Far from northern Utah’s crowds is a high volcanic mountain range surrounded by desert: the Tushars. Typically, 400-plus inches of fluff falls here, caused by uplift out of the Great Basin. Sitting at 10,400 feet just west of Delano Peak—the range’s highest at 12,173 feet—the Snorkeling Elk Yurt accesses loads of varied skiing. “The west sides are gentle ramps, and the east side has steep funneling canyons, with some of the biggest ski lines in the state,” said Alec Hornstein, owner of Tushar Mountain Tours. Also, he adds, “the tree skiing is phenomenal, with huge spruces at over 11,000 feet.”
Access: Tour 4.6 miles and 1,800 vertical feet up the trailhead on Big John Flat Road.
Cost: $140/night, plus approach guide for first-time users ($85)
Capacity: 8
Reservations/Guiding: skitushar.com
Avalanche Info: utahavalanchecenter.org
Photos by Alec Hornstein
Accessible by snowmobile, but right at the edge of the 944,000-acre Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, the Mount Zimmer Yurt is my idea of a perfect backcountry yurt. Fall line below the yurt, you can ski steep pillow lines off 9,500-foot Alp Rock, but I prefer skinning to the Zimmer Plateau for laps on the Butter Run and its neighboring 1,500-foot runs into Zimmer Creek. On a clear day, I’ll search for the mountain gods residing in the high Beartooths. With a pellet stove and a view toward the crumbling rock spires of Pilot and Index, the yurt is a cozy hom,e indeed.
Access: Snowmobile or skin 7 miles from Cooke City, or hire Beartooth Powder Guides for a lift.
Capacity: 8
Cost: $300/night, plus approach guide for first-time users ($250)
Reservations/Guiding: beartoothpowder.com
Avalanche Info: mtavalanche.com
Photos by Emily Stifler Wolfe
The 60,000-acre Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park sits on the northwest shore of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Lake effect created by Lake Superior produces an average of 300-plus inches a year, and this year they surpassed 200 in January. Stay waterside at one of the Union Bay Yurts, and ski a quarter-mile to the Porkies Ski Area in the morning. Bill Johnson, from Downwind Sports in Marquette, recommends catching a ride up, skinning above the lift to West Vista, then dropping off the back side where you can set a skin track and lap 800-foot lines through pine, hemlock and hardwood glades.
Access: Park in the campground and ski 200 yards to the yurts or cabin.
Capacity: 4
Cost: $65/night
Reservations: https://michigandnr.com
Photo by Bill Johnson
Straddling the Sierra Crest beneath the rocky 8,631-foot summit of Mount Anderson, Benson was built in the late 1940s in memory of a Sierra Club member killed in WWII. On big snow years, you’ll have to enter via the attic window, and last year the entire cabin was actually buried. Click in at the front door and ski north-facing trees for breakfast, climb to Anderson’s summit for a 2,000-foot run into the headwaters of the American River, or link to the Bradley Hut for the multi-day Sugar Bowl to Squaw Valley Traverse. Sleep tight: Benson is rumored to be haunted.
Access: Ride Sugar Bowl’s Mount Lincoln chairlift (one-ride tickets available), or skin from your car. The hut is less than three miles from Lincoln’s summit along the Sierra Crest. Call Sugar Bowl for overnight parking info – (530) 426-6783. Riding the lift cuts 1,400 vert and 2.5 miles off the hike.
Capacity: 12
Cost: $20/person/night
Reservations: (530) 426-3632
Guiding: alpineskills.com
Avalanche Info: sierraavalanchecenter.org
Maps via Sierra Club
A guided and catered operation accessed only by helicopter, the Barron Yurt is at the edge of the Pasayten Wilderness 30 miles south of the Canadian border. Its 6,000-foot elevation, plus a location on the east side of the Cascades, means the snow is relatively dry for the PNW. And with 400-500 inches annually, there’s plenty. Skin 20 minutes to Tamarack Peak, which has skiing on all aspects, or cross the valley for 1,500-foot runs on Buffalo Pass Ridge. Barron is typically booked up a year in advance, ’cause, well, it’s one of the best backcountry huts you’ll find anywhere on Earth. If you missed it, check out Cascade Powder Cats’ Yurts on Stevens Pass.
Access: Fly in with North Cascades Heli Guides.
Capacity: 10 (8 guests, 2 guides)
Cost: $1,400/person/4 nights or $1,250/person/3 nights, plus 8.1% sales tax
Reservations/Guiding: heli-ski.com/trips/yurt
Avalanche Info: nwac.us/avalanche-forecast/current/cascade-east-north
Photos courtesy of North Cascades Heli
Essential gear for your next hut trip…
Hyper Kazoo, by The North Face
This 15-degree-rated, three-season sleeping bag offers awesome warmth, compressibility and comfort for a rockin’ price. Responsibly sourced, 800-fill ProDown (TNF’s proprietary down solution that retains its loft even when wet) is the ???? to that coveted warmth. ThermoBaffle construction (baffle chambers woven by one single piece of fabric without traditional stitched or welded seams) helps with the warmth factor, too, while also providing a nod to weight and durability. A streamlined cut and two-third-length side zip save even more weight, while a hood-cinch and draft collar prevent heat loss. A stuff sack and storage sack come included.
Fuse Brigandine Jacket, by The North Face
This Steep Series jacket is designed for travel in the most demanding terrain in the world, period. It features an ergonomic fit that was designed around the body’s positions while skiing, hiking and climbing, and a new FuseForm/GORE-TEX® fabrication with pockets that integrate with bibs and midlayers. The Fuse Brigandine Jacket is relied upon by some of the best big-mountain skiers on the planet, including Angel Collinson, Ian McIntosh and Sage Cattabriga-Alosa. The jacket features a seamless, tough-as-nails jacquard weave in the hood, elbows, pocket openings, chest, lower side panels and back to reduce wear and tear, prevent moisture penetration and ensure an optimal fit when wearing a pack.
Wind Jacket 2.0 Harmony Fade, by Oakley
The Wind Jacket 2.0 is a big-lensed, snug-fitting pair of shades with heaps of retro flair. These puppies come with a removable strap and PRIZM lenses that enhance color and contrast. We sport ‘em while skiing, hiking, biking, paragliding, rollerblading, river-rafting, boating, soaking in the hot springs, you name it. Rest assured, they’ll remain squarely in place through all of these activities, block wind and generally enhance your experiences thanks to the power of PRIZM. This here colorway, in particular, is a part of Oakley’s Harmony Fade Collection; the signature Harmony Fade look—which was unveiled this week by the many Oakley-sponsored Olympians in PyeongChang—salutes the journey and the commitment athletes make to reach the world stage of competition. Oakley chose orange “for the fire that burns inside each and every competitor” and yellow for “the sun that lights the path of athletes brave enough to pursue their dreams.”
T3 Avalanche Rescue Package, by Backcountry Access
Thanks to this awesome bundle, BCA has made it exceptionally easy for backcountry skiers to get their hands on the essential gear for venturing out-of-bounds. The T3 Avalanche Rescue Package comes with the Tracker3 avalanche transceiver, Stealth 270 probe and B-1 EXT shovel. The three-antennae beacon utilizes an instantaneous real-time display as well as a “big picture” mode and signal suppression components for multiple burial scenarios; the Stealth 270 enables a fast, easy assembly and features highly-visible depth markers for intuitive searching; and the extendable B-1 EXT shovel has an amazing strength-to-weight ratio and packs down nice and small. All told, there’s a lot to love, here. And remember, when it comes to venturing out of bounds, knowledge is power.
BC Link Radio, by Backcountry Access
Clear communication is one of, if not the most important aspect of successful days in the backcountry and the BC Link Radio is a very effective tool in aiding group conversation. Your pack houses the base unit while the microphone clips onto your shoulder strap. The base unit utilizes a rechargeable lithium ion battery, is waterproof and compatible with all standard FRS/GMRS radios. The mic unit is glove-friendly and includes a push-to-talk button, power switch, volume control and channel selector. Communicating with your entire team, even from the next ridge over, has never been easier.
Signal, by Leatherman
One of Leatherman’s most popular tools now packs new preparedness features like a shaped, diamond-coated sharpener for maintaining your straight and serrated blade; a fire-starting ferro rod; and an emergency whistle. The sleek, black colorway is all-new, too. Be prepared for the expected (and the unexpected) when you head out on your next hut trip.
Rise 34+ Backpack, by Deuter
With 34 liters (or 42, thanks to a height-adjustable lid) of storage, the Rise 34+ is trustworthy for weekend-long overnight outings or longer tours that require not too-too much gear. A reinforced avalanche tool pocket stands tough in the face of sharp shovel blades and two lateral pockets provide extra storage for water bottles, gas canisters, 24 oz. summit “sodas” and other cylindrical objects. As an added plus, the foam back-pad can be removed and utilized as a sitting mat to keep you dry during your lunch break.
Rise Lite 26 SL Women’s Pack, by Deuter ♀
This lightweight pack (2.69 pounds) is suitable for the times when you don’t need to stuff your pack full of sleeping bags, pillows, wine bladders, etc. A 26 liter volume is enough to house water (it’s hydration system compatible, too), food, valuables, extra layers, goggles and safety tools and the like. Additionally, the pivoting, flexible hip fins follow the contours of your body for ease of movement and also to help maintain a center of gravity. The fins are also conically-shaped to accommodate the female anatomy. If we had just one word with which to describe this pack, we’d go with “reliable.”
Ariel AG 75, by Osprey ♀
For when you do need to pack everything but the kitchen sink, this pack has you covered. The Ariel AG 75 boasts an excellent fit thanks to a suspended mesh harness that wraps your body and also a wide, plush hip belt. Both the harness and hip belt are interchangeable to provide a custom fit. A full peripheral frame coupled with that rockin’ fit allows for excellent load transfer, and thereby easy-breezy walking. Kiss your sore shoulders and back goodbye! More to love: A removable top-lid converts into a day- or a summit-pack. Additionally, zippered hip belt pockets provide quick access to things like chapstick, a phone, sunscreen and Snickers. Lastly, access to the main compartment is made easy via top and front entry.
