Marriot Basin Wendy Thompson Hut

The weather has cleared by the time we drive up the Duffy Lake Road - hard not to notice that the snow line is high for this time of year - and park opposite the sand shed. There is a rough cut track that leads from the parking area to the logging road, but we do not find it until we are on the way back.

The logging road, like most in this area, gains only a modicum of elevation so it definitely won't be a quick luge run out. Within a couple of hundred metres of the road, we find this "fixer upper in a highly desirable location ready for your own design touches or use as an investment property."

At the end of the road we get on a trail that snakes through deep forest. For some reason, the track gains and loses elevation a number of times. Combined with the deep tree wells, melted out deadfall and other spring skiing hazards, it is slow going - at least for us.

After a couple of kilometres we cross the bottom of an avalanche slope and shortly after reach a small lake. There is a final easy climb beyond the lake and we arrive at the hut. The hut is well equipped and clean. Somehow, I expected these busy huts to suffer from all the woes that befell the Bonnington Huts with left behind food, tea candles, and other little piles of junk. But, it is clean and neat.

We eat lunch on the steps where it is warm with the sun out, and cool with it in. Another skier arrives while we are drinking tea. We manage, just, to ski all the way out with skins off, but we have to shuffle, side-step and herringbone a fair bit.