MtnStuffer Adventures: Hut Trip with San Juan Mountain Guides
MtnStuff went on an epic backcountry ski trip with San Juan Mountain Guides out of Ouray, CO the first week of February. We were spoiled rotten staying at their VIP “hut” on Red Mountain Pass and having all our overnight gear brought up to the hut for us. All we needed to carry was our day pack on the skin up.
MtnStuffers from left to right- Ashley Tucker, Minna Casser, Trisha Hussian, Tyler Noonan, Richard Weight & Leta Kalfas
I had been dying to go backcountry skiing for years, but had piled up excuses to put off the trip: I hadn’t taken my AIARE Level 1 course, I didn’t own a backcountry kit, I didn’t have anyone to go with, I wasn’t sure where to go. So, when MtnStuffer Rich Weight sent an email out to our rep group titled “San Juan Ski Trip” I twirled my office chair in excitement. My first backcountry hut trip! What to pack? What to rent? What to know? Here’s where we started.
First, Rich had booked us a backcountry hut ski trip with San Juan Mountain Guides. The owner, Nate Disser, would be our fearless leader, keeping us safe and breaking trail for us. Mtnguide.net has more information on San Juan Mountain Guide’s backcountry hut skiing trips, as well as a helpful packing list.
Upon reading through the packing list, Trish, Leta and I still needed to rent touring skis, skins, boots, adjustable poles, avalanche transceivers, probes, and shovels. We headed to our local shop, Confluence Kayaks, in Denver a couple weeks before our trip to get fitted and reserve equipment for our upcoming adventure. Here is a complete list of what I brought:
Ski Equipment
Tecnica Zero G Guide Pro ski boot
DPS Alchemist Wailer 106 skis
Adjustable poles
Climbing skins
Avalanche Transceiver
Probe
Avy Shovel with metal blade
Goggles
Ski Helmet
Ski Repair Kit
Other stuff
Batteries- for beacon and headlamp
Headlamp
Sunglasses
Snacks- snickers bars, apples, jerkey, electrolyte packets
Sunscreen stick and lotion
Chap stick
Toe warmers
Water bottle
Toiletries
Personal First Aid Kit
Osprey Stuff Sacks
Clothing
Wool socks
Fall 18 Outdoor Research Alpine Onset baselayers
Outdoor Research Cathode Insulated Vest
Outdoor Research Radiant Hybrid Tights (to wear at the hut)
Outdoor Research Ascendant Vest (This wound up staying in my bag as I only alternated between my Cathode and my baselayer, but would have come in handy if the temp had dropped)
Fall 18 Outdoor Research down jacket
Outdoor Research Trucker Sun Runner Hat (I wish I had brought this hat so I could stop worrying so much about reapplying sunscreen!)
Fall 18 Outdoor Research Beanie
We arrived in Ouray, CO Tuesday night and met Nate and Mark for a delicious dinner at Brickhouse, where we talked about our plan before heading out for our trip the following morning. Wednesday morning we checked our beacons, did a quick safety recap and started skinning up. Along the way to our hut Nate showed us all the yurts San Juan Mountain Guides has available. Two of the yurts had access to a mountain sauna, pictured below.
San Juan Sauna
Nate gave us some pointers for kick turns and AVA turns on the way up Red Mountain, then lead us down beautiful slopes covered by a foot of fresh, untouched powder from the day before.
MtnStuffers Leta Kalfas and Minna Casser cheesin’
We arrived at our hut by 3P, where we were greeted with our clean clothes and hot soup. We warmed up, and Ashley, Rich, Leta and I headed out for another run before the sun set. After chasing the sun down the mountain we were eager to return to foam rollers, chicken chili, snow cone margaritas and chocolate chip cookies. When it came time to sleep we crawled under a crisp white comforter and laid our heads on feather pillows, assisted by ear plugs Nate and Mark had thoughtfully provided to block out snoring friends in the loft.
Thursday morning we rose to hot coffee, eggs, bacon and English muffins. We decided to head to “Hollywood”- a run you can see from the highway- so we would be able to see our tracks from the road on the way home.
We lucked out with another beautiful, warm, sunny day to play in. Tyler’s watch reported that we completed 2100 vert Thursday. The final skin back to our hut brought us together as we cheered one another on, helping distract Trish from the goose egg bruise boiling on her shin as we all shuffled along trying to keep up with Nate and Tucker. When we finally arrived at the hut around 4P we all sprawled out on the floor, stretching, chugging water, popping Advil, and brainstorming progressive ideas for our agency.
This trip was an incredible way for us to test new gear from the brands we represent, bond as a team, and come up with innovative ideas for our agency. San Juan Mountain Guides made the trip a breeze, and worked with our varying levels of backcountry experience (from newbs to experts). Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about the trip, or contact San Juan Mountain Guides if you’re interested in booking your own hut trip.
