alpine yurt ski trip, sawtooth mountains - February 4, 2010

Sawtooth Mountain Powder Days; Dates: Feb 5th - 8th; Cost: $147/person; The WMC is taking a group of lucky skiers to Bench Hut in the Sawtooth Mountains for 4 days/3 nights of Back Country Skiing in February 2010. Nestled at 7400' on the shoulder of Mount Heyburn in the Sawtooth Mountains, the Bench Hut is a spectacular destination for the downhill shredders and intermediate skiers alike. The area around Bench Hut is off limits to motorized vehicles by the Forest Service (this means NO SNOWMOBILES!). We will meet in SLC on Thursday after work and Carpool to Ketchum where we will spend the night. On Friday, we will carpool in the morning to the trail head, where we will leave modern society behind and enter the Back Country world for 4 spectacular days. Bench is a wall tent built from local materials that reflects the age and ingenuity of the first pioneers in the Rockies. All the basic amenities are provided at the hut including two wood stoves, a two burner propane stove for cooking, pots, pans, tableware, lanterns, bunks with foam mattresses, books, cards, games and a wood fired SAUNA! The Hut can sleep up to 14 people, yet we will limit the group to 10. Hut users need only bring food, sleeping bags and avalanche safety equipment. The trail to the hut, a 1,200' gradual elevation gain over six miles, proceeds gently up a ridge from the Redfish Lake trailhead. Outstanding views of the Sawtooth and White Cloud Mountains mark this trail. Skiers will need to be able to carry their gear into the hut. LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: The strong, experienced skier will enjoy and be challenged by BC skiing in this area. An advanced level of fitness and high-intermediate to advanced downhill ski abilities are essential. This means being comfortable skiing 'black runs' with a 15-20 lb pack in backcountry snow conditions, especially deep powder! Participates should have good BC skiing/slit-boarding skills (and know what this means), and at least attend one Avalanche Class. Please no snowshoers or XC skiers. PLANNED ITINERARY: Feb 4th - Meet in SLC and Carpool to Ketchum (location and time TBD); Feb 5th - 8th Bench Hut, see why everyone wants to go hut skiing! Feb 8th - Get back to the cars and Carpool back to SLC. PAYMENT: BC skiers wishing to attend: need to e-mail the trip leader with a short list of experience/classes along with a contact phone number. BC skiers will need to adhere to the Hut rules; which includes leaving the hut in better shape than found. Approved BC skiers have 7 days to submit full payment to leader or the skier could lose their spot. Refunds will only be given if there are approved participates on the wait list and one of these is able to pay for said position. There are no refunds for inclement weather, nor is there any guarantee for powder. NOT INCLUDED: Transportation to Trail head (we will carpool); Night stay in Ketchum; Food (we will try to organize group food, yet this is not in the cost of the hut); Guiding service (this is an option at $300/day); Personal Gear; Porter Service (this is an option at $150/day for a max of 50#)

Level:MSD-
Organizer:Michael Moody
Phone:801-949-8032
Date:Thu Feb 4 2010 — Mon Feb 8 2010
Meeting Place:Registration required