Breckenridge Hut Trip - Intro to Winter Hut Trips at Sister’s Cabin

Gravity Haus creates best-in-class experiences that welcome our community to spend time in reverence of the great outdoors, where you’ll embrace your inner adventurer, disconnect from the grind of daily life, and develop relationships with your fellow Gravity Haus members as you create memories outside, together.

Are you looking for the ultimate backcountry skiing and/or riding experience? Escape the resort crowds by earning your turns on a backcountry skiing adventure in Colorado’s Summit County. Backcountry skiing provides the opportunity to extend your ski season and experience something few skiers ever will: skiing powder in solitude. For 3 days, your primary focus will be to relax at the hut and ski your face off!

In the evening, chill by the fire with a cup of your favorite beverage and join your guide team as you prepare a home cooked meal all in the untamed views of the Colorado Rockies. Just like a traditional hut trip we will work together to prep and cook meals, gather water, keep the fire going, etc.

Additionally, over the span of this trip clients will have the opportunity to elevate their backcountry education while getting the goods! We look at the ins and outs of backcountry travel in the winter and how to properly execute a winter hut trip. Topics to be covered can include gear overviews, basic skinning technique, intro to terrain management, avalanche awareness, and we will also spend time learning the proper etiquette to using a backcountry hut.

• Attendees should be able to SAFELY ski/ride a black diamond in any snow conditions.
• Attendees should befit enough to travel in the backcountry for multiple hours for 3 days.
• Attendees should be prepared for multiple hours of adventuring in the cold.

Do I need to be a good skier/snowboarder to participate? Not an expert skier? Never skied in the backcountry? No problem! If you can ski Vail’s back bowls, you can ski in our backcountry. Our experienced and professional guides will teach uphill and downhill skiing technique, risk management, and talk you through decision-making in the backcountry. Already started your backcountry journey, just farm the pow!

What kind of shape should I be in for this trip? Colorado Adventure Guides’ priority is keeping our attendees safe. Our guides are trained to recognize potentially hazardous situations in the backcountry; they plan and operate accordingly. Prior to the start of any backcountry trip you will complete a brief health history. The failure to disclose pertinent information on the health history form could result in serious harm, even death, to the signing participant, other guests and/or the guide. All information submitted is completely confidential; it is for the guide’s use and would only be shared in the event of an emergency with medical and/or rescue personnel directly caring for the guest. This can be a physically demanding trip, and your ability to enjoy the adventure depends on your health and fitness, thus it’s recommended that you are in good physical condition.

Do I get to talk to the guides before the trip starts? Yes! Your guides will contact you in advance to set up details.

How big is the trip? 11 attendees, plus 2 guides and a Gravity Haus host.

Where are we staying? Sisters Cabin is the newest SHA winter-only hut that opened January 12, 2019. The fifth overnight backcountry hut in the Summit Huts system, the 14-person Sisters Cabin was built in 2018 and currently operates as a winter-only hut from November through April. Funded by the The Sturm Family Foundation, Sisters Cabin celebrates the close bonds amongst Sue Sturm, an avid backcountry hut user, and her close-knit group of female friends that have formed and flourished in the shared joys of backcountry skiing adventures, hence the “Sisters” moniker. Sisters Cabin incorporates state-of-the-art design and green-building techniques to minimize environmental impact and offer guests an experience similar to those they have come to expect at Summit Huts larger flagship huts. Learn more about location & amenities for Sister’s Cabin here: https://summithuts.org/projects/sisters-cabin/

What else should I pack? Everything listed here.

Should I tip my guides? Your guides work hard before, during, and after your experience to provide you with the best safety education and a great experience, and while not expected, gratuities are always highly appreciated. If you had a safe, educational, and fun experience, gratuities typically range from 15-20%.

Can my dog come? Not on this trip.

Is there any avalanche danger? The team at Colorado Adventure Guides scouts out the best conditions and assess avalanche danger and other potentially dangerous conditions that may not be evident to the untrained eye. You're in great hands with them.

Monday, February X

• Virtual pre-trip orientation meeting, where you’ll "meet" with your guides, fellow trekkers, and review all details in preparation for your trip.

Friday, February 17

• We will spend the morning gathering our gear before transitioning to the field where we will then travel to the cabin. The afternoon will be spent utilizing field and hut instruction where you can hone your winter backcountry skills.

Saturday, February 18

• Spend some time at and around the hut at your leisure combined with heading out for some quality turns while incorporating topics like trip planning, decision making, route-finding techniques, and more. Fun and education takes place right out the door of the hut!

Sunday, February 19

• Continued classroom and field instruction. Pack up the hut, then transportation back to Colorado Adventure Guides.

• CAG professional ski or splitboard guide (6:1 maximum guide to student ratio)
• Transportation from designated meeting place (Gravity Haus Winter Park) to the Trailhead
• Food as listed above
• Lodging as listed above

• Avalanche Safety Gear if needed (beacon, shovel, probe, pack) - available to rent from CAG’s BackCountry Demo Center
• Clothing and Gear (a recommended packing list will be provided upon booking)
• Backcountry skis or splitboards - available to rent from CAG’s BackCountry Demo Center
• Transportation to designated meeting place (Gravity Haus Winter Park)
• Insurance (Trip or Rescue) - Consider adding Spot Accident Insurance onto your membership if you don't already have it.
• Gratuity

Host or Publisher Gravity Haus