In the past few years, backcountry skiing has become one of the fastest-growing segments in the snowsports industry. If you鈥檙e one of the many people who听recently started ditching the chairlift, you鈥檝e probably heard of hut trips from some of your off-piste friends.
For the unacquainted, a hut trip involves backcountry skiing to a rustic cabin nestled somewhere in the mountains. It requires extra knowledge, planning, and equipment听but makes for the best kind of ski getaway: empty slopes, a group of friends, and a wood-burning stove in a picturesque cabin. We鈥檝e outlined everything newbies need to know to crush their first hut trip.
Get Schooled
No ski patrol in the backcountry means no avalanche mitigation. There are plenty of on how to avoid avalanches and basic rescue techniques. The (AAIRE) is the big name in avalanche preparedness, and offer classes throughout the winter around the country. Courses aren’t cheap鈥攁n AAIRE Level 1 certification costs about $450鈥攂ut it鈥檚 a necessary investment if you鈥檙e going to spend time out of bounds.
Find a Good Hut
To decide on a cabin, consider听your group鈥檚 skiing ability, fitness level, and how many amenities you听want. If it鈥檚 a first trip, I听recommend finding a hut with an easy approach, about two miles or less from a road, and surrounded by mellow runs.
颁辞濒辞谤补诲辞鈥檚 , a system of 35 huts connected by 350 miles of routes, is a good starting point. Though calling them 鈥渉uts鈥 is an understatement鈥攖hey鈥檙e beautiful, well-outfitted log cabins. Most sleep around 16 people and come equipped with comfy memory foam mattresses and pillows, a wood-burning stove and oven, and two outhouses. It鈥檚 usually easy to book a bed or two throughout the winter, but it鈥檚 more fun to reserve an entire hut and bring a crew of friends. To do so, you鈥檒l have to enter a in the spring, which fills up fast. For even more luxury, the 听(from $50 per person a night)听in southwest Colorado听is a European-style experience that sleeps 16 people and includes meals.
While Colorado听probably has听the country鈥檚 most extensive system, there are huts scattered throughout the United States. Here鈥檚 a helpful resource that lists听.
What Gear to Pack
Part of the fun of a hut trip is prepping your kit. It can be tricky, because you want to keep things as light as possible, but winter gear is inherently bulky. You can find plenty of packing lists online, but here鈥檚 my personal list, adapted from a document sent to me by a friend.
Aside from your backcountry-specific gear, like skins, an avalanche beacon, shovel, and probe, make sure to pack extra batteries for your electronics (they tend to not last in the cold) and indoor booties, an overlooked but essential comfort. ( pack small and light but are tall enough to keep snow out.)听You won鈥檛 need a winter sleeping bag鈥攁ny hut worth visiting will have a woodstove to keep you toasty throughout the night. Instead, bring a 20-to-30-degree down bag, which will save room (and weight) in your pack. Earplugs to deal with snoring ski mates are an absolute necessity if you want to get any sleep at night; carry extra pairs and you鈥檒l be everyone鈥檚 favorite. Finally, you鈥檒l want to pick the right pack. Look for one with about 40 liters of volume that can compress smaller听for use on day tours. I have a 45-liter听, but an also works well.
How to听Prepare听
Once you鈥檝e booked your hut trip, start training. Make sure you鈥檙e comfortable in your gear (you don鈥檛 want blisters) and hit the snow as much as you can鈥攜our trip will be much more enjoyable if you鈥檙e not wrecked at the end of each day. If you鈥檙e not close to the mountains, focus on leg and core exercises, and mix in a little cardio (preferably with resistance) for the trek in. Also keep an eye on the forecast. If you booked a hut in Colorado, for example, look at the and avalanche forecasts as often as possible, especially in the weeks before your trip, to have a good idea of the range of conditions.