Dave White Hut

Dave White Hut (backcountry hut) is a Dave White Memorial Cabin run by the Columbia Valley Hut Society. It was built in fall 2001 after Dave White’s death in winter 2001 across the ridge above the cabin, and the society named the cabin in his honour.

Access is by reservation only, and route-finding is required in summer—there isn’t a well-defined trail beyond the start of the meadow. Summer approach involves two creek crossings that can be challenging in high water; the hut sits on a rocky knoll about 50 m above Forster Creek meadow in dense mature timber.

Use patterns include summer hiking and winter sledding. Fast facts: summer hiking is 5 km from 4×4 access at the 37 km on Forster Creek FSR; winter sledding is 20 km. Elevation gain is 250 m (800′), cabin elevation is 2190 m (7117′), and the maximum stay is 4 nights.

Sleeping capacity is 4 comfortably, 6 maximum in 4 double bunks. Bring 1 lb propane canisters; no summer firewood is provided and bonfires are prohibited. Skiing from the hut includes day-ski options, while terrain above the cabin complex is steep and potentially dangerous for advanced backcountry skiers.

Access for winter travel generally uses snowmobiles up Forster Creek to the hut; the trail is groomed from the new parking area at km 27.7 to the summer trailhead at Forster Creek footbridge, with a $20 toll for the groomed trail. Snowmobiles are prohibited above and south of the base of the steep access ramp to Catamount Glacier (including Catamount and North Star Glaciers) until mid-February each year.

The operator notes that hut access & conditions are changeable and urges checking Important Access Updates before setting out.

Official website