Going on a hut trip can be a daunting task. Many visitors and friends often ask what to pack on their trip. We will cover a list of the things we bring and also call out a few differences between huts around Colorado, like the 10th Mountain Division Huts and the Opus Hut.
Equipment
- Avalanche transceiver, probe pole, and shovel
- Skis, splitboard, or snowshoes (designed for backcountry), for skis and splitboard ensure bring the following:
- Climbing skins fitted to your equipment
- Skin Wax to prevent clumping in warm conditions
- Ski wax – we consider this to be a long lost art that can be an amazing way to travel quickly in and out of huts in the right conditions
- Boots – Always remember to check that they fit your feet and your equipment if you haven’t used them in a while
- Poles – We typically use adjustable poles which can be helpful to change lengths if there are different snow conditions
- Backpack – We typically bring a 50-65L pack when we are carrying food and a sleeping bag, but will bring a 40L pack for full service huts like the Opus Hut
- Water bottle(s) – I typically bring a 1L wide mouth Nalgene, but most people want more than this
- Sunglasses – Make sure you have a pair of sunglasses or goggles that work well in low lighting
- Goggles
- Sunscreen and lip balm with SPF
- Headlamp with spare batters (we also carry a spare mini headlamp)
- Cell phone – coverage is not guaranteed anywhere in the battery
- Water Filter – I don’t actually bring a water filter. We are very carefully collecting snow and do not filter or boil water
Clothing
- Base Layer
- Long underwear top and bottom – the bottom layer is a great double for pajamas and relaxing around the hut, out of respect for your friends we recommended something that is not see through
- Socks plus extra pair(s) – I like having one pair of socks per day, there isn’t much worse than stepping into yesterdays crusty socks
- Warm/Insulating layer
- Fleece – Typically this is a lightweight active layer like a Patagonia R1 Hoody
- Down/synthetic puff jacket
- Weather/Waterproof Outer Layer
- Jacket – I bring a robust GOR-TEX jacket but also like a lightweight windshirt. They often provide just the right protection from the wind during active tours
- Pants
- Other
- Gloves/Mittens – I bring three pairs, a lightweight pair while I’m touring in warm conditions, a midweight pair, and a heavyweight emergency pair
- Warm hat – I have a lot of hoods in my layering kit but this can be helpful when it gets really cold. I also like a hat that fits well under my helmet
- Baseball hat
- Neck gaiter/ balaclava – Lightweight buffs are often the best they double as a hat and are breathable enough they don’t get super wet from sweat and condensation from your breath
- Hut slippers
Food
This may really be depending on how your group is coordinated. Check out our Tips & Tricks post for details on that. Don’t forget to take all your food with you when you leave. We will be posting more about that in blog about Hut Etiquette.
- Trail snacks
- Personal lunch food
- Group meals – don’t forget butter and oil! I always forget that. Huts typically have salt and pepper. We also keep a few extra spices at the Tundra Hut.
Sleep Gear
- Sleeping bag – I typically carry a 20 degree bag, but occasionally you can get away with a summer weight bag; However, the few times I’ve tried that I’ve frozen when it has been a cold hut. In particular, I remember that at the Sangre de Frolich hut that took forever to warm up. I had a 50 degree bag and slept by the stove all night
- Pillow – These are provided at the Tundra Hut and Opus, but you need to bring them for 10th Mountain Huts. At the Tundra Hut, bring a pillow case to throw over the pillows there. I also just put my clothes in a stuff sack and use that as a pillow.
Toiletries and Personal Items
- Toothbrush & toothpaste
- Medication
- Earplugs – These can be super handy to get a full nights sleep
Emergency Gear
- Emergency shelter (bivy sack) – This is a good item to have a across the group but not needed for everyone
- First-aid kit
- Blister kit
- Lighter
- Foam pad – I use a zlite pad cut down to three sections. It is super handy in the winter to sit on and keep dry or to keep a foot out of the snow if you need to put on blister tape or moleskin
- Emergency communication device – Spot, inReach, PLB (Personal Locator Beacon)
Repair Kit
- Duct tape
- Zip tie / Cable ties
- Baling wire
- Ski straps – I carry four long ones that fit around my ski boot
- Multi-tool – Many people carry a something like a leatherman, but I prefer a ski specific tool like the BD Buddy
- Spare binding and parts – I don’t actually carry a spare binding around, but a lot of people consider it a good idea. It just seems too complicated because it will also require epoxy and potentially a drill
- Extra basket – Have you ever tried skiing without a pole basket? It is comically impossible and causes falls on every other turn. Once you’ve done it once, you’ll never go into the backcountry without an extra
- Extra skin tail strap
Bonus Items
These are optional but can also turn a normal hut trip into something great.
- Bluetooth speaker
- USB charging device
- Hot coco, powdered hot cider, tea
- Fancy bar of hot chocolate
- Games – Recently we’ve really enjoyed exploding kittens and unstable unicorns. Most huts have a deck of cards and some other games. The only time we haven’t found any was at the Last Dollar Hut in the San Juan Hut System