Placement: Cabins In the Rocky Mountains

About the Placement

We currently run three log guest cabins, and we are open year-round offering hiking, horseback riding, canoeing, whitewater rafting and fishing in the non-snow months and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. We’re in a relatively remote location, adjacent to Jasper National Park (east backcountry boundary) and vast, undeveloped Willmore Wilderness. We cater to folks looking for a quiet, scenic, non-touristy spot from which to enjoy our mountain environment.



Costs: Food and accommodation are FREE. Volunteers are expected to arrange their own transportation to Hinton, Alberta, Canada. There are no fees or costs associated with volunteering at the operation, and many times my volunteer(s) can accompany guests on specialty activities (horseback riding and whitewater rafting).



Working hours: When we have guests in, we put in rather long days and don’t have regular days off.



Physical fitness: In addition to keeping fit by guiding the day hikes (some easy, some moderate, some very difficult), there is a goodly amount of hard, physical labor involved with the running of this operation (splitting/stacking wood, trail maintenance, general chores, etc.).



Wildlife: We are in a relatively remote location and are home to all of the species found in the Canadian Rockies. I realize that you have no experience with our wildlife, and I’m certainly willing to teach you appropriate behavior in order to avoid a negative face-to-face encounter. It is important, though, that you not have a preconceived fear that would prevent you from being able to take out our

hikes.



Driving: If I have a choice, I would prefer my volunteer(s) to be able to take guests to our specialty outfitters and also do the weekly "town run", both of which would require a driver’s license.



Shared accommodation: It is quite likely that I will take on two volunteers this year. There are separate bedrooms in the loft, although the bathroom and living area are shared.

Role of Volunteer

Volunteer "duties": I’m a one-woman operation and when I have all three of my cabins full (typically in the summer), I need help with the day-to-day running of the operation. If my volunteer(s) has the capability and aptitude, I like them to primarily be responsible for guiding the interpretive day hikes. I can teach you the local flora/fauna, wildlife behavior/habitat, a bit about geology and, of course, show you the trails. I typically accompany you and guests on the hikes until you are comfortable. Secondary duties can include helping with meal preparation and clean-up; cleaning cabins; splitting/stacking wood; providing guest transportation (most of the time, my volunteers have the opportunity to accompany guests if they’re out on a day trip with my specialty outfitters - horseback riding and whitewater rafting); and helping with a "supply run" (a mad dash into the nearest town to do laundry, pick up fuel, groceries and other supplies).



Volunteer accommodation: I have converted the loft of a "barn" into living quarters. It is still rustic (as in, no running water), but it is heated, furnished and has a composting toilet. We are able to use the showers in the cabins when we have a guest change-out. I’m also in the process of planning the remaining renovation of the barn into a useful structure - converting the main floor into a larger cook house - so if you have ideas with that, I would welcome your input.



Special considerations: The cabins are relatively remote, with the nearest point of civilization being Hinton, Alberta - 70 km to our southeast. It is important, therefore, for my volunteer(s) to be comfortable with the sense of isolation. When we have guests in, we tend to work rather long hours - beginning about 8 a.m. and finishing up about 9 p.m. I do try to give my volunteer(s) time off whenever possible; sometimes, it is just not possible.

Travel Information

We can pick volunteers up from Hinton, Alberta.

Photo Gallery

 

 

Laura and Kieran on the Alpine Meadow 

Willmore Wilderness 

Rock Lake Valley