Brendan SainsburyBack at our accommodation that evening, I was happy to rest my legs and make the most of the sauna, hot showers and abundant food. The Purcell Mountain Lodge, which was built in 1989, is dedicated to sustainability.
“We run mainly on our eco-conscious micro-hydro system and treat all sewage on-site,” said Jackie Mah, the general and operations manager. “After Covid-19, we simplified operations with a ‘pack in, pack out’ approach: guests bring their own water bottles, reuse cups, and follow small reminders like limiting shower times and turning off lights. While we provide luxury amenities like hot water and flush toilets, guests and staff work as a team to minimise their ecological impact.”
The lodge is certainly no youth hostel. While the bedrooms are relatively simple and the toilets and showers shared, the communal areas are spacious and comfortable, and the food is positively gourmet. Cooked breakfasts, packed lunches and three-course dinners were the norm during my stay.
Meanwhile, the terrain outside remains deliciously tranquil. In four days of roaming the mountains I saw only one other hiking group and no helicopters, save for the one that came to take me back to Golden. At busier times of year, the whirl of rotor-blades is more common. Some groups utilise the helicopters to drop them off in even more isolated locations before walking or skiing back to the lodge, with the landings, known as “heli-bumps”, designed to circumnavigate long or tricky sections of the route. They’re particularly popular with winter skiers.
Brendan Sainsbury
