suggested multi-day ski tours

[mountainsloth]

Hey I am looking for a good multi-day ski tour that is pretty moderate for a group of 5-6 people.

Any suggestions?

 

I would also be interested in backcountry huts

[shapp]

Ski around Crater Lake (no huts), Ski up to Maiden Peak shelter, ski around a day or two and amble over to Fuji shelter (willamette pass area in OR)

[mattp]

I don't know what you mean by "moderate," but the Spearhead Traverse, in the spring, could be a good three day trip that does not involve a lot of steep skiing or a lot of elevation gain. It can be done in a day, but you'd enjoy yourself on a "moderate" outing in three days if the weather was good. It is popular, though, so you might not want to select that particular objective if you are crowd adverse.

 

The Pemberton Icefield, northwest of Whistler, is also good, high, and generally moderate terrain. There are traverse options with and without helicopter support but it is a more serious objective in a mountaineering sense. Depending on what you call "moderate" there is a lot of high alpine terrain around Pemberton and much of it is relatively gentle compared to the Cascades.

 

For wooded terrain in western Washington, the high plateau north of White Pass is high, flat and full of lakes. You could probably figure out an extended trip there, maybe a loop or maybe something ending up on the 410.

 

Mission Ridge to Blewitt Pass, largely on logging roads, is also a pretty decent tour. You'll be sharing some of it with snowmobiles, though.

[iluka]

If you're not limited to the Pacific Northwest, the Sierra Nevada had loads of great multi-day tour possibilities in some fantastic ski terrain.

[DPS]

Has anyone skied the Enchantment lakes loop? In via Colchuck Lake, out via Snow Lakes could be a good tour in low avi conditions. There are a couple spots that one might have to boot down, but most of it should be pretty straight forward.

[mattp]

I've done that tour and also toured out via Shield Lake and Toketie. These are both good tours but skiing out snow creek and, even more so, skiing down the hill below Toketie, can be rather challenging.

Edited December 15, 2010 by mattp

[AlpineK]

From White Pass you can ski into the Goat Rocks. That might be an option.

 

The Spearhead has an overall moderate rating, but there are a couple tricky parts. The bottom of the U shape in the traverse can mess you up. We skied past Overlord in a near whiteout, and that was not a moderate section at the time.

 

The Mount Garibaldi area might be an option. There is a hut at Elfin Lakes, and you can pick terrain. Do not leave anything valuable in your vehicle at the trailhead.

[mattp]

For backcountry ski huts go to Canada. They are all over the place.

[dberdinka]

Artists Point -> Ptarmigan Ridge -> Hadley Peak -> Chowder Ridge is a great 2-long or 3 day one way tour with generally moderate terrain.

[G-spotter]

Garibaldi Neve traverse. Three days, two nights, huts each night.

[skykilo]

^^ This is a good recommendation. Ski the whole way, probably start and finish on snow, some glacier travel required. Don't skip the summit.

 

If your group is fit enough and you're lucky wit da wedder you can ski some of the oh-so-lovely terrain above Sphinx Bay before the luge down the trail below Garibaldi Lake.

[shapp]

http://www.deetour.net/2001/trips/westview/

[mountainsloth]

sweet, thanks for the ideas!

dberkinka, where is that?

[Hugh Conway]

For backcountry ski huts go to Canada. They are all over the place.

 

or the Alps where there's huts all overer the place

[ARob]

There are some great huts in the Wallowas too. Great skiing and good powder for the PNW.

[AlpineK]

Yep, Aneroid Lake has a nice hut with cool terrain for skiing around it. I did a couple winter ski trips there.

[shapp]

Regarding the Wallowas, there are no "public" huts per se, there are some guides operating yurts and wall tents for hire the Sheep and McCully Creek areas. That being said, worth the money. I personally like to ski the elkorns more though but there aint no huts, yurts, wall tents, or adorondacks

Edited December 21, 2010 by shapp