March 5, 2004, Ymir Yurts, BC

Our group of 7 spent 8 days(February 27 - March 5) at the Ymir Yurts near Nelson, BC.  Our group checked in on the 27th and learned that the Qua Yurt had burned down a few days earlier. Apparently there was a fire in the sauna's stove(described as a hippy killer) which was below the sleeping area.   Our original plan was to spend 4 days at the Yurtopia yurt then traverse to Qua yurt for 4 days. The logistics to get to the yurts is a bit long. You meet in Nelson, drive your vehicle to the town of Ymir about 45 minutes south, transfer to a high clearance 4wd vehicle for the 10km trip up a logging road.  Then you board a snowcat for an hour ride to a trailhead where you carry all your gear in your pack and skin about 1.5 to 2 hours up to the Yurtopia yurt at 6100'.  You certainly appreciate the more traditional hut access from helipad to the hut via helicopter. Seeing you are carrying in all you stuff for a week, it's more of a backpacking type load versus a hut load. :)

Seeing all trips are catered due to the impractical nature of carrying all your food in for a week, we had an expectation of the usual catered gourmet meals.  Seeing fresh food is normally brought in by the cook, the menu is rather plain(pasta,one pot stew,...). Breakfast was the best meal of the day due to the cook's muffin menu.

During our stay, we received fresh powder daily with periods of sunshine.  The terrain around Yurtopia yurt is great.  Endless tree skiing and high alpine peaks when the conditions are stable. We were unable to go to the alpine due to high avy conditions on north and east aspects.  There was the Valentines Day surface hoar layer about 40cm down that was a problem.  We skied tree runs from 500 to 1700vf daily off Owl's Head and Wilderness Ridge.   Our departure day brought another 12" of powder for the next group.  

There were 2 yurts at our location. One for sleeping with a sauna below and another for meals and the cooks quarters.  The yurts are cool due to the inefficient/old stoves.  The sauna would pour smoke into the sleeping area so that limited its use.  There is no real social area other then the dining table to sit and relax and relive the days face shots.  Bring a headlamp, you'll use it during the evening.  Candles provide light for both yurts and the cook has a propane lantern in her area.

Beer and wine are available for $5 per can/glass.

Although the terrain is wonderful, the yurts seem to be in poor condition and there is definitely a fire hazard with the stoves. Individuals in our group have been in huts all over Canada and agreed that this is one place we wouldn't return.  

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