Camping/Backcountry Huts
 

My family (2 adults and 2 teenagers) will travel to the Rockies in about 2 weeks. We hope to do a mix of camping and lodge accommodations. A campground at Takakkaw Falls sounds interesting and a backcountry hut (Stanley Mitchell)near there as well. Then we thought we'd stay at Cathedral Mountain Lodge. We presently have no reservations anywhere and know that we must make some decisions about where we will stay quickly. We will fly in and out of Spokane. We've been to the Rockies twice before and enjoyed the hostel in Lake Louise last time.

Could anyone advise us on what to expect? How important is it to have reservations at the huts? Campgrounds? Can we be flexible due to the weather or is that not recommended? I realize that if it's constantly raining we will have to try to find accommodations but how difficult will that be?

Thanks to everyone for the informative postings!

Karen

The campground at Takkakaw Falls is on the flats near the river. It is walk in type location, so you see mostly tents. It is not equipped with electricity - at least it was not the last time I was there.

The Mitchell hut is up on the Little Yoho River,and a stiff hike upwards.
But, if you want a real scenic tour and have the legs to do it, hike in on the Ice Line Trail which originates in the valley near Whiskey Jack Hostel.

Otherwise you can walk up the river on the trail and turn west at Laughing Falls where the Little Yoho joins the main stream.

I think Cathedral Mountain Lodge is ok, but I never stayed there. I prefer instead to find an apartment in Field, but that is because I am usually there for several nights.

The Mitchell hut is what I would call communal in that I don't think it has private bedrooms.

The Mitchell hut is also close to Kwietenok Pass. If you want a beautiful hike, take the Little Yoho trail down to the turn for Takkakaw Falls, walk over that abomination of a rock slide, go past Twin Falls Chalet, ascend the Whaleback from a point just north of the chalet. Work your way up the side of the valley, cross the stream above the brink of the falls, ascend to the high point of the trail at the Jean Sharpe memorial. At that point, I suggest eating your lunch and basking in the glory of the view, which is beyond belief.

Then you get to descend sharply back to the Little Yoho and you can turn west (right) to return to the Mitchell Hut.

If you want to make a really full day out of it, detour up Twin Falls Creek on the left bank and explore the glacial bowl up above. It gets above tree line and leads to the glacier coming off of Mont de Poilus.

I suggest no getting too close to the brink of the falls. People have been swept over it, and Fran Drummond is not as fast getting down there to fish you out as she used to be.

No joke, a man did go over. Fortunately, there was a medical doctor staying at the chalet and he was able to pull the victim through the ordeal. I never quite understood how Fran and some of the guests got him out alive, but they did.

PS. If you elect to take the Iceline or the Whaleback, or both, be prepared for various conditions.

I was hiking the Iceline one year when a sleet storm blew in. People who were unprepred suffered.

There was a gaggle of neophytes among which we became interspered as they struggled up the side of the valley on their way to Yoho Lake and ultimately Emerald Lake to rejoin their tour bus.

I saw very little equipment among the members of this brigade. When I say neophytes, I mean just that. Women hiking in long skirts, people clad in sneakers, no provisions that I could see.

When the storm struck, I had turned north toward the high point of the Iceline while the gaggle-group had turned south. The only saving grace would have been that they were in the trees whereas I was out on the glacial rubble where there are no trees.

I just tightened my hood and cinched up my pack. I don't know what they did.
One bozo in the gaggle-group who was clad in huge boots could have waved his combat style knife at the sleet I suppose. But a Goretex jacket and a PolarFleece pullover would have been better protection.

Thanks for the information! Do you think we will have trouble finding a place to camp if we arrive on a Sunday night without a reservation?

Is there a grocery store in Field and are there any local restaurants you'd recommend?

We tried to get a spot on the bus to Lake O'Hara but it is full. Do you recommend that we continue trying or is it near impossible to visit at this point. (We arrive in this area Sunday, July 24 and plan to stay most of the week.)

Thanks for any advice!

Karen

And thanks for that added advice about being prepared when hiking. We're from the south where hurricanes have been the headlines so the weather will be a change, to say the least.

Karen