Thunder Meadows Hut

Thunder Meadows Hut is a backcountry cabin in the Lizard Range area near Fernie, used for overnight stays in both summer hiking/scrambling and winter ski touring. The hut is managed by the Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club (regional Alpine Club of Canada members), and you’re responsible for travel, route-finding, and rescue.

Capacity is for up to 8 people. The hut is supplied with beds/foamies, a wood-burning furnace with firewood, solar-powered lights, and a propane camp stove with propane. Kitchen basics include meltwater/greywater pots, dish soap and bleach, cooking pots, plates, cups, cutlery, and a coffee maker; bring dish cloth and tea towel. Water comes from melting snow, and there’s an outdoor outhouse beside the hut (bring toilet paper).

Booking is for the entire hut, and the hut is priced at $150 per night plus a $10 booking fee. Guests must sign an online waiver, the member booker is responsible for guests, and reselling bookings privately isn’t permitted; cancel/transfer isn’t handled as a simple cancellation, but the club may try to resell the booking (refund minus the $10 admin fee) if you won’t use it.

Seasonal access runs for bookings from July 1 to October 31, and from December 1 to April 30. The area closes in spring for goat lambing protection, and motorized access to Thunder Meadows is not permitted.

Access is self-supported on non-motorized routes: many approaches depend on weather and snow conditions and can take about four hours under good conditions. Routes cross avalanche terrain and can be hazardous; plan on needing solid avalanche evaluation and navigation skills, and treat avalanche hazard and lift access decisions as part of your route plan.

Map/approach