March 10-14, 2025: Hosted by Winter Wildlands Alliance, Colorado Mountain Club and 10th Mountain Division Hut Association, this year’s Backcountry Snowsports Initiative (BSI) Summit will take place at the Fowler-Hilliard Hut above Camp Hale.
Fowler-Hilliard Hut. Photo Courtesy 10th Mountain Division Huts
Who:
Winter Wildlands Alliance, Colorado Mountain Club, backcountry partners, grassroots groups, hut associations, SnowSchool educators, public land managers, snow rangers, wildlife experts and other friends.
What:
BSI’s mission is to protect sustainable recreation opportunities for backcountry skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers and winter hikers. BSI builds community awareness around human-powered recreation and promotes conservation of the wild lands that sustain them. As a program of the Colorado Mountain Club (CMC), with support from Winter Wildlands Alliance, the BSI works statewide on Forest Service and Over-Snow Vehicle Planning, winter recreation mapping and data collection, wintering wildlife conservation, snow rangers and other issues.
When:
Beds are available for a maximum of 16 people per night from March 10-12. Come for the meeting (March 10 & 11) or join us for the open house (March 12 & 13). Be sure to reserve your spot in advance. First come first served.
Where:
One of the most popular huts in the 10th Mountain Division Hut System, the Fowler-Hilliard Hut is located on US Forest Service land about 6 miles west of Vail Pass at an elevation of 11,500 feet. The main winter route (nonmotorized) into the hut is approx. 5 miles mostly uphill, starting at the Pando Trailhead at Camp Hale.
Cost:
Sponsored by 10th Mountain Division Huts Association, this trip has no cost to participants, but is fully self-supported in terms of food, beverage, sleeping gear, musical instruments, and travel/ski equipment. Read through the hut website for details, protocols, approach and other information. Any questions, reach out to Brittany Leffel.
Itinerary/Agenda
Monday, March 10th:
- 9:30am – Meet at Pando Trailhead, pack and gear up
- 1:00pm – Arrive and settle in, Lunch (bring your own)
- 2:00pm – Introductions & BSI History
- 3:00pm – Ski Break
- 5:00pm – Dinner (bring your own)
- 6:00-8:00pm – Social Time
Tuesday, March 11th:
- 7:00-10:00am – Breakfast (bring your own) & morning ski
- 10:00-Noon – Morning Discussion
- Winter Recreation Management [with White River National Forest]
- Winter Travel Management Planning
- Colorado Mountain Club RIMS App, winter recreation data collection and mapping
- Noon-1:00pm – Lunch (bring your own)
- 1:00-3:00pm – Afternoon Discussion
- Local Government in Winter Travel Planning [with Lynn Padgett]
- Grasstops Advocacy & GIS [with Outdoor Alliance]
- CMC Snow Rangers/Updates [with Brian Bergeler]
- Wintering Wildlife Conservation Initiative [with Mike Crosby]
- Huts & Yurt Alliance updates [with Ben Dodge]
- 3:00-5:00pm – Ski Break
- 5:00pm – Dinner (will be provided)
- 6:00-8:00pm – Social Time
Wednesday, March 12th – Friday, March 14th:
- The 12th-14th will be an open house for friends of Winter Wildlands Alliance to connect, celebrate our mission, and enjoy the powder surrounding one of the 10th Mountain Division’s most popular huts.
- Reserve a bunk using form below.
- Self-supported.
- Arrival and Departure on your schedule. Winter Wildlands Alliance staff will be departing and closing hut on the 14th.
- For questions reach out to Brittany Leffel and David Page.
