British Columbia

Mountain Hostel, British Columbia, Canada in the spectacular Incomappleux valley Summer 2009

Explore or just sit back and relax in the majestic Selkirk mountains . A magical experience.

The Incomappleux lodge operates summer and winter. Winter schedule and reservation information will be posted in September.

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Above photo: The Selkirk mountains Incomappleux Valley. Battle Mtn, Beowulf/Grendel Peaks, Billy Whiskers Glacier with Mountain Hostel in foreground.

The Mountain hostel is one of the most unique lodges in the Canadian mountains for all levels and ages of outdoor enthusiasts to have a wilderness experience in comfort and safety. Operated with a live in host and in the spirit of mountain culture and adventure. The perfect destination for families, groups of individuals. If you hike, Mtn Bike, ski/snowshoe (in season), white water paddle, climb, walk, want to relax, or just love being in magical majestic mountains the Mountain Hostel is the destination for you!

All bookings by reservation.Booking/Contact

You have options to spend your days on any one of the numerous easy short nearby hikes to waterfalls, along the river, groves of large western red cedars, drainages with quartz crystals, pyrite (fools gold) and many other fascinating minerals where one could spend days exploring. All this minutes from the lodge. For the more hearty adventurers pack up for either full out alpine treks/climbs or extensive lower valley exploration. Old mining and Forest Service Roads can climb up to 1800m elevation that allow panoramic views and also other good hiking start points. Ride your bicycle on easy rolling grades on the valley bottom or travel up where downhill mtn bike rides can exceed 10 kms in distance. Abandoned settlements and old mine sites are just some of the history of interest to learn about and explore. During your stay you'll barely have time to experience a small part of what the Incomappleux valley has to offer.

Access to the lodge is 28 kms off the main highway on a Forest Service Road. Vehicles with higher ground clearance are recommended but cars are able at times, please contact the lodge first since the road conditions can change quickly with weather. All bookings are by reservation so the lodge can expect when guests will be arriving off the road. Full driving directions are emailed upon booking. Radio communication available for guests to rent giving them contact with the lodge while exploring the valley.

The self catered lodge is located in the Incomappleux valley.. Home to one of British Columbia's last intact pieces of Inland Temperate Rain Forest. Surrounded by rugged peaks, forests, glaciers, rivers and waterfalls. A classic Canadian timber/wood-framed and stone lodge for individuals, groups and families. Explore the area on your own with the safety and comfort of the lodge as your base. The Mountain Hostel has occupancy for 10 guests.

The lodge is state of technology in design and innovation with low environmental impact and energy efficiency. No other lodge in Canada has as little impact on the environment and still supplies the comforts of a 21st century.

Mountain Hostel short videos

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F Facilities:

- The lodge has a single semi-split dormitory with bunks for 10 guests.

- All bedding is supplied. ( No sleeping bags please)

- The kitchen is completely furnished with stove/oven, barbeque, utensils, coffee grinder, refrigeration and clean cold/hot water. Basic condiments supplied, tea/spices/sugar/flour.

- Guests supply and prepare their own food.

- Bicycle tools available.

- Safe, great drinking water on tap.

- Toilet and heated shower are indoor.

The Mountain hostel strives to operate with an earth friendly philosophy

* Meters tracking consumption are positioned in lodge for guests to observe resource use.

* Hike or bicycle when at all possible.

* Toilet is waterless composting creating no sewage.

* Refrigeration is geo-thermal.

* Electricity is produced by the lodges own micro hydro-electric system.

* Guests are asked to help continue low impact on the environment by limiting use of non recyclable packaging with their foods.

* Guests are asked to take all recyclable goods and garbage out when they leave.

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Location:

The Mountain Hostel is located approximately halfway between Calgary and Vancouver. South of the Trans-Canada Highway and Glacier National Park. Near the communities of Revelstoke and Nakusp. Precise driving directions available with booking.

*All bookings are by reservation only.

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Booking & email : All bookings are by reservation only.

1: Check availability on calendar. (availability calendar)

2: Email to confirm dates requested.

3: Phone: 250-244-1957 for availability and reservations.

3: Complete and email the booking/deposit form (pdf file) for full lodge booking (10 beds). click for pdf form

4: Upon confirmation of your reservation precise driving directions will be emailed to you.

5: Read Frequently Asked Questions before you leave.

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Summer rates: All bookings are by reservation only:

The Mountain Hostel is booked by either entire lodge for family/group use or single beds on availability.

Entire lodge booking - $400.00 per night - Minimum 2 night stay Lodge capacity is for 10 guests

Entire lodge bookings are taken with at least 2 weeks advance reservation. (see availability calendar) also read F.A.Q.

Entire lodge bookings require $150.00 deposit payable by: click for pdf form

Single bed booking - $40.00 per person per night - Minimum 2 night stay

Individual bookings: are taken maximum 7 days in advance pending availability. (see availability calendar) also read F.A.Q.

Payable by during stay by:

For ATV accommodation please see Windsor Hotel in Trout lake.

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Availability :

Dates highlighted in Red blocks are unavailable.

Dates highlighted in White blocks are available.

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Some of the near lodge activities and sights:

- Incomappleux River - Giant cedars - Water fall hikes - Creek rock bed walking - Rock hounding - Mountain bike riding - River kayaking

- Climbing - Angling - Hiking - Sitting on deck relaxing - Cold pool dips ( anyone can hotpool )

Special in season activities:

- Berry picking (Huckleberries, wild blueberries, wild raspberries)

- Fish watching. Mid July- Sept. (Bull Trout, up to 1 meter in length leaping up drops in river)

- Angling

- Wildlife viewing, varies on season, time of day, effort :-)

Some of the wildlife in valley: Bear - Wapiti (Elk) - Deer - Moose - Coyote - Beaver - goat

The immediate area of the lodge has some cut paths and you will be easily directed to them by the lodge host. Interesting and scenic hikes lead guests to and along the river. Three water falls are within .5 kms of the lodge. Groves of old growth with large western red cedars are within 1 km of the lodge. Drainages with rocks of quartz, pyrite (fools gold) and many other fascinating minerals are nearby where one could spend days exploring. Roads in the valley can lead vehicles to elevations that give panoramic views and also lead to other good hiking points. Bringing Mountain bikes is highly recommended! Snow can still be found piled from avalanches nearby into the month of July. Old abandoned mine sites are in the valley and the areas around them wonderful to explore. Directions to all these places are available from the lodge. The roads are easily followed on mountain bikes. Following abandoned logging road/skidder trails and game/animal paths are what the hiking/biking consists of. There are no signs marked for hiking on the crown land.

Cycling note: Guests are encouraged to bring mountain bikes and cycle to the lodge and use during their stay to explore the valley. Please think fuel free & consider using your mountain bikes to get around the valley and also to trail heads to begin your hikes. It's more fun and you will see more of everything. It's hard to get close and view wildlife with an engine running.

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Frequently Asked Questions Please read!

- The Mountain Hostel is in a remote undeveloped area of the Selkirk Range. You will be in wilderness and out of all communication by cell phone. The only communication in the valley will be with the lodge. Please respect and be prepared that you will be far from any services besides the lodge. Road conditions change instantly with the heavy rains the micro-climate of the mountains, Inland Temperate Rainforest valley can give us and always needs to be respected. Contact the lodge before driving in. The Mountain Hostels mandate is to supply safe, sustainable and comfortable accommodation in this spectacular wilderness setting.

- Guests need to supply their own food and it's preparation.

- Lodge has refrigeration.

- Fresh clean drinking water is readily available on tap.

- Lodge has a full kitchen with all eating/cooking utensils, (pots, coffee grinder, bake pans) and general condiments, salt, tea, sugar, etc are supplied

- Sleeping accommodation is in a private split dormitory with upper and lower bunks. (Booking of entire dorm available for privacy) Booking/Contact

- Lodge has indoor toilet and heated shower.

- Bring you own towel. Bio-degradable soap/shampoo supplied.

- Lodge has a live in host to ensure your visit is comfortable, safe, educational and a lil magical. ( The valley actually supplies the magic )

- No sleeping bags to be used in lodge please. For your comfort/hygiene duvets and sheets are supplied.

- Lodge has electricity and able to charge camera/radio batteries.

- No boots/outdoor shoes inside please. Slippers/soft soled/hut booties. No hard rubber soles please.

- Bring good rough/wet condition hiking boots if you intend to due serious hiking. Please take this seriously!

- Bring and carry all weather, wet weather gear. Mountain weather can change extremely & instantly. Please take this seriously!

- Once again, bring very good wet weather gear and good hiking boots for wet conditions and appropriate weather clothing. Hope you don't need it but bring it. Note that the valley is Inland Temperate Rain Forest and even when not raining feet can still get wet easily.

- There are very few man made hiking trails in the valley. There are immediate places near the lodge that have good access and easy hiking terrain. Be prepared for rough hiking conditions at times the further away from the lodge you go.

- Map of area is Camborne, 82 K/13 1:50,000 - Canadian topographic map system. Available at government agents and most fine outdoor stores.

- Local orientation is available at the lodge. Staff have an excellent knowledge of the area and cartography.

- Mountain bikers should have helmets. Due to moss/clay on roads conditions can be slick/slippery.

- Guests must all have water bottles and hiking food. Some hikes will have you away from lodge for more than 6 hours.

- Insects vary with season. Use of non-scented soaps/shampoo recommended before you leave for the mountain hostel and non-scented bio-degradable soaps and shampoo is available at lodge for guests use. Like bears, those flys/mossies have great senses!

- You will be in bear country. The valley has an abundance of wildlife. Wildlife orientation is offered by the Mountain Hostels staff.

- Carrying noise makers recommended. Groups of 5 or more hikers encouraged. There's strength and avoidance when you're part of a herd.

- The lodge practices "Bear Aware" http://www.bearaware.bc.ca/ to the fullest extent and ask guests to follow protocols at and near the lodge that keep it a safe environment that wildlife do not care to visit. Ask the lodge host for more information when you arrive. Bears are great, but just as lil Red found, not in our beds or eating our porridge! ( She should have practiced BEAR AWARE ) They stay away from the lodge and we want to keep it that way.

- The Mountain Hostel is equipped for Emergency First Response.

- Internet available by satellite.

- Communication is also available in lodge by Satellite phone.

- Emergency response messenger/locator and radio communication rental available for guests allowing them contact with the lodge while exploring the valley to ensure safety/security.

- Guitar, cards, and games are available for guests.

- No pets in lodge at anytime.

- The lodge keeps an extensive library of maps, books & general information of the Incomappleux valley geography, history, and nature.

- The Mountain hostel encourages human powered travel and group movement to lessen our footprint.

- ATV's, for accommodation please see Windsor Hotel in Trout lake.

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More images/video around the Mountain Hostel