Photo by Griffin Mansi. Level II ski leader training participants at Cameron Pass.
Written by Griffin Mansi
Backcountry skiers often talk about ‘hut trips.’ Those unfamiliar with skier lingo may be left wondering, ‘What exactly is a hut trip, and what does it entail?’
What is a hut?
‘Huts’ are small cabins that are located deep in the backcountry. Often groups are required to hike in a few miles with food, gear, etc.
How to plan
Now that you’ve decided that you want to venture to a hut, you need to begin planning. If you are trying to book an entire hut, you’ll need to do so at least a month in advance. However, there are a few huts throughout Colorado that are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Once you’ve booked a hut, you need to look at the skiable terrain. CalTopo.com is a useful tool because it is loaded with USGS maps and allows you to highlight specific slope angles. Google Earth is also great for finding ski areas.
Next, you need to look at weather conditions. NOAA.com and other weather sites will tell you about the projected snow and temperatures. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center, CAIC.com, has detailed reports on avalanche conditions throughout the state. You need to read CAIC every day in the weeks leading up to the trip so you are familiar with the snowpack and how it is being affected or could be affected by new snow.
Other planning
To go backcountry skiing, you need to be a competent skier at a resort. You don’t need to be shredding double black diamonds or sending 25-foot cliffs. You just need to be very comfortable and strong on skis.
Backcountry skiing is inherently dangerous and avalanche awareness and rescue skills are a necessity. The best option is to take an AIARE Level 1 course to learn those skills.
Gear you’ll need
This is the big section because backcountry skiing requires much more equipment than in-bounds skiing. Here’s what you will need:
Beacon, Shovel, Probe: These are absolute necessary when traveling in the backcountry. Make sure you have a metal, backcountry-specific shovel.
-Skis with AT bindings or tele bindings with a tour mode and heel risers
-Climbing skins
-Adjustable ski poles
-AT boots – Make sure your boots have a good walk mode.
-Backpack: ~ 50 liters works for most trips -Base layers
-Middle weight layers – I usually have a synthetic shirt and micro puff vest.
-Shell Jacket – Leave your heavy, insulated resort jacket at home. If you don’t have a shell, a rain jacket is a good substitute, just bring a couple extra layers.
-Shell Pants – As long as your pants aren’t super insulated you should be fine. Again, rain pants are a good substitute.
-Sunglasses – These should have dark lenses and sun protection on the side.
-Goggles
-Beanie
-Gloves
-Liner gloves – These are perfect for touring.
-Baseball hat – Snapback trucker hats are also great for touring.
-Helmet – Your decision to bring one should depend on the terrain you intend to ski.
Map and compass – You can print out Caltopo maps.
-Headlamp
-Multi tool
-Nalgenes – leave your camelback at home because it will freeze on the ski tour.
-Sleeping Bag – Some huts have bedding but bringing a summer weight sleeping bag is a good idea.
-Comfortable shoes to wear around the hut
-Clothes to wear in the hut – The woodstoves make the huts extremely warm.
Other gear to consider
Most huts come stocked with pots and pans, utensils, plates, etc. Often a list of the supplies in the hut will be on the website where you booked it. If you want to get really fancy you could carry in a wok and make stir fry. A deck of cards is always a nice low weight thing to bring.
Food to pack
Here, the possibilities are endless because the world is your refrigerator. The deciding factor for what food you bring is weight and portability. Also, if you bring eggs, place them inside by the door so that they don’t freeze or get too hot from the wood stove.
With the proper planning, hut trips can be the best option for backcountry skiing. Get a great group of friends together, find a hut to stay in, and get out there.