The Final Push: Help Finish the Robson Pass Hut
At over 1,600 metres in elevation, in the sparkling Mount Robson Provincial Park, progress on the new Robson Pass (Byron Caldwell) Hut is quietly but steadily advancing—even as the alpine weather has shifted from challenging to downright stubborn. For the past few months, the dedicated crew from Ennadai Woodworks have been living and working in this rugged and remote corner of the Canadian Rockies, inching the project closer to completion, one weather window at a time. As autumn slips quickly toward winter, the Robson Pass Hut project has reached an important milestone—just in time.
It is also incredibly timely that a generous family has offered a matching gift to boost our fundraising efforts. Support the final push and make twice the impact before December 31.
Weather delays and a waiting game
Ever since temperatures started to drop below zero on a nightly basis, the Ennadai crew traded their tents (and unwanted visits from local porcupines) for the solid walls and roof of the hut. Naturally, this created extra motivation to finish insulating and cladding the exterior of the hut.
To complete the exterior, only the stairs and deck had to be flown in. Unfortunately, consistent cloud cover meant that these last remaining building materials were stuck at the staging area for weeks. ACC management, after making the five-hour journey to Valemount, had to make their way back the following day and postpone their inspections and furniture planning. In the mountains, readiness means nothing without visibility.
A break in the clouds
Luckily, persistence paid off. The next weather window held long enough for a successful flight, and with it, a huge step forward. The exterior of the hut is now complete – stairs and deck included.
Interior transformation
During the delays to the exterior, the team was able to keep busy on the hut’s interior. Kitchen cabinets, sleeping platforms and other furniture are now being installed by two crew members, while the other two focus on constructing the outhouse building—another crucial component before the snow sets in. It’s not the most glamorous part of the build, but let’s just say future hut users will be relieved it’s there.
Just a couple of weeks ago, the crew were still making the most of their only heated refuge: the kitchen tent. Now, the team have use of a temporary heater in the hut, making interior finishes much smoother.
Another reason to congregate in the kitchen tent was the comforting presence of the experienced camp cook, Pierre. He roughed it longer than anyone, remaining at camp for a solid 110 days. His meals and backcountry stories are missed, but the team have been pressing on with group meals, and a lot more late-night games of Catan.
The final push
With winter knocking, the pressure is on. The days are shorter, the temperatures colder, and the margin for delay is shrinking quickly. Motivated by this, the Ennadai crew are determined to wrap up major construction before they pack up the camp for winter. Over the winter, our ACC hut maintenance team will build interior furniture off-site, ready to be flown in and installed come spring.
This ambitious project has been years in the making, and thanks to the efforts of volunteers, donors, and professionals, the finish line is within reach. Getting there, however, requires one last collective push.
Every dollar doubled
The Alpine Club of Canada is calling on its community to help us bring this project to completion.
Thanks to a generous matching gift from the Sarjeant family, every dollar you donate will be doubled, up to $200,000, until December 31. This gift honours the memory of Byron Caldwell, a passionate mountaineer and friend, and the new hut at Robson Pass will proudly carry his name.
With your help, the Robson Pass (Byron Caldwell) Hut will offer safe, sustainable access to this iconic mountain landscape —coming summer 2026. Click below to donate.
Be a Part of History
Help build the ACC’s new hut at Mount Robson, the Crown Jewel of the Rockies
