The Gwen Andrews Hut North of Berthoud Pass, Colorado (Photo by Steve Mestdagh) Happy New Year! If you want to start the new year off the beaten path, back country hut skiing may be the sport for you. Sure, you could head to the local groomed slopes and fight the crowds in the parking lot and the mass of humanity in bright parkas sliding down the mountain. (Come to think of it, it's kind of like the crowds at the mall, only outside.) Not for the faint-hearted, back country hut skiing is an adventurous way to get away from the sodden masses. Modeled on the European mountain hut systems, where small huts are spread through the mountains within a day's travel of each other, ski hut systems are peppered throughout the United States. Of course, you'll need to pack in your own gear. The huts are pretty rustic, but the guests don't seem to mind. They usually offer amenities for cooking and simple bunks for sleeping. At least there will be a fire to warm up after a long day of skiing. Suggested Sites... 10th Mountain Division Hut Association - maintains 29 backcountry huts in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, connected by 350 miles of suggested routes. Ostrander Hut - a good way to explore the Yosemite back country. Hut-to-Hut Skiing: Answering the Call of the Trail - New York Times profile of a few top-notch ski huts. Luxury Ski Resorts - not up for a rugged trip, you could stay at one of these lodges... if you can afford it.

Directory categories: Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Ski Reports

Archived under: Adventure, Skiing, Sports, Travel, Winter

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