haberl"/>

The original Fay hut was destroyed in 2003 <ref name="memorial">{{cite web
|last = Mortimer
|first = Mike
|title = Remembering the Fay hut
|publisher = The Alpine Club of Canada
|date = 2003-08-06
|url = http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/facility/memorial.html
|access-date = 2008-01-14
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080123061726/http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/facility/memorial.html
|archive-date = 2008-01-23
}}</ref> by a major [[wildfire|forest fire]] that burned 12.6% of Kootenay National Park.<ref>{{cite web
|title = Kootenay National Park of Canada: A Fiery Summer
|work = Stories About Canada's Natural Heritage
|publisher = Parks Canada
|date = 2003-12-11
|url = http://www.pc.gc.ca/canada/pn-tfn/itm2-/2003/dec/index_E.asp
|access-date = 2008-01-14
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070302213807/http://www.pc.gc.ca/canada/pn-tfn/itm2-/2003/dec/index_e.asp
|archive-date = 2007-03-02
}}</ref>

The new Fay hut was rebuilt by the ACC in 2005, close to the site of the original hut. Construction involved the contribution of hundreds of thousands of dollars, and thousands of hours of volunteer time, by the members of the ACC and its Rocky Mountain Section. The new hut was a modern [[log home|log building]], [[prefabrication|prefabricated]] outside of the park and airlifted to the site in 140 loads by two [[Bell 407]] helicopters in June and July 2005. 20 volunteers a week worked on site for 4 weeks in July, 2005 to assemble the structure. There was one further week of work done in 2006 to finish some small items not completed the year before. In June 2005 85 flights were made to load most of the materials needed to complete the project. This was completed by several volunteers over a four-day period. In order for the actual construction to begin the site had to be cleared, a bridge built and a helicopter landing pad constructed.<ref>{{cite web
|last = Hardardt
|first = Bruce
|title = Fay Hut update
|publisher = The Alpine Club of Canada
|date = 2005-07-04
|url = http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/facility/fay-updates-1.html
|access-date = 2008-01-14
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080123135403/http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/facility/fay-updates-1.html
|archive-date = 2008-01-23
}}</ref>

In 2009, the new hut burned to the ground while it was unoccupied, sometime between the morning of April 2, when the last group to stay there left, and the evening of April 4, when the next group arrived. With no accommodation, the incoming group had to ski {{convert|14|km|sigfig=1}} back to the parking lot, arriving there at midnight. Only metal objects remained of the structure, as all the combustibles were consumed by the fire, leaving the metal roof lying on the ground. An investigation determined that the fire started at the point where the fireplace chimney went through the log cabin roof. The fire most likely occurred as the result of the ignition of the roof beams caused by leaking hot gases from the fireplace. The most probable cause of the wood becoming heated is that snow creep might have pushed open the joints of the chimney pipe. The hut was uninsured and no decision has been made by the Alpine Club whether to rebuild it or not.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Martel
| first = Lynn
| title = Cause of Fay Hut fire revealed
| publisher = Rocky Mountain Outlook
| date = May 14, 2009
| url = http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Summer2009.pdf
| accessdate = 2009-05-21
| archive-date = 2016-03-04
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304121449/http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Summer2009.pdf
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>

==Access==
[[File:FayHutWinterMartelWiki.jpg|frame|right|Fay Hut in Winter]]
{| class = "wikitable"
| '''Trailhead location''' || {{convert|6.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} west of Alberta border on Hw 93
|-
| '''Hiking/Skiing distance''' || {{convert|12.8|km|mi|}}
|-
| '''Elevation gain''' || {{convert|600|m|ft}}
|-
| '''Approximate time''' || 4–5 hours in summer / 5–11 hours in winter
|}

In both summer and winter, start from the Marble Canyon parking lot {{convert|6.5|km|mi}} west of the [[Alberta]] border on [[British Columbia Highway 93]] (the Banff-Radium Hiqhway).

In '''summer''', follow the well-marked trail along [[Tokumm Creek]] for about {{convert|10|km|mi}} and then turn right at the trail sign indicating the route to the hut. The trail gains elevation and after about {{convert|1.5|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} ascends a {{convert|50|m|ft|abbr=on}} high rocky headwall. A rope hanging from the top of the headwall provides some help. The hut is only a few hundred metres east of the top of the rope. Note that the trail gains 450 of the 600 metres of elevation in the last 2 kilometres. The route should take about 4–5 hours.<ref name="JimScott"/>

In '''winter''', the trail follows the same route, but route-finding after leaving Tokumm Creek can be difficult. After crossing the small bridge at {{convert|10|km|mi}}, watch for the signpost directing you into a drainage to the east. Head along the small creek for about {{convert|50|m|ft}} and, after encountering a small ice wall on the right, start the climb up. There is a fixed rope to help with a short section, although it may be buried by snow. At the top, the hut is a few hundred metres to the right, but without a defined trail or a [[global positioning system|GPS]] you may have trouble finding it. This route should take about 5 hours, but may take up to 11 if trail breaking is required, and many groups have had to [[bivouac sack|bivy overnight]] near the headwall.<ref name="JimScott"/>

==Facilities==
[[File:FayDiningBerryWiki.jpg|frame|right|Fay hut dining area]]
{| class = "wikitable"
| '''Heating''' || Wood stove
|-
| '''Lighting''' || Solar and Propane
|-
| '''Cooking''' || Propane oven & range, cookware, dishes & utensils provided
|-
| '''Sleeping''' || Dormitory style on thick foam mattresses
|-
| '''Capacity''' || 12 in summer and winter
|-
| '''Drinking water''' || From the creek (boil or filter)
|-
| '''Human Waste''' || Outhouse (helicoptered out)
|-
| '''Dishwater''' || Ground sump
|-
| '''Garbage''' || Pack it out
|}

[[File:Fay Hut Living Area.jpg|thumb|300px|Fay hut living area]]
The hut sleeps 12 in summer or winter on foam mattresses. It is equipped with both [[photovoltaics|solar lighting]] and [[propane]] powered [[gas lighting|lamps]]. It has a propane [[stovetop]] and [[oven]], and a wood-burning [[stove]] for heating in the winter.

==Activities==
The hut was originally built as a base for [[mountaineering]] in the [[Valley of the Ten Peaks]] area, but has since been superseded for that purpose by the [[Neil Colgan hut]]. However, it is still possible to make ascents in this area using Fay hut as a base, and peaks like Mount Little, Mount Fay, and Mount Quadra are the most common.<ref>{{Cite book
| last = Dougherty
| first = Sean
| title = Selected Alpine Climbs in the Canadian Rockies
| year = 2000
| publisher = Rocky Mountain Books
| url = http://www.rmbooks.com/books/dousel.htm
| isbn = 0-921102-14-3
| pages = 113–119
| access-date = 2008-01-17
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071203025813/http://www.rmbooks.com/books/dousel.htm
| archive-date = 2007-12-03
| url-status = dead
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book
| last = Boles
| first = Glen |author2=Kruszyna, Robert |author3=Putnam, William
| title = Rocky Mountains of Canada: South
| year = 1979
| publisher = The American Alpine Club/The Alpine Club of Canada
| url =
| isbn = 0-930410-08-4
| pages =
}}</ref>

For [[hiking]] and [[backcountry skiing]], the trip up Tokumm Creek itself is worthwhile and highly scenic. Continuing along the trail past the turnoff to the hut to the Kaufmann Lake junction is also a good objective,<ref>{{Cite book
| last = Scott
| first = Chic
| title = Ski Trails in the Canadian Rockies
| edition = 3rd
| year = 1998
| publisher = Rocky Mountain Books
| url = http://www.rmbooks.com/books/scoski.htm
| isbn = 0-921102-13-5
| pages = 93–94
| access-date = 2008-01-17
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080101134852/http://www.rmbooks.com/books/scoski.htm
| archive-date = 2008-01-01
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> but as of 2007, the trail past the turnoff had not been cleared of deadfall from the forest fire.<ref>{{Cite book
| last = Patton
| first = Brian
| author2 = Robinson, Bart
| title = Canadian Rockies Trail Guide
| edition = 8th
| year = 2007
| publisher = Summerthought Publishing
| url = http://www.summerthought.com/canadian.rockies.trail.guide.htm
| isbn = 978-0-9782375-0-9
| pages = 320–321
| access-date = 2008-01-17
| archive-date = 2008-04-08
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080408061223/http://www.summerthought.com/canadian.rockies.trail.guide.htm
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> Skiing from the Fay hut to the Neil Colgan hut is also possible, but should be considered [[ski mountaineering]] and can be challenging if conditions are not ideal.<ref name="Haberl"/>

==Parks Canada information==
Fay hut is in [[Kootenay National Park]].<ref>{{cite web
|last =
|first =
|title = Kootenay National Park of Canada
|publisher = Parks Canada
|year = 2007
|url = http://pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/kootenay/visit/visit6_e.asp
|access-date = 2008-01-16
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070222223937/http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/kootenay/visit/visit6_e.asp
|archive-date = 2007-02-22
}}
</ref> All vehicles stopping in a National Park must have a Park Motor Vehicle Permit. Annual or single day permits can be purchased at most Park entrance gates and Park visitor centres.<ref name="fees">{{cite web
|last =
|first =
|title = Fees
|work = Kootenay National Park
|publisher = Parks Canada
|year = 2007
|url = http://pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/kootenay/visit/tarifs_fees_e.asp?park=10
|access-date = 2008-01-16
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070625092026/http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/kootenay/visit/tarifs_fees_E.asp?park=10
|archive-date = 2007-06-25
}}
</ref>

Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho, and Glacier National Parks collect a fee for backcountry overnight use in the Parks. The fees collected from the wilderness passes go towards maintaining trails, supplying the voluntary registration service, avalanche forecasting, backcountry bridge-building, etc. Overnight users of the Fay hut (ages 16 and over) are required to pay this fee.<ref name="fees"/>

The maximum group size for hiking is 10 persons. If your group is larger, you will need to split into smaller groups.

Natural hazards are part of every visit to the Rocky Mountains.<ref>{{cite web
|last =
|first =
|title = Visitor Safety
|work = Kootenay National Park
|publisher = Parks Canada
|year = 2007
|url = http://pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/kootenay/visit/visit6_e.asp
|access-date = 2008-01-16
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070222223937/http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/kootenay/visit/visit6_e.asp
|archive-date = 2007-02-22
}}
</ref> It is recommended that anyone participating in hazardous activities in the backcountry register with the Park Wardens. This registration is free and is the best method of ensuring that someone comes looking for you should the worst happen. You can register at any Parks Canada Visitor Centre.<ref>{{cite web
|last =
|first =
|title = Voluntary Safety Registration
|work = Kootenay National Park
|publisher = Parks Canada
|year = 2007
|url = http://pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/kootenay/visit/visit6_e.asp#voluntary
|access-date = 2008-01-16
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070222223937/http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/kootenay/visit/visit6_e.asp#voluntary
|archive-date = 2007-02-22
}}
</ref>

==Nearby==
* [[Neil Colgan hut]]
* [[Valley of the Ten Peaks]]
* [[Moraine Lake]]
* Panorama Ridge

==Maps==
{| class = "wikitable"
| '''Map reference''' || [[National Topographic System|NTS]] {{Canada NTS Map Sheet|82|N|8}}
|-
| '''Grid reference''' || 552793
|-
| '''GPS coordinates''' || 51° 15' 45" N, 116° 12' 29" NAD83 11U 5'''552'''56 56'''793'''15
|-
| '''Hut elevation''' || {{convert|2108|m|ft}}
|}
* {{cite map
|publisher = Gem Trek Publishing
|title = Lake Louise and Yoho
|scale = 1:50,000
|series = Guides for Hiking and Recreation in the Canadian Rockies
|edition =
|section =
|url = http://www.gemtrek.com/lakelouise.html
|isbn = 1-895526-64-7
|access-date =
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090202000518/http://www.gemtrek.com/lakelouise.html
|archive-date = 2009-02-02
|url-status = dead
}} This map shows the trails and highlights of the area.
* {{cite map
|publisher=Canadian Government
|title=82N/8 (Lake Louise)
|scale=1:50,000
|series=[[National Topographic System]] (NTS)
|edition=
|section=
|url=http://maps.nrcan.gc.ca/index_e.php
|access-date=
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224172135/http://maps.nrcan.gc.ca/index_e.php
|archive-date=2007-12-24
|df=
}} The hut is located at '''grid reference 552793'''
* {{cite map
|publisher=Canadian Government
|title=82N/1 (Mount Goodsir)
|scale=1:50,000
|series=[[National Topographic System]] (NTS)
|edition=
|section=
|url=http://maps.nrcan.gc.ca/index_e.php
|access-date=
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224172135/http://maps.nrcan.gc.ca/index_e.php
|archive-date=2007-12-24
|df=
}} For the trail along Tokumm Creek, but not really necessary.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book
|last = Corbett
|first = Bill
|title = 11,000ers of the Canadian Rockies
|year = 2004
|publisher = Rocky Mountain Books
|url = http://www.rmbooks.com/books/cor11000.htm
|isbn = 1-894765-43-5
|pages =
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071205055931/http://www.rmbooks.com/books/cor11000.htm
|archive-date = 2007-12-05
}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060828053306/http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/facility/fay.html Fay hut at the Alpine Club of Canada]
* [http://www.bivouac.com/GtxPg.asp?GtxId=243 Fay hut at bivouac.com]
* [http://www.weather.ec.gc.ca/ Weather forecasts from Environment Canada] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070118050954/http://weather.ec.gc.ca/ |date=2007-01-18 }}
* [http://www.avalanche.ca/ Public avalanche bulletins] from [[Avalanche Canada]].
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071022202212/http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/kootenay/index_E.asp Kootenay National Park] at [http://www.pc.gc.ca/index_e.asp Parks Canada]
* [http://earth.google.com/ Google Earth] Find the Fay hut at 51° 15' 45" N, 116° 12' 29" W

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fay Hut}}
[[Category:Mountain huts in Canada]]
[[Category:Kootenay National Park]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 2009]]
[[Category:2009 disestablishments in British Columbia]]
[[Category:Demolished buildings and structures in British Columbia]]

Fay hut - Revision history

imported>JJMC89 bot III: Moving :Category:Buildings and structures destroyed in 2009 to :Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 2009 per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2024 November 7#Category:Buildings and structures by decade of destruction