Frog Lake Huts

Enjoy plush, hut-based backcountry ski touring with our expert guides at the brand new 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!
Extreme terrain is one of the major attractions at the Frog Lake Huts in Truckee. Here, a skier points out backcountry ski lines and snow conditions on some exposed and heavily corniced terrain.
A backcountry skier pointing out terrain from the top of Frog Lake Cliffs above the Frog Lake Huts in Truckee. The backcountry skiing and riding from the huts is some of North Lake Tahoe's best!
The Frog Lake Cliff looms above Frog Lake and the Frog Lake Huts in Truckee, California. The backcountry skiing is as good as the views are!
backcountry skiing from the door of the Frog Lake Huts in Truckee. So much incredible backcountry terrain in Tahoe's best huts!
The Eschenbach backcountry house is where the communal dining room and commercial kitchen for the Frog Lake Huts in Truckee are located. This building was recently renovated and boasts solar power and flush toilets!
A backcountry skier enjoying the view from the deck of the Morgan Hut, one of the new huts at the Frog Lake Backcountry Hut system. The amenities make these huts the best huts in the North Lake Tahoe and Truckee area.
The Frog Lake Backcountry Huts are surrounded by incredible skiing on a variety of aspects. These huts will boast great skiing with a variety of snow conditions.
Approaching the Frog Lake huts can be challenging. Blackbird Mountain guides has a great knowledge of the terrain surrounding the huts and can show you how to get to the Frog Lake Huts in Truckee.
backcountry skiers admiring the amenities of the new Frog Lake Huts in Truckee. Gas stoves, flush toilets and running water make these the best backcountry ski huts in Truckee!

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 and are operated. 

Schedule

The Frog Lake Huts operate on a fixed, multiday schedule throughout the winter.  Options are two nights, three days midweek or three nights, four days on the weekends. 
The Schedule is fixed as follows:
• Sunday-Tuesday (arrive Sunday, leave Tuesday)
• Tuesday-Thursday (arrive Tuesday, leave Thursday)
• Thursday-Sunday (arrive Thursday, leave Sunday)

 

The Huts

Morgan Hut
Capacity: 4 People, 2 per side
The Morgan Hut is the most private option in the Frog Lake lineup, offering two, two bed rooms joined with a common room and bathroom.
Rockwood Hut
Capacity: 8 People, 4 per side
The Rockwood Hut has two four bed rooms that share a common room and bathroom.  
Ted R Hut
Capacity: 9 People, shared space
A large group hut, the Ted R Hut sleeps 8.
Extreme terrain is one of the major attractions at the Frog Lake Huts in Truckee. Here, a skier points out backcountry ski lines and snow conditions on some exposed and heavily corniced terrain.
A backcountry skier pointing out terrain from the top of Frog Lake Cliffs above the Frog Lake Huts in Truckee. The backcountry skiing and riding from the huts is some of North Lake Tahoe's best!
The Frog Lake Cliff looms above Frog Lake and the Frog Lake Huts in Truckee, California. The backcountry skiing is as good as the views are!
backcountry skiing from the door of the Frog Lake Huts in Truckee. So much incredible backcountry terrain in Tahoe's best huts!
The Eschenbach backcountry house is where the communal dining room and commercial kitchen for the Frog Lake Huts in Truckee are located. This building was recently renovated and boasts solar power and flush toilets!
A backcountry skier enjoying the view from the deck of the Morgan Hut, one of the new huts at the Frog Lake Backcountry Hut system. The amenities make these huts the best huts in the North Lake Tahoe and Truckee area.
The Frog Lake Backcountry Huts are surrounded by incredible skiing on a variety of aspects. These huts will boast great skiing with a variety of snow conditions.
Approaching the Frog Lake huts can be challenging. Blackbird Mountain guides has a great knowledge of the terrain surrounding the huts and can show you how to get to the Frog Lake Huts in Truckee.
backcountry skiers admiring the amenities of the new Frog Lake Huts in Truckee. Gas stoves, flush toilets and running water make these the best backcountry ski huts in Truckee!
  • Load image into Gallery viewer, A backcountry skier pointing out terrain from the top of Frog Lake Cliffs above the Frog Lake Huts in Truckee. The backcountry skiing and riding from the huts is some of North Lake Tahoe's best!
  • Load image into Gallery viewer, The Frog Lake Cliff looms above Frog Lake and the Frog Lake Huts in Truckee, California. The backcountry skiing is as good as the views are!
  • Load image into Gallery viewer, backcountry skiing from the door of the Frog Lake Huts in Truckee. So much incredible backcountry terrain in Tahoe's best huts!
  • Load image into Gallery viewer, The Eschenbach backcountry house is where the communal dining room and commercial kitchen for the Frog Lake Huts in Truckee are located. This building was recently renovated and boasts solar power and flush toilets!
  • Load image into Gallery viewer, A backcountry skier enjoying the view from the deck of the Morgan Hut, one of the new huts at the Frog Lake Backcountry Hut system. The amenities make these huts the best huts in the North Lake Tahoe and Truckee area.
  • Load image into Gallery viewer, The Frog Lake Backcountry Huts are surrounded by incredible skiing on a variety of aspects. These huts will boast great skiing with a variety of snow conditions.
  • Load image into Gallery viewer, Approaching the Frog Lake huts can be challenging. Blackbird Mountain guides has a great knowledge of the terrain surrounding the huts and can show you how to get to the Frog Lake Huts in Truckee.
  • Load image into Gallery viewer, backcountry skiers admiring the amenities of the new Frog Lake Huts in Truckee. Gas stoves, flush toilets and running water make these the best backcountry ski huts in Truckee!

Dates

Available Dates

2022-2023 Refundable Reservation Deposit

Prices

$775 to 1,275 per person

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 

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 cap[abilities 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)

Know Before You Go

Location

Frog Lake Huts, Truckee, CA

Elevation

6,500-9,000'

Physical Difficulty ⚫⚫⚪⚪⚪

Expect full days of ski touring with lunch eaten in the field.  Tours will generally be out all day, covering roughly 3,000' vertical each day.

Technical Difficulty ⚫⚫⚪⚪⚪

The terrain at Frog Lake ranges from moderate to expert level terrain. The conditions and capability of your group will have a bearing on the type of terrain we ski, so the difficulty has a broad range.

Trip Length

Trips run either 2 Nights 3 days mid week or 3 nights, 4 days on Weekends.  See Overview for details.

Price

$775 to $1,275

Price varies with the length of trip and the accommodations chosen (Morgan, Rockwood or Ted R Huts).

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$100.00
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