Mons Hut
In the summer the Mons Hut will provide a great base for mountaineering. At 3612m (11,847’), Mt Forbes is the highest peak in Banff National Park. This beautiful mountain can be accessed in a day trip from the hut. It may also be possible to climb Forbes in the late spring as a ski mountaineering objective. Skis will provide a much easier approach and descent on the glacier
Other peaks in the area include Division, Mons, St Julien, Messines and Cambrai. All these peaks offer glacier travel and varying degrees of technical difficulty.
The hut provides dorm style accommodation for up to 12 people. It is supplied with a propane stove, all cooking and eating utensils, mattresses, blankets, propane heater, hut shoes and solar lighting. While blankets are provided, guests are required to bring sleeping bag liners. It is similar in design to the Lyell Hut but about 30% larger.
It is located at the toe of the Mons Glacier at 2370m (7800'). The grid reference is 970482
Hut Access:
The summer route on the west side of Mons Peak is Not recommended until late spring when the snow has melted off this side of the mountain. It traverses 1.5 km on a ledge with cliffs above and below. Once the snow has melted off this ledge and the ledges above this is a reasonable approach or descent to the Mons Hut. This is usually late spring. It offers a fairly direct route to the hut but it is exposed and there are a couple of rock steps to climb. Although much work has been done on it, there are sections that are not a “hiking trail”.
To start the summer route, drive to the end of the Mons logging road, km 22.5. There is a washout with a single log bridge over the stream. Cross this and continue down the road for about 1 km. The road does a sharp turn and starts climbing. 200m past this turn there is a large gravel washout. Leave the road just before this (GR946460) and start climbing the gravel streambed. The track climbs east up the drainage to 1430m(4700ft). From here it traverses north on the west shoulder of Mons Peak. Follow this ledge, between 5000 and 5500ft, for 1.5 km until you reach the mature forest. The route travels through the forest and crosses the outflow stream from the Mons Glacier on a log bridge.
