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Sentinel Bay Hilton
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The Sentinel Bay Hilton is just east of Garibaldi Lake in Garibaldi Provincial Park in British Columbia, at
the foot of the Sentinel Glacier. It sits on a rocky knoll at 5000 ft. that gives it a measure of protection from avalanches.
(see below) There are actually two huts. Both were built as a base to
study glaciology. There was some talk of removing them. It is hoped that will not happen. They are perfectly
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This is the upper - and more luxurious - hut. It is more spacious, and with its windows, brighter. |
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It is a long day's travel from Highway 99 up the Barrier trail to Garibaldi Lake. Most years, it will be frozen from the end of December through to May.
The frozen lake makes it relatively easy to get from Battleship to Sentinel Bay. Once at the eastern end of the
lake, there's only a kilometer to go and a few hundred vertical feet. On a stormy night, finding the cabin will
bring a smile to one's face. |
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Sometime during the winter of 2003 an avalanche came from Mt Guard and
damaged both cabins. The lower hut was displaced laterally 3 meters from its
foundations being saved by a rock from going over a drop off. The upper hut had
some roof joists cracked. If slightly larger, the slide could
have done considerably more damage. This incident may give one a less than restful
night during heavy storms even though it is less than a one in forty year
event. Alex, Frank, Peter and I talked of possible repair scenarios. The bureaucratic
problems of an official repair within a provincial park were obvious
to us therefore Frank and I journeyed to Sentinel and repaired and leveled
the lower hut and recabled the guy wires on a visit between October 10 to the 15
2006 on our own initiative.
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An older picture showing as the huts were originally
finished.
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Hiking up for a late ski.
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A warm day... airing the cabin out. |
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Looking up Sentinel Glacier with a cold north wind.
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