A modern base camp in the Sierra Nevada
Earlier this year, I spent 5 days with a friend in California's Sierra Nevada on a backcountry ski and splitboard tour. Our destination was the Palisades Glacier located east of the town of Big Pine off Hwy 395. Due to the distance one needs to travel over difficult terrain, the Palisades Glacier is one of the least visited locations in the Sierra during the winter months. It's remote, avalanches are common, sunny weather can turn stormy in minutes, and help is a long ways away. So, I have to admit that I was somewhat intrigued to discover a design competition proposal from the firm ERW Design for a modern mountain hut tucked away in the Palisades.
The plan is comprised of several buildings with each building serving a separate function. There's a building for bathing, eating, and sleeping. This is meant to capture the "spirit of wilderness camping." I personally don't buy into that as it sounds like more of a marketing ploy aimed at the Cayenne/Range Rover crowd, but I do like this design.
Link: ERW Design
Link: Palisades Glacier Mountain Hut Competition
While huts are quite popular in Europe, they are somewhat rare in the Sierra (and most US ranges for that matter). They do have their place in the wilderness, however, I'm not sure if this design is what a hut should be. A typical hut is constructed from found materials using somewhat primitive construction techniques. Their primary goal is to offer a simple structure for backcountry users seeking temporary shelter from an impending storm.
As well-planned and visually appealing as this proposal is (I appreciate that they planned to use local and sustainable materials in it's construction, including a sod roof), it's my opinion that the overall styling would perhaps be better suited to a vacation home in the nearby resort areas of Mammoth or Lake Tahoe and not in the wilderness of such a beautiful and remote area. Backcountry trekkers don't need floor to ceiling windows to appreciate a view.
Comments?
The Palisades Glacier, April 9 2005
ERW Designs Mountain Hut proposal
