MOUNTAIN LIFE - Coast Mountains | Fall / Winter 2017

70 MLCM FALL/WINTER 2017 “The hut is modular and prefabricated,” Wilson explains. “It’s delivered on custom pallets, flat-packed with an instruction manual. There is no cutting or lining things up, that is all done by us. Whoever is going to assemble it starts with part one, adds it to part two, and goes on from there. It’s almost like Lego. We want to empower the average individual to become a more engaged participant in the construction process.” The BHC base hut module is 191 square feet — 16’ x 10’ by 25’ high — with a loft sleeping area for two to four people, but depending on the size of shelter required, builders can simply add modules. Four modules create a 937-square-foot structure that sleeps 16–24. Regardless of size, for backcountry use the shelters are designed to sit on hand-poured pilings rather than a solid concrete foundation. This makes for a much easier assembly in areas accessible only by heli or hiking. Working with Swiss-born Cyrill Werlen of Comox-based cascadianwoodtech—who Wilson calls the perfect fabrication partner for this design—the Backcountry Hut Company structures are built from materials carefully chosen for their durability in harsh environments. The goal was to craft a structure requiring minimal repairs, year over year. “The whole system is designed with metal cladding which eliminates a lot of problems,” Edgars says. “In the mountains, a steep roof pitch and metal exterior means no snow on top and any weather that strikes the building will be repelled. We wanted to avoid any exterior exposure to wood so there’s no repainting or rot issues. But we also needed proper airflow. Some backcountry huts, you go in there and start drying all your gear and the moisture levels inside get high enough to create rot. We’ve seen that so we chose high-end materials, and even though our panels are sealed we get that airflow to allow moisture to leave the building.” Materials were sourced as locally as possible, with most manufactured in Canada or the US. The wood for the main structure is glue-laminated Douglas fir. “Glulam doesn’t absorb moisture and we aren’t using huge pieces of wood harvested from old-growth,” Wilson explains. “We do get our skylights from VELUX [in Denmark], but natural light was such an important part of the design. If the building is situated properly, the natural solar angle will cast light down the long ceiling wall and heat up to create airflow, which will push warm air down into the hut. In the summer, with one skylight and the main floor window open, you can pull cool air from the lower level and the heat will escape. We wanted everything to have a natural and fresh air feel.” Predictably, the design has attracted attention from well beyond the alpine. Wilson says many of their first customers are buying BHC shelters to use as lake cottages, hunting cabins and even primary structures on residential properties. “For the backcountry, we designed it as a raw shell,” he says. “In the frontcountry, people might want plumbing and electrical, so we will pre- fabricate it to what they want, offer suggestions and recommendations, and provide the right plans for whatever level of permitting they need.” With Internet buzz already circulating about the Backcountry Hut Company offering the ultimate coastal surf shack, Wilson says he’s really looking forward to the high alpine/backcountry crowd discovering the economic, environmental, labour, and aesthetic advantages of a Backcountry Hut Company shelter. “It’s designed to handle winter,” Wilson says, “and you build-your- own… it’s like my ultimate childhood snow fort dream come true.” backcountryhutcompany.com UPPER LEFT The huts come flat-packed and ready to erect. LOWER LEFT Interior of a hut designed for high alpine use. RIGHT The ultimate West Coast surf shack. BCH