Infrastructure Systems for High Alpine Huts
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Establishing Infrastructure Guidelines for High Alpine Huts in the Canadian Rockies and Selkirks EVDS 702.09 Fall 2004 Advanced Environmental Design Practice Faculty of Environmental Design University of Calgary Establishing Infrastructure Guidelines for High Alpine Huts in the Canadian Rockies and Selkirks For further information, contact: Dr. Loraine Dearstyne-Fowlow Course Manager Associate Professor Faculty of Environmental Design University of Calgary 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary AB T2N 1N4 Phone 403-220-7442 Fax 403-284-4399 [email protected] Report authors: Jennifer Dubois Julie Lefebvre Anne Marchand Quentin Mattie Hilary Janes Rowe Kanaka Sabapathy Scott Truswell Fall 2004 Table of Contents Background/Introduction 1 Context of the Project 2 Human Dimensions 2 Facility Infrastructure 3 Ecological Aspects 7 Policy Framework 9 Summary of Key Issues 11 Objectives of the Project 13 Purpose 13 Objectives 13 Relevant Questions 13 Approach 13 Methods 14 Project Management 14 Review and Discussion of Infrastructure Alternatives 15 Lighting 15 Heating 18 Waste Management – Human Waste 20 Waste Management – Solid Waste (garbage) 23 Water - Water Provision 24 Water – Grey Water Management 25 Energy Sources 27 International Innovations 30 Survey Findings 32 Proposed Guidelines 33 General Principles 33 Lighting 34 Heating 35 Waste Management – Human Waste 35 Waste Management – Solid Waste 37 Water – Water Provision 37 Infrastructure Guidelines for High Alpine Huts i Water – Grey Water Treatment 38 Energy Sources 39 Design Implementation 41 General Characteristics 41 Lighting Concepts 42 Heating Concepts 47 Waste Management Concepts 50 Water Provision Concept 54 Energy Source Concepts 55 Glossary 61 Company References 62 References 63 Appendix 1 – Inventory of existing systems used in Alpine Club huts 67 Appendix 2 – Records of overnight use of Alpine Club huts 70 Appendix 3 – Monthly overnight use for high alpine huts in 2003 and 2004 72 Appendix 4 – Goals, Objectives and Key Actions from National Parks Management Plans 73 Appendix 5 – Inventory of human waste treatment technological options 76 Appendix 6 – Ethics certificate, Questionnaire and Survey Findings 79 Appendix 7 – Operational Guidelines – excerpts from Parks Canada Operational Guidelines for Backcountry Lodges and Huts. 90 ii Infrastructure Guidelines for High Alpine Huts List of Figures Figure 1 – Location of alpine and sub-alpine huts in the Rockies and Selkirks ................3 Figure 3 – Graph of monthly overnight use for each high alpine hut in 2003/04...............6 Figure 4 – building enveloped showing (a) a front elevation, (b) a rear elevation, and (c) floor plan........................................................................................................42 Figure 5 – Proposed portable lighting system.................................................................43 Figure 6 – Proposed portable lighting system – details with (a) side view, (b) interior and top views, and (c) front view..........................................................................44 Figure 7 – Tubular skylights............................................................................................46 Figure 8 – Passive solar heating through heat capture from space between hut wall and second exterior metal cladding......................................................................48 Figure 9 – Insulation to prevent thermal bridges.............................................................49 Figure 10 – Illustration of the moving belt and drum that contains the bags...................50 Figure 11 – Description of the principle components of the system................................51 Figure 12 – Perspectives of the technical chamber under the toilet ...............................51 Figure 13 – Cross-section of the facility to house the Sani-Alpine desiccating toilet ......53 Figure 14 – Davnor © biosand water filtration system ....................................................54 Figure 15 – Optimum angle for photovoltaic panels at various latitudes.........................56 Figure 16 – Battery enclosure.........................................................................................57 Figure 17 – Schematic drawings of a wire capacitance battery charger.........................58 Figure 18 – Number of annual visits to ACC huts expressed in percentage of the 232 respondents who completed the survey........................................................84 Figure 19 – Number of respondents who indicated particular activities enjoyed while at ACC huts .......................................................................................................84 Figure 20 – Hut user satisfaction with current (a) lighting, (b) heating, (c) human waste management, (d) water provision and (e) grey water treatment systems. ....88 Figure 21 – Hut user preferences for (a) lighting, (b) heating, (c) human waste management and (d) energy systems options ..............................................89 List of Tables Table 1 – Summary of efficiency rating for various bulbs ...............................................17 Table 2 – Luminous flux and incandescent wattage delivered under various daylight conditions 45 Table 3 – Summary of technical specifications phosphorescent paint............................46 Infrastructure Guidelines for High Alpine Huts iii iv Infrastructure Guidelines for High Alpine Huts Introduction Objectives of the Project Review and Discussion of Infrastructure Alternatives Proposed Guidelines Design Implementation Glossary and References Appendices Background/Introduction The establishment and use of high alpine huts have facilitated the exploration and enjoyment of the Canadian backcountry for more than a century. There is a long history of alpinism in Canada’s mountainous regions, much of which is concentrated in the Selkirk and Rocky Mountain systems of British Columbia and Alberta. The enthusiasm and passion for mountain environments displayed by Swiss guides who completed many first ascents in the Rockies and spearheaded the construction of a number of alpine huts became infectious for a growing number of Canadians. Today, these same mountain landscapes are explored by a broad cross-section of international and domestic visitors alike. According to the Canadian Tourism Commission, “adventure travel is the fastest growing sector of the tourism industry in North America” (CTC, 1995). Adventure travel can be defined in many ways, but generally involves an outdoor leisure activity that takes place in a remote or wilderness destination where participants engage in high levels of activities. In mountainous areas, these activities may involve hiking, rock, alpine, or ice climbing and back country skiing. Situated at about 2,200 metres depending on the aspect, latitude, and the nature of the topography, the high alpine is a fragile environment that can take hundreds of years to recover from impacts such as trampling and erosion. Dominant land forms in the high alpine have been shaped by a history of glaciation resulting in moraines, arêtes, cols, tarns, cirques and glacial outwash plains. Sparse vegetation in these very high areas is characterised by lichens, saxifrages, snow willows, mountain avens (Dryas spp.) and alpine bearberry (Arctostaphylos rubra). Established in 1906, the Alpine Club of Canada (ACC) has created a system of alpine huts for use by mountain recreationists. The ACC’s main objective in establishing these huts is to allow for exploration of the backcountry while providing a safe and relatively comfortable experience for the traveler. In recent years there has been a growing interest in exploring alpine areas and use of these huts has increased as more people seek an escape from busy urban lifestyles (Tesitel et al., 2003). Unfortunately, this desire for a wilderness experience can be accompanied by unintended environmental impacts. While access to the backcountry is a vital component of the ACC’s mandate, the Club also promotes “the preservation of the natural beauties of the mountain places and of the fauna and flora in their habitat” (Alpine Club of Canada, 2004). To this end, the ACC has contacted the Faculty of Environmental Design at the University of Calgary for recommendations to minimise the environmental impact related to the location, design and operation of high alpine huts. This challenge requires an understanding of complex and interrelated aspects involved in setting guidelines for facilities in sensitive environments. In consultation with the client, the team opted to concentrate its work within the geographic area of the four mountain parks straddling the BC/Alberta border and the Selkirk Mountains. Particularly, we will focus on the challenges presented by hut operation and maintenance above the treeline or above 2,200 metres in elevation. Infrastructure Guidelines for High Alpine Huts 1 Context of the Project Based on an initial understanding of the project’s scope and the needs of the client, we chose to group elements of the context into four general areas for further investigation. These are: Human Dimensions, Facility Infrastructure, Ecological Aspects, and Policy Framework. Human Dimensions There is a large and growing demand for backcountry recreation experiences (Ewart and Shultis, 1999). Motivations to participate in alpine activities include, but are not limited to: • the desire for outdoor recreation and to be close to nature; • the sense of accomplishment that comes from reaching the