vacation. Owners Shale Ann and Ken will set you up in one of their 100-year old (but now comfortably winterized) cabins and treat you to a hearty breakfast to start the day.
Day 1 we meet at Cardinal Village Resort at 8:30 am for a final equipment check and last minute packing. It is an easy but steady climb up the closed and snow covered Sabrina Lake Road, where we leave "civilization" behind and head the final couple of miles to the hut. The hut sits near North Lake near the Paiute Pass Trailhead, a half-mile short of the John Muir Wilderness boundary. This is an area of tranquil beauty with open meadows and lodgepole forest, offering a wide variety of skiing with wonderful downhill runs through the trees. Touring options include all day trips to Lamarck Col or Paiute Pass or more turn focused tours of pretty much any length or difficulty. It is about three miles tour to the hut all of which are done on a closed snow-covered road. We usually reach the hut with time for a good afternoon tour.
Day Two: We spend the morning touring around the area, getting as many turns in as possible before packing up and heading down the quick return to our cars.
On holiday weekends we generally schedule a three-day version of this trip, which allows a full day to tour around the area and get a little farther a field.
Ski trips:
The hut area has a great range of options for skiing nearby. There is great run just out the door on the south side of Bishop Bowl or there are some narrow steep gullies further up Paiute Creek. But it is not just steep skiing and touring opportunities abound. A great high alpine tour is to head up to Wonder Lakes and loop back into the Paiute drainage. Lamarck Col is another ideal objective and gains us a view out over the incomparable Evolution drainage with Mounts Darwin and Mendel dominating the view.
Snowboard trips:
We have found that he hut is ideal for taking those first backcountry board adventures. The approach on a pair of snowshoes or a split board is straightforward. We can select terrain that is primarily up or down and so minimize the flats on the way back. The valley has a variety of aspects so we can always find something that is in condition.
Snowshoe trips:
We have found the hut is a great place for a family and kids who want to get out and experience the winter wonderland. For kids we can minimize the load on the back getting to the hut and then once there, there are plenty of hidden places to explore. We often build an igloo adjacent to the hut and give everyone the chance to sleep in it. How often does anyone get that chance these days?
Notes
We have designed these trips for backcountry users of all abilities. For beginners we pick our route to make it as easy as possible for those who are not yet fully comfortable on skis but we can accommodate more proficient skiers. Since your guides are accomplished skiers and instructors there will be opportunity to get tips and instruction on backcountry technique as the tour progresses.
If you do not own ski equipment or snowshoes consult us about where and what to rent. You'll also need a sleeping bag, warm clothing, and perhaps a camera and personal items. Not much – using the hut make sit really easy.
We highly recommend that you spend at least one night at moderate altitude (higher than 8,000') just prior to the trip. Spending a night or two in Mammoth or camped at the trailhead campground would do the trick. Please refer to our Planning for Success info sheet for more info.
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