Frog Lake Huts Backcountry Ski Huts
The Frog Lake Huts are Tahoe's newest and most plush backcountry lodging option. They provide a comfortable way to tour and overnight in one of Tahoe's best backcountry zones. This is as close as it gets to British Columbia or French Alps style lodge touring. Enjoy the backcountry in style!
Trips are guided by our expert guide team. Deluxe dinners and breakfasts are provided and prepared for you as well!
Check out our Frog Lake Women's Weekend!
Schedule
• Friday-Monday (arrive Friday, leave Monday)
The Huts
- Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19
-
Are Proficient at Using Your Gear. If you are not, consider taking our Intro to Backcountry course, followed by at least five additional days of ski touring.
- Can Ride Advanced Terrain at a ski resort. It is important that riders have an advanced riding ability to manage the highly variable snow conditions we experience in the backcountry. These conditions are typically very different from those found at ski resorts, even in off-piste terrain.
- If you aren't sure whether or not you meet these requirements, please contact us!
Dates
Available Dates
Prices
From $745 per personItinerary
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.
Equipment
Frog Lake Huts Overnight Ski Gear Guide / Packing List
Backcountry Touring Gear
❏ Alpine Touring Skis or Splitboard - Light to Midweight Setup with “Tech Bindings”
❏ Alpine Touring Boots or Splitboard Compatible Boots; Scarpa F1
❏ Ski Poles - Lightweight, Adjustable Poles with Baskets; BD Expedition 3 Poles
❏ Climbing Skins - Mohair Mix is Best; Black Diamond GlideLite Mohair Mix,
❏ Ski Crampons - Specific to your Skis/Board; (may not be necessary depending on conditions)
❏ Ski Strap - Voile Ski Strap or Similar
❏ Ski Helmet - Dual Rated Helmet; Petzl Sirocco or Black Diamond Vision
❏ Repair items specific to your gear - Any items that are prone to fail in the field that are specific to your equipment, ie extra splitboard binding screws or tail clips for skins.
Avalanche Gear
RENT a the full Avalanche Gear Kit from Blackbird
❏ Avalanche Beacon - Digital Avalanche Transceiver; Black Diamond Guide Recon BT
❏ Avalanche Shovel - Collapsible, Aluminum Shovel; Backcountry Access BT2 Shovel
❏ Avalanche Probe - Quickdraw Style Probe; Backcountry Access Stealth 300
Head and Neck Layers
❏ Sun Hat - A Baseball Hat; Blackbird Mountain Guides Logo Hat
❏ Sunglasses - Dark Lens Glasses with Side Coverage; Julbo Shield
❏ Goggles - Ski goggles with a storm Lens; Julbo Aerospace Reactive
❏ Warm Hat - Lightweight Warm Hat that Fits Under Your Helmet;
❏ Neck Gaiters - Light to Midweight Neck Gaiters; Buff or your favorite Face Masks
***These Are Required as Covid-19 Face Coverings
Upper Body and Hand Layers
❏ Long Sleeve Base Layer - Lightweight, Synthetic/Wool; Patagonia SunHoody
❏ 2 Insulating Top Layers - Light to Midweight Insulation Layers; Patagonia R1 & Nano Air
❏ Puffy - Midweight Down or Synthetic with Hood; Patagonia Fitzroy or similar
❏ Hardshell Jacket, Hooded - Waterproof, Gore-Tex, NOT insulated; Arc’Teryx Alpha FL
❏ Light Gloves - Light to Mid Weight for Warm Temps; Flylow John Henry Gloves, BD Tour
❏ Midweight Gloves - Mid to Heavy Weight for Cold Conditions; BD Legend
❏ Sports Bra - Wool/Synthetic;
Lower Body and Foot Layers
❏ Socks - Midweight Wool/Synthetic; Darn Tough Via Ferrata
❏ Underwear - Wool/Synthetic
❏ Long Underwear - Wool/Synthetic “Long Johns”; Patagonia Capilene Air
❏ Softshell Ski Pants - Breathable, Weather Resistant for Fair Weather; OR Trailbreaker II
❏ Vented Hardshell Ski Pants - Waterproof Pants for Extreme Weather; Flylow Compound
Food and Water
❏ Nalgene Water Bottle - Hard Sided Bottle; Nalgene 16oz-32oz Wide Mouth Bottle
❏ Soft Water Bottle 1.5L - Flexible Water Bladder; Hydrapak Flux 1.5L
***Please bring at least one hard sided water bottle.
❏ Snacks - Enough Snacks for 3 or 4 days in the field (depending on which itinerary you select). There will be no lunch break so snacks must be convenient and easy to eat.
Other Essentials
❏ Sun Screen (SPF 30 minimum)
❏ Lip Balm (with SPF)
❏ Hand Sanitizer
❏ Toilet Paper Bring a supply for the entire length of your trip
Optional
❏ First Aid/blister Kit
❏ Chemical Hand Warmers
❏ Hydration System - Flexible Water Bladder with Hose; Hydrapak, Camelback, Platypus
Group Gear
Blackbird Mountain Guides will supply all of the group gear for the trip, including:
✓ Guide’s First Aid Kits
✓ Guide’s Repair Kit
✓ Wag Bags (The huts have bathrooms, but in the field we will use Solid Human Waste Disposal Bags if necessary)
✓ Snow Observation Equipment (Snow saws, Loops, Crystal Cards, Etc)