[Layback]

Full Trip Report at AlpineTarn.net I started off the new year right with some turns in the backcountry. Carl and I skied to High Hut on Saturday and spent the night in a plush backcountry hut. Sunday was crystal clear and the turns were righteous... We left the greater Puget Sound area in the late morning and arrived at the TH at 2:30:

We took a break at the junction of the trail to High Hut and Snow Bowl:

Took in some views of Snow Bowl:

Made it to High Hut just as the sun was setting:

Drank some wine and rum with our new friends as Bob Marley and Joe Satriani played from the iPhone:

Saw a beautiful sunrise:

Mt. Rainier at Sunrise from High Hut (Mount Tahoma Trails Association).

Got in some sweet turns:

[Ingunn]

Cool, this reminds me of the system back in Norway where you ski (or hike) from hut to hut. The sunrise photo is beautiful!

[Joe]

Very nice, great photos.

[GeoTom]

Nice sunrise photo.

[rdyhiker]

Wow, thanks for the report! Didn't realize the South District had re-opened. Good timing on your trip... all that gorgeous powder... on the sunrise pic.

[11th Essential]

Nice pics. Am headed there myself later on this month. Looks like no shortage of snow

[Layback]

Thanks guys. You're going to have some fun back there 11th Essential. 7 feet of snow on the ground per the measuring sticks. It's impossible to go off the road out there b/c the walls on either side are like 4' high. BTW, there's a new bridge (hence the reopening of the S District) - I believe the access has changed so make sure you get the new map from the MTTA site. There's a new Snow Bowl Hut in the works for next year also if my understanding is correct. The drawings I saw at the gala of the new design were unbelievable.

[loper]

Nice trip and beautiful pictures Layback! Were you two able to bring the baby? I wonder if anyone ever shoes the hut system? L

[JimK]

Thanks for the report. I didn't know the bridge had been replaced.

[Toonces]

Looks amazing, but I bet you missed Bruce something fierce.

[Layback]

The original plan was to bring Bruce, but we bailed on the idea b/c we thought that feeding along the way could be an issue and we weren't sure how an infant would go over with the other hut's guests. So Susie and Bruce stayed home and I got a full night's sleep. Snowshoes are a-okay. Mounties actually lead snowshoe trips up there. I listed it as a snowshoe in fact (but nobody signed up so I took it offline as a private trip). I couldn't list it as a BC ski trip, b/c as a CL I don't believe I'm "allowed" to list BC Ski trips... Not totally sure on the policy... It's a good high-avy conditions trip b/c it's along groomed trails that serve as roads during the summer. There are no slopes above the trees that could warrant concern for avy (under anything but the most unusual avy conditions). The tragedy at Lake 22 last year is a good example that anything is possible. We had beacons nonetheless. Toonces - Does it make me a bad father that I only missed him a little? I enjoyed a full night's sleep (even though he's sleeping through the night frequently).

[Hikingqueen]

I loved the sunrise pic! How many miles is it to the hut?

[Layback]

Thanks. Some useful stats: - 8 miles RT - 2,400' gain - Downhill on AT Skis: low intermediate (all downhill except for maybe 100 feet of skating). In good avy conditions it's possible to ski the slope beneath the hut down to Anderson Lake (solid black). - Probably a solid blue on standard nordic skis.

[DIYSteve]

[Layback]

Thanks Steve. That's Carl with the custom pack and Spirits. I know he loves his pack also. Lofty price tag though, no? Hopefully I'll get some pics up from Carl of my turns too.