Presenting, the newly expanded and improved Mint Hut!
We are thrilled to share updates from one of our grantees, the Mountaineering Club of Alaska. Construction on the expansion of the Mint Hut was completed this summer and the results are extraordinary!
The Mint Hut is one of three huts that can be visited along a backcountry wilderness route called the Bomber Traverse which connects Gold Mint Valley to Archangel Valley in Hatcher Pass. Seated at the headwaters of the Little Susitna River, the most highly visited hut along the Bomber Traverse – the Mint Hut – has witnessed increasingly crowded conditions by hut users, particularly on weekends during peak summer season. Overnight users who cannot fit in the hut have been resorting to camping in the surrounding tundra, increasing impact to the area.
Responding to feedback from hut users, the Mountaineering Club of Alaska applied for and received funding from Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation in 2023 to expand the capacity and make improvements to the overall structure. Construction was completed summer 2024, with the help of many volunteers (1,600 volunteer hours!) including donations of in-kind labor for planning and construction. Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation is thrilled to be a part of this partnership and to help bring this project to fruition.
Images provided by the Mountaineering Club of Alaska show the Mint Hut before and during construction in July 2024. Improvements to the hut include an expansion of the total structure – doubling the capacity – as well as the addition of an arctic entry with all new weather-proof metal jacket siding and roofing.
The Mountaineering Club of Alaska is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1958, to promote the exercise of skill and safety in the art and science of mountaineering. The group maintains the hut system in Hatcher Pass and assists with trail maintenance between them. With help from Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation grant funding, an expansion of another Bomber Traverse backcountry hut, the Bomber Hut, was completed in summer 2021. The Bomber Traverse huts are open to club members; for $30, you can become a member today at mtnclubak.org. The huts are not reservable, but operate on a first come, first served basis. MCA also maintains a number of other backcountry huts along the Eklutna Traverse.
Want to support improvements to backcountry wilderness experiences like this? Consider donating to Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation. It is with the help of donors like you that we can support organizations like the Mountaineering Club of Alaska in their efforts to improve and enhance the backcountry hut experience in the Mat-Su. Thank you!
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While applying for their PFD online, Alaskans can choose to Pick.Click.Give. in increments of $25. All donations are tax deductible and donors will receive tax documentation from the State once their donations have been processed. Permanent Fund Dividend applications are available from January 1 to March 31, though Alaskans may choose to add or adjust their pledges online through August 31.
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The Mat-Su Trails & Parks Foundation partners with organizations and local governments on projects and efforts that expand and enhance the valley’s network of trails and parks. Find out how we can help fund your next trail, park, or recreation project!
