Celebrating 25 Years of the Dacha Shelter
To mark the 25th anniversary of the Dacha Shelter, Phoenix Nordic launched a special fundraising campaign to support a much-needed rebuild of this beloved cabin. The Dacha holds a special place in the hearts of many in the Boundary region, and we were excited to give it new life.
Thanks to generous support, we’ve already laid a new concrete floor and installed a wood stove — key first steps in revitalizing this iconic spot. But there’s more work to be done: the roof leaks, snow sneaks in through the windows, and the furniture has seen better days.
We envision a refreshed Dacha as a place where you can:
- Enjoy a warm meal after a magical night ski
- Take shelter on a blustery winter day
- Share stories and laughter with fellow trail users
And how do you get to this cozy cabin? On beautifully groomed trails, of course! Our head groomer has a dream list of equipment that will help us maintain and improve the trail experience for everyone. After all, while you can’t live on these trails, you can enjoy them as if you could — at least for a polite amount of time.
While this fundraiser is now complete, we’re grateful to everyone who supported the effort. Your contributions help keep the Dacha — and our entire trail system — a welcoming space for skiers, snowshoers, hikers, and nature lovers alike.
Thank you! Keep your skis slick, your snowshoes warm, and we’ll see you out on the trails.
The History of the Dacha
The Dacha Shelter, located at the top of our trail system, was built in 2000 by a dedicated group of volunteers. Most of the materials used were repurposed, including wood rails gathered from the nearby forest.
The original stove was a hardy home made steel plated contribution from volunteers in the old Pope and Talbot mill.
Some of the volunteers who helped bring the shelter to life included:
Steve Faminoff, Louise Heck, Gary Weare, Larry Hudema, Lincoln Ford, Liz Huxter, Brian Fletcher, Jock Mackay and Paul Kostka.
Originally built as a warm-up spot for nordic skiers, the Dacha has since become a welcoming stop for many other recreational users, including ice fishers, cyclists, snowshoers, and hikers.
Since its completion, the Phoenix Cross Country Ski Society has carefully maintained this cozy chalet, which now welcomes visitors year-round.
Regular maintenance and support keeps the Dacha enjoyable for so many
 New wood stove |  Tidied for the 2025/26 season |  New post and flag |
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Love of the Dacha
 Photo credit: Nicole McGregor |  Stunning views | |
 Snug under a blanket of snow |  Dec. 23, 2012: That week had an early and tremendous amount of snow |  The front door is a testimony to the history of skiing |
 Firewood is piled high |  Contribute to and read from past visitors |  |
The hard work of so many, made the Dacha a reality
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