Natural Building and Looking after backcountry hut in Retallack, BC, Canada

Canada

updated Last minute

Favourited 700 times

Host rating
Feedback
10
Last activity
10/04/2021
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This listing is a Last minute host. They have let us know that they are looking for help immediately as well as at other times of the year.

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Availability

2021

Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Description
I have a couple vacation huts located in Retallack, BC with good access nearby to activities nearby such as hiking, mountainbiking, ski-touring, fishing, swimming. I host Workawayers to help with property maintenance, renos, firewood & snow removal.

I`m also building a "woodchip clay" cabin for myself in the town of Kaslo, (which I'm now moving into) & also need help finishing the outside plaster of the house, carpentry & landscaping.
I have a lovely husky dog that loves going for walks and bike rides with workawayers.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Travellers can experience backcountry cabin/off grid lifestyle and have access to outdoor hikes, bike rides, skiing, fishing etc.
I have 1 bike and snowshoes I can lend helpers.
Chance to learn about natural building and construction & landscaping.
Nearby towns are very beautiful with many trails for outdoor activities
Help
I need help with maintaining the cabins such as staining wood, carpentry, cleaning, landscaping, snow removal and chopping firewood.
I am also looking for Workawayers who are interested in natural building to help fish my little house in kaslo . No experience necessary but best if you enjoy working outdoors, doing physical work etc.
There`s flexiblity with the schedule, so volunteers can usually choose when to work around their own activities.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
I have 2 small separate cabins for volunteers (good place for social distancing). Both cabins have limited internet access (1-3 hrs/day), no running water , (no electricity in 1 cabin, solar power in 2nd cabin), they have well set up kitchens, outhouses & sauna/shower building, watertap located outside each cabin. .
What else ...
There are many options for hiking, biking, xcountry skiing, snowshoeing, skitouring, paddling nearby.
There's buses a few times/week from kaslo- vancouver & calgary.
Also buses a few time/week from kaslo-nelson.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
Can possibly accept pets
sometimes I can accept a dog, but prefer no dogs because i also have a dog & vacation rental guests at the property.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
20-25/wk

Photos

Xmas 2019 with workawayers

Skiing with workawayers

Abbey the dog

Volunteer cabin

Ski trip

Winter at the caretaker`s cabin

2 km walk or bike ride to swim or fish in Lake

Show all photos

Popular skitour or hike (in summer) top of Mt Brennan, above the property

SkiingRetallack powder

Feedback left by and about host (10)

13/01/2020

Left by Workawayer (Laura & Tycho) for host

Dear Cindy
Thank you so much for the exceptional experience we had at Retallack. We learned so much and enjoyed every snowy day! We enjoyed your company and how you teached us how to survive in the Canadian mountains ;-) and offcourse having Abby around made it really enjoyable! We hope to see you two back once more!!

(Excellent )

07/01/2018

Left by Workawayer (Charles-Aymeric) for host

Had a nice time at Hazel hut with Cindy, her dog Abby and 2 other helpers, we did a few maintenance jobs, were removing snow from driveway and making fire wood, otherwise we were going touring in the amazing backcountry around.
The hut is off grid: water comes from a well outside, so you have to boil it before drinking it or for dishwashing, oven… read more

(Very good )

03/08/2017

Left by Workawayer (Stefano & Karen) for host

This is the place that you want to be if you “TRULY” want to experience the outdoors in the Kootenays.
We all talk about being more responsible but few of us walk the walk. This is where you will enjoy an outdoor paradise and might have to be “outside your comfort zone” while being Eco-Sustainable and living “somewhat” OFFGRID. I have never… read more

(Excellent )

04/02/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (María Luisa )

It was a pleasure to host Marissa, she is a very pleasant and helpful lady. She looked after my place and my dog while I was away and she was very reliable and clean. She also worked on my cabins with me during a very cold time in dec and had a great attitude despite the cold weather, she was a very good worker. I hope she will come back to… read more

(Excellent )

27/01/2017

Left by Workawayer (María Luisa ) for host

This was my first experience as workawayer and there was awesone!!!! Cindy was really kind and such a nice person. Despite the cold and the snow, I enjoyed a lot. Really good experience in Cindy´s cabin. 100% recommended . I´ll never forgot to Abbey, the best dog !!! I would return!!

(Excellent )

26/01/2017

Left by Workawayer (Kai) for host

Cindy was really awesome, kind and considerate! Really enjoyed staying, beautiful if you enjoy snowy mountains and ski touring. Very easy to work with, would return.

(Excellent )

08/05/2016

Left by Workawayer (Christian) for host

Thanks for a great time at your hut.
I enjoyed the the work and the ski touring trips chasing the powder.
This was the best what could happen to me, to explore the amazing kootenay area.
Wish I could come back one day.
Chris

(Very good )

17/03/2016

Left by Workawayer (Nora & Philipp) for host

We spent great 3 weeks @ cindys place. The first couple days it might be a little hard to get used to the basic life out in a "village" with no power and running water, especially in the cold winter. But once you get the oven fired up and the cabin worms up a bit it gets nice and cozy in there. Whenever there was good snow and time Cindy took as… read more

(Very good )

16/12/2015

Left by Workawayer (Guy & Inge) for host

This was our first workaway experience and we loved it, if you really want to have the off the grid feeling go for it we would say, Cindy is a nice girl if you get to know her, you can learn a lot from her and her friends and neighbors are great people as well. The area has amazing views to explore as well.
Thank you Cindy!

(Excellent )

31/07/2015

Left by Workawayer (Ryan) for host

Learned the process of using clay as a form of natural building and met some great people.

(Good )

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