Honeymoon Solar

A New Chapter for the Honeymoon Cabin

Bringing the Honeymoon Cabin Into the Modern Era

The Honeymoon Cabin has been an important part of the Merritt Snowmobile Club’s mountain network since it was built in 1999. Originally established as a remote mountain shelter, the cabin has served generations of snowmobilers and continues to be an important landmark in our riding area.

For the 2026-27 season, the Merritt Snowmobile Club has taken a big step forward with the installation of a new off-grid solar power system, Starlink connectivity, and a remote webcam. Sitting at approximately 1,790 metres (5,873 feet), the cabin is now equipped to provide regular mountain condition updates and live weather imagery directly to our website.

This project is about more than just a webcam. It’s about improving mountain safety, providing better information to riders, and investing in the future of our club’s remote infrastructure.

A Mountain Mission: Installing the New Honeymoon Webcam

On October 4, 2026, a dedicated crew of Merritt Snowmobile Club volunteers headed into the mountains to bring the Honeymoon Cabin’s new solar and webcam project to life.

With the help of Valley Helicopters pilot Tom Humbel, approximately 1,800 pounds of equipment was long-lined into the remote cabin site. The crew was flown in ahead of the equipment to prepare for the delivery and receive the bundled gear.

With everyone knowing their roles and the job well planned out, the installation moved along quickly and efficiently. Leading the technical side of the project was our resident techie guy, Simon Rizzardo, working alongside Adam McDonald, Jordan Mullin, Nico Volpe, and David Swoboda.

Along with installing the new solar and communications equipment, the crew also took the opportunity to replace the cabin’s ridge cap, completing some much-needed maintenance while everyone was on site.

It was a busy day at 5,873 feet, but a great example of what a committed group of volunteers can accomplish when they work together.

A huge thank you to everyone involved, especially Valley Helicopters and pilot Tom Humbel, for helping make this mountain project possible.

Off-Grid Power, Starlink & Live Mountain Conditions

The new Honeymoon Cabin system was custom designed to operate independently in a remote mountain environment, providing reliable power and connectivity throughout the winter season.

The solar installation consists of:

  • Six 455-watt solar panels connected in series, providing 2,730 watts of solar capacity.

  • Two separate 100-amp Renogy Rover MPPT solar charge controllers.

  • Two 200Ah self-heating lithium batteries, providing 400Ah of battery storage.

  • Starlink Mini satellite internet with open Wi-Fi connectivity.

  • A remote webcam capturing images every 10 minutes and sending them directly to the Merritt Snowmobile Club website.

One of the unique features of this installation is its custom-built load management system. Timers were incorporated into the electrical loads to keep power consumption primarily during daylight hours, helping conserve battery capacity overnight when solar charging is unavailable.

The system was also designed with room to expand the battery capacity in the future as the club’s needs grow.

This is a fantastic starting point for the 2026-27 season and will give snowmobilers a valuable new resource for checking mountain conditions before heading out.

None of this would have happened without our volunteers. From planning and equipment preparation to helicopter logistics, installation, and technical expertise, this project represents countless hours of dedication to the Merritt Snowmobile Club and our riding community.

Thank you to everyone who helped turn this idea into reality!