Frog Lake Huts

Enjoy plush, hut-based backcountry ski touring with our expert guides at the Frog Lake Huts. This is Tahoe's most plush backcountry hut touring option. Comfortable beds, bathrooms, drying rooms and a communal cooking and gathering area make overnighting in the backcountry a pure pleasure!
Overview
Itinerary
Prerequisites
Inclusions
Gear

Explore Incredible terrain and enjoy plush accommodations with the finest hut-based skiing experience outside of BC!

  • Ski the best zone in the area that day, based on weather and snow conditions
  • Refresh gear and technique skills
  • Avalanche safety skills review throughout the day
  • Enjoy delicious meals, great company, and living that backcountry hut life!

Here's the schedule for your trip:

  • Day 1 - Arrival & Tour to the Huts - Enjoy skinning and riding along the way. Upon arrival we'll unpack our small overnight kits and get out for a tour before dinner. After we've had our fill of riding for the day, we'll settle back into the huts and prepare for dinner. Dinners are deluxe meals prepared by our guides.

  • Day 2 - Ski Touring from the Huts - We'll get an early start on the day, with a hot breakfast, fresh coffee, and tea. Next, we'll prepare food for the day before gearing up and heading out to explore the Frog Lake area. We'll spend full days ski touring, covering roughly 3,000-5,000' vertical each day with lunch eaten in the field. After skiing to our hearts content, we'll regroup at the huts, set our gear out to dry and prepare for dinner.

  • Days 3 & 4 - Ski Touring from the Hut / Departure Depending on the length of your trip (3 days or 4 days), we'll either be up for another day of skiing and riding, or we'll pack up and head back to the trailhead.

Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:

  • Advanced Resort Riding Skills - Including off-piste terrain in challenging snow conditions.

  • Intermediate Backcountry Experience - Including efficient gear management and skinning, transition technique, with 20+ days spent in the backcountry.

  • Moderate Fitness - Able to spend an active day outside, moving uphill at 1,000’ per hour for durations of roughly 1 hour between breaks. Participants should be able to hike 4-6 miles and climb 1,500-2,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day.

Here's what's included with your trip:

  • Modern, comfortable sleeping accommodations in the tradition of European backcountry huts

  • Experienced AMGA/AIARE Trained Guide

  • Deluxe breakfasts and dinners prepared by your guide. Guests provide their own lunch and snacks.

  • Group Safety Gear - your guide will be equipped with snow science tools and a first aid kit

  • Wag Bags - for human waste disposal in with compliance 'Leave No Trace' principles

Not Included
  • Ski/Splitboard Gear
  • Avalanche Gear
  • Alcohol - Please bring your own beverages
  • Guide Gratuities

Frog Lake Huts Gear List (Download Here)

Ski/Split Touring Gear

  • Alpine Touring Ski or Splitboard Setup - No snowshoes
  • Alpine Touring or Splitboard Boots
  • Climbing Skins
  • Touring Backpack - with pockets for avalanche gear
  • Adjustable Touring Poles
  • Ski or Splitboard Crampons
Avalanche Safety Gear
  • Avalanche Beacon
  • Avalanche Shovel
  • Avalanche Probe
Overnight Gear
  • Headlamp
  • Sleeping Bag - Provided by Blackbird, sleeping bag liner required
  • Sleeping Pad
  • Hut Slippers - Provided by Tahoe Donner Land Trust
Clothing & Accessories
  • Technical Outerwear (jacket, bibs/pants)
  • Multiple Midlayer Options
  • Gloves
  • Helmet
  • Goggles
  • Beanie
  • Baseball Cap
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Water Bottle / Hydration Pack (2L)
  • Lunch and Snacks


Know Before you go

SKILL LEVELIntermediate Advanced
ELEVATION6,000’-9,000’
LocationTahoe - North Lake

Price $1,665.00
Private Programs
Duration: 3-4 Days
View Full Itinerary
Private Programs

Blackbird Mountain Guides offers both scheduled group programs and private programs.

Private programs are simply above and beyond what Blackbird Mountain Guides currently has scheduled. Scheduled courses are not always less expensive. Before booking a trip with Blackbird Mountain Guides, clients are encouraged to review the differences between these types of programs, and to decide what works best for them.

SCHEDULED PROGRAMS

Scheduled Programs have fixed dates, itineraries, objectives, curriculum, and costs. They typically appeal to solo individuals or small groups or who are looking to share the cost of their program with a larger group. Correspondingly, scheduled programs are less expensive for smaller groups (1-2), and they provide the opportunity to meet others with similar interests. If you have a large group (3+), Scheduled programs will often be more expensive. They can fill up quickly, and scheduling flexibility is obviously limited.

Scheduled programs will have advertised dates. All scheduled programs can be run as private programs with private dates/rates as well.

PRIVATE PROGRAMS

Private programs have scheduling freedom. They typically appeal to those who would like some flexibility in planning their own trip or course. In this regard, Itineraries and objectives can be tailored to suit current conditions as well as client goals. Private programs are normally less expensive for larger groups (3+). If you have a small group (1-2) private programs will be more expensive.

Contact us
Full Itinerary

The Frog Lake Huts operate on a fixed weekly schedule for the season.   Trips run throughout the winter as follows:

Sunday through Tuesday

Tuesday through Thursday

Thursday through Sunday 

Friday through Monday

For example, if you book a weekend option, you arrive on Thursday and spend Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at the hut before leaving on Sunday.  

Day 1 (Arrival & touring): Tour to the huts, enjoying fun skinning and riding along the way.  Upon arrival we'll unpack our small overnight kits and get out for a tour before dinner.  After we've had our fill of riding for the day, we'll settle back into the huts and prepare for dinner.  Dinners are deluxe meals prepared by our guides.

Day 2 (Ski touring from the hut): We'll get an early start on the day, having a hot breakfast with fresh coffee and tea and prepare snacks for the day before suiting up and heading out for a day of exploring the Frog Lake area.  The backcountry holds numerous options and based on fitness and capabilities of your group, we can range far and wide to find the best snow and explore new terrain.  After skiing to our hearts content, we'll regroup at the huts, set our gear out to dry and prepare for dinner.

Day 3(Ski touring from the hut)/ Day 4(Departure and short tour): Depending on the length of your trip (3 days or 4 days), we'll either be up for another day of skiing and riding, or we'll pack up and head back to the trailhead.

 

Explore Incredible terrain and enjoy plush accommodations with the finest hut-based skiing experience outside of BC!

  • Ski the best zone in the area that day, based on weather and snow conditions
  • Refresh gear and technique skills
  • Avalanche safety skills review throughout the day
  • Enjoy delicious meals, great company, and living that backcountry hut life!

Here's the schedule for your trip:

  • Day 1 - Arrival & Tour to the Huts - Enjoy skinning and riding along the way. Upon arrival we'll unpack our small overnight kits and get out for a tour before dinner. After we've had our fill of riding for the day, we'll settle back into the huts and prepare for dinner. Dinners are deluxe meals prepared by our guides.

  • Day 2 - Ski Touring from the Huts - We'll get an early start on the day, with a hot breakfast, fresh coffee, and tea. Next, we'll prepare food for the day before gearing up and heading out to explore the Frog Lake area. We'll spend full days ski touring, covering roughly 3,000-5,000' vertical each day with lunch eaten in the field. After skiing to our hearts content, we'll regroup at the huts, set our gear out to dry and prepare for dinner.

  • Days 3 & 4 - Ski Touring from the Hut / Departure Depending on the length of your trip (3 days or 4 days), we'll either be up for another day of skiing and riding, or we'll pack up and head back to the trailhead.

Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:

  • Advanced Resort Riding Skills - Including off-piste terrain in challenging snow conditions.

  • Intermediate Backcountry Experience - Including efficient gear management and skinning, transition technique, with 20+ days spent in the backcountry.

  • Moderate Fitness - Able to spend an active day outside, moving uphill at 1,000’ per hour for durations of roughly 1 hour between breaks. Participants should be able to hike 4-6 miles and climb 1,500-2,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day.

Here's what's included with your trip:

  • Modern, comfortable sleeping accommodations in the tradition of European backcountry huts

  • Experienced AMGA/AIARE Trained Guide

  • Deluxe breakfasts and dinners prepared by your guide. Guests provide their own lunch and snacks.

  • Group Safety Gear - your guide will be equipped with snow science tools and a first aid kit

  • Wag Bags - for human waste disposal in with compliance 'Leave No Trace' principles

Not Included
  • Ski/Splitboard Gear
  • Avalanche Gear
  • Alcohol - Please bring your own beverages
  • Guide Gratuities

Frog Lake Huts Gear List (Download Here)

Ski/Split Touring Gear

  • Alpine Touring Ski or Splitboard Setup - No snowshoes
  • Alpine Touring or Splitboard Boots
  • Climbing Skins
  • Touring Backpack - with pockets for avalanche gear
  • Adjustable Touring Poles
  • Ski or Splitboard Crampons
Avalanche Safety Gear
  • Avalanche Beacon
  • Avalanche Shovel
  • Avalanche Probe
Overnight Gear
  • Headlamp
  • Sleeping Bag - Provided by Blackbird, sleeping bag liner required
  • Sleeping Pad
  • Hut Slippers - Provided by Tahoe Donner Land Trust
Clothing & Accessories
  • Technical Outerwear (jacket, bibs/pants)
  • Multiple Midlayer Options
  • Gloves
  • Helmet
  • Goggles
  • Beanie
  • Baseball Cap
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Water Bottle / Hydration Pack (2L)
  • Lunch and Snacks

Epic Reviews From Adventurers

15 reviews
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Ready for a trip to pillow town?

    Ok, this was my 2nd hut trip with Blackbird and wow was it amazing. I mean, at 50 if I had done this 25 years ago I am pretty sure my life would have gone in a very different direction.

    First and foremost, Zeb Blaise (owner and lead guide), is an absolute rockstar. He ensured that everyone made it to the lodge no matter how hard the weather and airlines tried to prevent it. He was constantly working to make sure this was an amazing experience.

    While visibility was difficult all week I still think we scored big time. With 5-10cm of fresh every day and a mix of guides and practicum's with local knowledge we were never longing for more. With the ability to self select we were able to choose from skiing bell to bell or a more mellow day but always had fun.

    I could go on about the food being fantastic and the hut's sauna for days but there is only so much room to type.

    Oh yeah, about the pillows... This is probably this best pillow terrain I've ever seen, in person, a magazine or a video part. I mean Mike Lindell would be jealous of this place. A week later and I'm still dreaming about pillow lines!

    The only real question is whether I will return to Snowfall or check out a different hut next winter...

    Jeremy R.
    Verified Buyer
    Snowfall Lodge BC - Archive 2024
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Blackbird Guides - Snowfall Lodge

    In short, a once in a lifetime experience. The perfect balance between comfort (a lodge that is off the grid but has everything you need, including sauna and amazing food) and outdoor adventure (disconnected, epic snow and terrain, unreal views, the list goes on). To top it off, Blackbird guides helps to make the experience as good as it gets. They are professionals at coordinating and communicating plans, as well as true backcountry mountain guides - ensuring a safe experience, while providing education and guaranteeing epic powder turns. I have used Blackbird since they started and will continue to do so. They are at the top of their game. Don't miss this trip, or frankly, any trip Blackbird puts together. If you have the opportunity, GO!

    Greg F.
    Verified Buyer
    Snowfall Lodge BC - Archive 2024
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Incredible hut trip

    Magnificent terrain to explore each day and a beautiful hut to return to each night. Couldn’t have loved this week more!

    Jennifer L.
    Verified Buyer
    Snowfall Lodge BC - Archive 2024
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Another Epic Trip to BC

    Blackbird trips are something special. Amazing terrain, super knowledgeable and fun guides, great guests, and spectacular food. Snowfall had it all, from high alpine & glaciers to super fun tree and pillow skiing. Looking forward to coming back.

    Henning F.
    Verified Buyer
    Snowfall Lodge BC - Archive 2024
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