About
Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin National Historic Site
Abbot Pass Hut was located on an alpine col at 2925 metres (9598 feet) on the continental divide between British Columbia and Alberta and on the border between Banff and Yoho national parks.
It was built in 1922 at the behest of Swiss Guides Ed Feuz and Rudoph Aemmer with the support of the Canadian Pacific Railway and the permission of the National Parks Branch. It was named for Philip Stanley Abbot, an amateur mountaineer who became Canada’s first mountaineering fatality when he fell during an attempted first ascent of Mount Lefroy on August 3, 1896. Abbot Pass Hut made outdoor recreation safer and more accessible and contributed to a network of backcountry visitor infrastructure in western Canada.
In 1992, Abbot Pass Hut was designated a national historic site recognizing its value to Canadian history. In 1999, it was designated as a classified federal heritage building for its architectural value within the context of buildings owned by the federal government.
Abbot Pass Hut was removed in 2022 after melting permafrost caused erosion under the hut. It lost its status as a classified federal heritage building. However, the building footprint and ruin remain Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin National Historic Site.
Removal
Abbot Pass Hut was temporarily closed in 2017 after reports of erosion and rockfall raised concerns about the stability of the ground on which the hut had been constructed. The hut briefly reopened in 2018 and was closed again so that the slope could be stabilized. In 2021 the ground eroded from under the foundation of the hut, accelerated by record-high temperatures during a ‘heat dome’ over western Canada. Cracks appeared in the walls of the hut. After a second geotechnical assessment, Parks Canada concluded that further efforts would be unlikely to preserve the structure.
In spring 2022, prompted by concerns for public safety, Abbot Pass Hut was removed. A ruin remains on site and elements of the building were salvaged for legacy projects. Public engagement took place to determine how to continue to share the heritage values of Abbot Pass Hut.
Climate change and other environmental forces are challenging the condition of the natural and cultural resources administered by Parks Canada. Parks Canada is continuing work to understand the impacts of climate change and to explore adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Remembering Abbot Pass Hut
For 100 years, Abbot Pass Hut was a destination and a refuge for hikers, climbers, mountaineers and others inspired by high and wild places. Parks Canada will continue to share the story of Abbot Pass Hut with Canadians. We asked you what mattered most about this heritage place and how those heritage values could be shared in future.
Here is what you told us:
What We Heard Report
Here is what we plan to do to remember this special place:
Action Items
Timeline summary
- 1922: Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin (Abbot Pass Hut) constructed.
- 1968: Dominion Parks Branch (known today as Parks Canada) acquires the hut.
- 1973: Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin is restored.
- 1985: Alpine Club of Canada assumes operation of the hut.
- 1992: Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin is designated as a national historic site.
- 1999: Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin is designated as a classified federal heritage building.
- 2012: Parks Canada completes roof and drainage upgrades.
- 2014: Parks Canada completes stone masonry restoration.
- 2016: Initial slope instability reported to Parks Canada.
- 2017: Hut closed. Slope stability geotechnical assessment begins.
- 2018: Hut reopens briefly then closes while rock anchors are installed below the hut.
- 2019: Unfavourable weather conditions on site prevent additional slope stability work from being completed.
- 2020: COVID-19 health measures prevent additional slope stability work from being completed.
- 2021: Further slope erosion occurs impacting the base of the hut. Area closure expanded to include Abbot Pass and its two approach routes. Second geotechnical assessment conducted. Heritage recording completed.
- 2022: Abbot Pass Hut removed.
- 2023: Parks Canada conducts public engagement on how best to share the heritage values of Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin in future.
- 2025: Parks Canada announces results of public engagement and actions to remember Abbot Pass Hut.
Frequently asked questions
What caused the deterioration of the slope?
Abbot Pass Hut is located at 2925 metres in elevation on a windswept mountain pass (a col) along the continental divide, meaning that the pass and the hut are subjected to extreme weather throughout the year. But since the hut was built in 1922, climate conditions have changed in this mountain range. In 2016, it was first noticed that the permanent snow and ice, which has covered the southeast slope below the hut since its construction, had receded. This exposed the underlying rock and soil to weather elements.
Mountains are often geologically active places. The steep, unconsolidated and frozen nature of the slope increased its susceptibility to thawing and surface water erosion which likely contributed to the erosion of a portion of the slope. It is believed that high temperatures experienced in summer 2021 contributed to further erosion of the slope below the hut itself, impacting an area that was previously rock and ice.
What were the findings of the 2018 geotechnical assessment?
The area on which the hut was built had three zones: soil and rock bound with ice; fractured bedrock, and bedrock. The hut sat on an area of fractured bedrock and an area of soil and rock with ice, including surface ice. To ensure the area remained safe for use and to mitigate the effects of slope erosion which could impact the hut, the geotechnical assessment recommended the installation of rock anchors and netting to help secure the underlying bedrock and slope. The initial installation of rock anchors was completed in 2018.
What were the results of the 2021 geotechnical assessment? Why were they different than the 2018 assessment?
The 2021 assessment found a higher than anticipated rate of permafrost thaw and as a result, higher levels of slope erosion than were predicted in 2018. The 2018 report also likely overestimated the amount of bedrock under the foundation of the hut.
The 2021 assessment also found new evidence, including cracks in the masonry, that revealed the entire hut had been impacted by slope erosion.
Based on the assessment’s findings it is highly unlikely that additional slope stabilization efforts would have been a permanent solution for preserving the hut in its original location. Therefore, Parks Canada planned for the hut’s substantial removal in spring 2022.
Can the hut be reconstructed somewhere else?
When planning for the substantial removal of the hut, Parks Canada considered attempting to deconstruct it in a way that would allow for the hut to be rebuilt, either at Abbot Pass or at another location. This option was not feasible for two reasons:
- The unstable condition of the hut and the slopes at Abbot Pass meant that the delicate work required for this type of removal would pose too great a risk to the health and safety of Parks Canada staff and contractors.
- Based on consultations with experts in historical masonry, the type of material used to construct the hut (primarily limestone) was likely to fracture if moved and was not conducive to removal and reconstruction.
A professional heritage recording was completed and plans were made to salvage some material from the hut for use in future commemoration of the site.
Can a new hut be constructed at another location?
A working group, led by the Alpine Club of Canada, is working on a development proposal for a new structure in place of Abbot Pass Hut. The development review process is lengthy and requires rigorous impact assessment and evaluation against park management plans and related policies. For updates, please contact the Alpine Club of Canada.
Why is it important to remember Abbot Pass Hut?
Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin remains a national historic site. Parks Canada is required to communicate the values of this place.
Heritage values are what make a heritage place significant to a community of people. They are comprised of the many meanings and values that people attach to a place. These values may change over time.
Parks Canada asked Canadians what they valued about this place and how those values should be remembered. The results of this public engagement are available in a What We Heard Report.
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