Ben Ferris (Great Cairn) Hut
The mountaineering and alpine rock climbing in the
Adamants, Gothics and Sir Sandford ranges is excellent. Mt. Sir Sandford
itself, the highest peak in the Selkirks, is a classic mountaineering
objective and without a doubt the biggest attraction of the area. The
hut can also be used as a ski touring objective from the Fairy Meadow Hut or as a base for excellent ski touring in the Sir Sandford area itself.
Situated
on a bench with a “front row seat” for the many moods of Mt. Sir
Sandford, and built from stones from the area, the Great Cairn Hut is
one of the most picturesque huts the ACC operates, as well as one of the
most spectacularly positioned.
The hut sleeps six people quite
comfortably, has a mouse-proof wooden food locker and a small table with
four stools. There is a small wood burning stove for heat, but firewood
is not supplied.
From its location on a red bedrock bench, 4 km
NNW of Mt. Sir Sandford in the heart of the Northern Selkirk Mountains
of B.C. Access to the hut is via either of two long overland routes
involving extensive glacier travel or via helicopter from Golden, B.C.