faq

• DAY TOURS
  • We have a 48-hour cancellation policy. If canceling more than 48 hours of your tour there is no fee, within 48 hours you are responsible for the full tour amount.
  • Take a Llama to Lunch Hikes have a 72-hour cancellation.
• MULTI-DAY RESERVATION POLICY
  • A 50% per person deposit will confirm the spaces held for the trip. Major credit cards, ACH or checks accepted. Once confirmed, we will send you a packet with full trip information, route, gear list, and the forms that we will need completed prior to the trip departure. Your head guide will be in contact directly with you for trip planning and preparations.CANCELLATION POLICY
    A schedule conflict, illness, injury or family emergency can alter the best laid plans…
  • If cancelling more than 8 weeks out from the trip departure date, we will refund your deposit, retaining a booking / cancellation fee of $100.00 per person.
  • If cancelling within 8 to 6 weeks of the departure date there are no refunds available, but we will offer you a percentage of your trip amount paid as a credit toward another Paragon Guides trip, summer or winter, within one year from the date of cancellation.
  • If cancelling within 6 weeks of the trip date, there are no refunds and no credits available.
  • In the rare event a scheduled trip is cancelled by Paragon Guides, we will refund your money in full.

The mountains of Colorado are well-known for their yearly 300+ days ‘blue-bird’ sunshine. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and caps are a must in all seasons. However, both summer and winter weather patterns will demand your attention and respect! Our equipment lists will prepare you for the season, and your guides will be making safety decisions based on expected weather.

For all seasons – UV sun radiation increases as you climb higher in elevation.  From sea level to the elevation of a 10th Mountain Hut, the UV intensity can be up to 30% higher.  Sunglasses, sun cover clothing, and sunscreen are critical for spending time outdoors in Colorado.

Summer – Vail Valley summer temperatures are cool in the morning, likely in the 50’sF (13°C) warming to the 70s to low 80s (24°C) in the afternoon.  Expect, and be prepared for, daily afternoon scattered thunderstorms. These will vary a great deal in intensity and rainfall amounts. Always carry a jacket, as temps can drop quickly in an oncoming storm or as we climb higher in elevation.

Winter – Winter temperatures can be well below 0° to 30sF (-24 to 0°C).  Average snowfalls per storm system can be 6-20+ inches.  Having appropriate winter weather clothing and footwear is essential for travel and moving about the Vail Valley.

Winter driving to arrive to the Vail Valley is sometimes the most adventurous part of your trip!  If you are driving, we recommend to always check conditions on the Colorado Department of Transportation’s website:  https://maps.cotrip.org/@-107.59305,39.85241,7?show=winterDriving,roadReports

The benefits of and outing or experiencing the 10th Mountain Division huts with Paragon Guides are numerous.

• Experience. Our professional guides have been leading trips to 10th Mountain Division huts since North America’s premier interconnected hut system was established.
• Knowledge. Our guides have been traveling in the backcountry for decades. They know how to stay found, where to find skiable terrain, and what makes a perfect après-ski appetizer.
• Simplicity. We take care of the details, the transportation, the meal planning and prep, the group and safety gear, and helping you get ready for your trip and all along the trail.

As with any physical endeavor, the better shape you’re in, the more enjoyment you’ll have. If you don’t already maintain an active fitness regimen, we recommend at least one month’s strength and endurance training, complemented by yoga/Pilates/stretching, to prepare for your trip. If you don’t ski regularly, you’ll want to arrive in Colorado with strong legs, arms, and core. Consult a trainer at your local gym for workout recommendations.

Pack weight averages 25-30 pounds, depending on trip length. Therefore, you don’t need to carry a giant backpack. Your pack can actually be quite light if you minimize your personal gear. One of the benefits of traveling with Paragon Guides is that we store sleeping bags, wine, beer, and all non-perishable foods at the huts. You’ll be responsible for carrying your personal gear, water, and a volleyball-sized bag of fresh food that is shared by the group.

In the early 1980’s a system of backcountry huts was conceived and born from an idea similar to the hut system that 10th Mountain Division soldiers saw in Europe. Today, the 10th Mountain Division Hut System, operated by the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association, includes 16 huts spread between Aspen, Eagle, Vail and Leadville in central Colorado.

The huts are rustic but comfortable two-story log buildings that sleep 8-20 people (16 on average). Mattresses with pillows line the upstairs great room and 2 side rooms, heating and cooking is done on wood and propane stoves, lighting comes from a photo-voltaic system, water is obtained from snow melt, and conveniently situated, roomy, and scenic outhouses serve as facilities.

The huts are best accessed on backcountry skis and feature wonderful touring and downhill terrain. Trips can access one hut or more huts. Daily mileage can vary from 3-9 miles into or between huts with 500 to 3,000-feet of elevation gain.

Improved splitboard technology has definitely increased snowboard use in the backcountry. But, is this the right mode of transportation for a hut-to-hut trip? There are definite pros and cons to traveling with a splitboard, and you’re certainly welcome to travel with one on a Paragon Guides hut-to-hut trip. However, we’d love to talk with you first to discuss your experience, share some insights, and make sure this mode of travel will be a good match for your trip and group.