Trip Participants: Elias Bowman, Rob Cieniawski, Eric Daigle, AJ Dreher, Nelson Fretenburg, Mozi Lu, Laura Mantin, Braydon Massoud, Joe Meyer, Dorian Simon, Adam Steele, Xander Hudyma Yu, Quintus Zhou.
If you are a regular reader of VOC trip reports, you will know that about a month ago myself, AJ Dreher, and a crew of eleven other eager VOC’ers set out on a workhike to the Julian Harrison Memorial Hut only to be stopped in our tracks by a faulty gate key. Two weeks later, with the go-ahead from FLNRORD, we went back to try again. What follows is a recollection of that second–successful–attempt to access the VOC’s mysterious Harrison Hut and marmot-proof the outhouse.
The evening of Friday, June 2nd felt like a parody of the 1993 Bill Murray film Groundhog Day: Once again traffic made getting out of the city a drag, once again the sunset over Howe Sound was magnificent, once again we stopped in Squamish to pick up a key, once again we marvelled at the dreamy beauty of Pemberton Meadows (and schemed about becoming farmers), and once again we pulled over at the end of the Meadows to ninja camp before setting out for the trailhead on Saturday morning.
Anxious VOC’ers prepare for a Friday-night ninja camp on the Lillooet South FSR.
Saturday found us up at 6, on the not blocked road by 7, and at the trailhead shortly after 9. Along the way we were amazed to pass by the Capricorn Creek slide, marveling (and shuddering) at the expansive debris field where Meager Creek joins the Lillooet River. Somewhat less captivating, but nonetheless interesting, was meeting a group of three vehicles coming out in the opposite direction near the landslide. The vehicles were driven by some friendly people, out for a drive we suppose. I wonder how they got a key.
Taking in the Capricorn Creek slide waiting for some unexpected opposing traffic to pass.
By the time we had made it along the roads and up into the cutblock, we were ready to start walking. Finally on the trail at 9:40, one group marched earnestly ahead, while another ambled behind with a handsaw at the ready to remove any fallen trees. We found the trail in good shape, with little deadfall and an easily-followed path. Still, the saw got taken out a couple of times, and poles were helpful while carrying a heavy pack.
Mozi Lu approaches Barr Creek Bridge II.
The trip in was largely uneventful. Besides a rolled ankle and a difficult decision for two members to return to the cars, it was smooth sailing. Snow near the end was avoided by walking close to the trees, and before we knew it we were crossing Madhorse Creek and getting to the Harrison Hut.
Harrison Hut Trail
Relieved to drop our packs at the hut, we set to work on the outhouse, cutting some 2×4’s and sliding them underneath the outhouse, before piling more rocks against our added lumber in a bid to seal the marmots out. Afterwards, we took a leisurely walk up through the boulders for a chilly dip in the lake near the hut.
Marmot-proofing. pc Elias B.
Following such back-breaking labour and strenuous mountain treks, we returned to the hut for dinner and music, as well as some perusing of the hut library. Various delicious smells wafted through the space, while some began strumming the (somewhat decrepit) guitar. Much like backcountry cooking, what the guitar lacked in style and grace (and strings) was made up for by our desire for entertainment, way out here in the mountains.
Joe Meyer jumps for joy. He must be happy. AJ Dreher can probably attest.
The music and food were great, but I couldn’t help but notice how bright it still was outside for 8pm. Backcountry time but reversed. I stepped out of the hut and was greeted with the still alpine beauty which one expects, but which is still arresting every time it is encountered. At Harrison Hut the mountains are set back a fair distance from the hut, and the setting sun combined with the moody June clouds to make a fantastic, albeit understated light show.
Evening light show at Harrison.
I’d brought an edition of The Economist from April 1999 which I found in the hut library out here with me. I felt smug reading about so much important stuff going on, so much intrigue and uncertainty and triumph and strife and overriding excitement, whilst the mountains stayed unmoving and the only other people to be found were all in the hut. The distance in time as well as space made all these stories from “the real world” seem anything but. The peaks stood still, while the creeks rushed with snowmelt, pikas calling to each other as the late-spring sun crept lower in the sky; what business or politics could matter in such a place? I found this juxtaposition novel and read a few old articles before finding a cozy spot between two rocks and putting the reading aside to take more important things in.
“politics schmolitics”
As I reentered the hut, the group was in the midst of singing a full-throated sea shanty. Like my last workhike report, I marvel/note once again that no alcohol was consumed in the leadup to this boisterous performance. A few more songbook classics were sung before we decided it was about time for bed. Rob, Elias, and Eric were quite keen to cowboy camp, and dragged their sleeping mats and bags out to sleep under the stars; however, I relay this report from Rob: “four of us tried to cowboy camp (sleep under the stars) but a few warning shots [raindrops] from a passing cloud sent us retreating back into the hut”.
Happy Harrison Hut workhikers
The next morning, we woke up around 8 and had a slow morning, getting on the trail by 10. Our return was uneventful, with a fast group and a slow group once again forming. The fast group made it back to the clearcut trailhead in 90 minutes, while the slow group made it back in about two hours.
Approaching the cars
After some faffing at the cars, we all hopped in and made our way back out as a convoy. No other people were met (bummer) but we in AJ’s car saw a healthy-sized black bear book it into the bushes at one point. Quintus and Laura mentioned seeing a grizzly and a black bear during their stay in the clearcut, too.
Another glimpse of the landslide on our way out.
After opening the gate at Pemberton Meadows, we decided to drive to meet in Squamish at Bisla Sweets to gorge ourselves on samosas and biryani. Getting back on pavement some kilometers after the gate is a feeling like no other, especially with the dust we’d been contending with. Rob reports from Elias’s car: “The FSR roads were dusty, once at a gas station we pulled out the air intake filter and slapped out enough fine sand powder to make mud masks for all of us (unfortunately we didn’t have time to do that for the drive back….but maybe next time).”
So concluded another successful, albeit delayed, Harrison Hut workhike. We improved the outhouse, did some tidying, and carried out garbage. But just as important, if not more, another crew of VOC’ers got to visit a rarely visited club hut in a region of superb natural beauty. Such trips are vital to maintain collective memory, especially if club members are to work for improved trail access.
Thanks Adam for the trip report and for the work.