Alaska Hut-To-Hut System Feasibility Assessment

Project Date: 2003
Project Manager: Chris Beck
Clients: Alaska Mountain and Wilderness Huts Association
Locations: Kenai Peninsula

The vision of the Alaska Mountain and Wilderness Huts Association is to create a system of linked, backcountry huts offering diverse wilderness experiences and educational opportunities to the general public. Services are provided at a moderate cost, similar to other hut systems and non-profit environmental and outdoor education programs found internationally, so as to reach a broad spectrum of users.

The basic question answered by this feasibility assessment was: Will enough people come to Chugach National Forest to experience huts, and will they pay enough to cover costs? The answer was not a simple "yes" or "no" but rather an evaluation of alternative fee structures and levels of visitation required to meet the organization's mission, while achieving financial feasibility and minimizing backcountry impact.

The Alaska Mountain and Wilderness Huts Association used this feasibility assessment to successfully secure funds to begin construction of the first hut in summer 2005.