Description of Historic Place

The Stanley Mitchell Alpine Hut is a rustic log cabin located at the edge of a forest, and enjoys scenic views across a meadow to a glacier and mountains. It is comprised of a center section flanked by two, modest wings and features a steeply pitched gable roof. Located in the center, the main entrance is covered by a porch gable. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Stanley Mitchell Alpine Hut is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.

Historical Value
The Stanley Mitchell Alpine Hut, built by the Alpine Club of Canada for the use of its members, is associated with the development of mountaineering in Canada. It is also associated with the opening up of Yoho National Park of Canada to ski mountaineering and winter recreation.

Architectural Value
The Stanley Mitchell Alpine Hut is a good example of rustic architecture. Its natural building materials and construction methods reflect the rustic aesthetic. It is also a very good example of functional design, to serve as a base facility for summer camp programs and winter ski touring.

The Environmental Value
The Stanley Mitchell Alpine Hut maintains an unchanged historical relationship with the natural character of its site at Yoho National Park of Canada. Located in an alpine meadow at the edge of a coniferous forest, it is compatible with its picturesque setting and well known by the hiking and climbing community.

Sources: Kate MacFarlane, Stanley Mitchell Alpine Hut, Little Yoho Valley, Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Federal Heritage Building Review Office Building Report, 98-074; Stanley Mitchell Alpine Hut, Little Yoho Valley, Yoho National Park of Canada, British Columbia, Heritage Character Statement, 98-074.

Character-Defining Elements

The following character-defining elements of the Stanley Mitchell Alpine Hut should be respected.

The rustic aesthetic, for example:
the simplicity of the overall form of the building as expressed by the scale, massing and symmetrical composition of the main block, entrance porch and side wings, all sheltered by steeply pitched gable roofs; the choice of local materials, indigenous building methods and rustic design details such as the horizontally laid, peeled round logs with saddle-notched corners, the exposed rafters at the roof eaves, the random rubble masonry fireplace and chimney, the exposed beams and joists, the hardwood floor, and the inscription carved into the face of the wood mantelpiece.

The unchanged historical relationship of the Stanley Mitchell Alpine Hut to its alpine meadow site, and the manner in which it is compatible to its picturesque setting which is familiar to the hiking and climbing community of Yoho National Park, as evidenced by:
the building’s unchanged relationship with its natural site; the overall rustic appearance and natural building materials of the building, which harmonize with its natural environment; the building’s visible location in a meadow at the edge of a forest.

Heritage Character Statement

Disclaimer - The heritage character statement was developed by FHBRO to explain the reasons for the designation of a federal heritage building and what it is about the building that makes it significant (the heritage character). It is a key reference document for anyone involved in planning interventions to federal heritage buildings and is used by FHBRO in their review of interventions.

Stanley Mitchell Alpine Hut was constructed in 1939 by H.A. Dowler for the Alpine Club of Canada to the design of A. McCoubrey. Alterations to the hut include: addition of shutters (1952); installation of stone foundation and metal roof (1961); replacement of rotting base logs, a new porch, and interior renovations including plumbing (1978); insulation added (1980); and, the replacement of windows (1994). The Parks Canada Agency is the custodian. See FHBRO Building Report 98-74.

Reasons for Designation
The Stanley Mitchell Alpine Hut has been designated 'Recognized' because of its historical, architectural and environmental significance.

Built by the Alpine Club of Canada for the use of its members, the Stanley Mitchell Alpine Hut is associated with the development of mountaineering in Canada, and the opening up of Yoho National Park to ski mountaineering and winter recreation.

Designed to serve as a base facility for summer camp programs and winter ski touring, the functional design of the Stanley Mitchell Alpine Hut provides both overnight accommodation and cooking facilities. Constructed of materials and methods of construction that reflect the rustic aesthetic, the building is a good example of rustic architecture.

Located in an alpine meadow at the edge of the coniferous forest, the Stanley Mitchell Alpine Hut is compatible with its picturesque setting and well known by the hiking and climbing community. The natural character of the site remains unchanged since the construction of the alpine hut.

Character Defining Elements
As an illustration of the development of mountaineering and ski mountaineering in Canada, the simple functional layout consisting of a central block for the living and dining area with a sleeping loft above, flanked by two wings containing the kitchen facilities, reflects the building's use as a base facility that provides both overnight accommodation and cooking facilities.

The building's rustic aesthetic is reflected in:
- the simplicity of the overall form of the building as expressed by the scale, massing and symmetrical composition of the main block, entrance porch and side wings, all sheltered by steeply pitched gable roofs;
- the choice of local materials, indigenous building methods and rustic design details such as the horizontally laid, peeled round logs with saddle-notched corners for the construction of the building, the exposed rafters at the roof eaves, the random rubble masonry fireplace and chimney, the exposed beams and joists in the living and dining area, the hardwood floor, and the inscription carved into the face of the wood mantelpiece.

Located in an alpine meadow at the edge of the coniferous forest, the rear of the building is sheltered from the elements by the tall trees and from the front of the building, enjoys scenic views across the meadow to a glacier and the President and Vice-President Mountains. Unchanged since its construction, the integrity of this relationship between the building and site is intact.