Start: Marriot Basin Trailhead 1399m with access to W.T.H. (Wendy Thompson Hut) and Rohr Lake.
Turnaround/Camp: Wendy Thompson Hut 1830m
Finish: Marriot Basin Trailhead 1399m
Route: Marriot Basin Trail
Distance: 10.56 km return
Elevation Gain: 460m
Notables: Approaching from the S, turn R at the intersection in Mt. Currie towards Lilloet. Drive Duffey Lake Road past Joffre parking lots until you reach an obvious sand shed on S side of road at 1298m. 200-300m W of the sand shed an unmarked FSR heads N roughly 3km accessing the trailhead.
Passing an abandoned camper a few hundred m in on hikers R will assure your location. The road seems to have been brushed recently and was not overgrown. There are several turnaround options including one just before the trailhead for competent 4×4 drivers with suitable vehicles. The largest park/turnaround option lies just under 1 km up the road at 1355m before the road begins to deteriorate. Park here with a low clearance 2wd unless you’re feeling ambitious and add roughly 2km hike each way on a relatively flat FSR.
Marriot Basin Trailhead lays at the end of this road at 1399m. Less than 1km into the hike at 1510m you will reach a signed intersection. R heads to Rohr lake and access to Rohr Mountain while L option holds access to the lower lake and then W.T.H.
The trail is in good condition even though it does navigate wet terrain. There has been substantial trail work using timber to elevate walking surface over said sensitive terrain. A re-route later on also directs traffic away from the low-lying river where impacts are surely more sustainable.
The lower lake offers great scenery and lies at 1720m. Upon reaching it’s S shore there is another 1.24km to go skirting the W shoreline and then ascending just over 100m to the hut.
Good water options throughout including quality streams at the hut. Outhouse available at the hut uses a barrel system so requires users do the right thing and swap a barrel before it’s at the brim.
Pee tree usage encouraged in winter to help manage volume but ensure toilet paper is not left at tree. Each sink inside is also plumbed to a bucket requiring diligence as well. Once filtered, grey water can be disposed of at pee tree.
Firewood and wood burning stove available but excessive or unnecessary use is highly discouraged. Costly deliveries are flown in. Layers and a stove can keep more funding for building upkeep.
Very notable is the attention to detail reg hut upkeep and backcountry luxury. Provision of a boot room and hut foot-wear to limit mess is a 5 * touch and compliments the extensive spectrum of supplies. 4 inch foam sleeping pads, floating drying rack and 4 sinks!? .
For more information or to make reservations visit http://accwhistler.ca/huts/the-wendy-thompson-hut/
If traveling in winter ensure you check avalanche conditions, have appropriate gear and are with a guide or capable leader.
This was a last minute decision for us. We abandoned an objective with more elevation gain in favor of an easier approach on a post-op knee. As a result we did not have a reservation so brought a tent. Gen happily carried everything heavy and my pack was laughable with only sleeping bags and air mattresses.
Scattered showers made for wet trailside vegetation but also a trail void of people. I wore rain gear at the front and moved slowly using poles to knock moisture off foliage. This is slow moving but a welcomed pace for the knee and a good way to keep your sherpa dry. Gen opted for a shell and gaters at the rear and we both arrived relatively dry.
Weather cleared near the end of the approach and we arrived to an empty hut and a few blue patches above us. The terrain around the hut offers fabulous scenery, summit objectives, and winter shredding.
Searching for a suitable spot to pitch our tent we noticed many fire-pit scars in the meadows. This seems so commonplace and is disappointing. You’d think a demographic of people intent to trek into nature would, as a whole, be more responsible preserving the beauty they’ve come to see. Crafting a pit on top of heather, and upscaling firewood to the size of logs seem to be the most common infractions.
A bit of lounging and taking pictures in the meadows but most time was spent preserving the body for the way down.
We swept inside and out based merely on principle. This place was spotless by hut standards. We also split wood and made kindling but did not have a fire again inspired by this gem.
A lone hiker arrived at dusk as we finished making dinner. He was obviously new to backpacking and we happened to have enough boiled water for him to skip a step prepping his dehydrated dinner. Doing nice things feels good and he was grateful.
A starry night followed by a sunny day walking out. Aces.
Keep stoking the fire.
Stoking the fire 