Trip Description
This 2 night hut trip is a great introductory to hut to hut trips. Connecting Shrine mountain Inn and the Fowler Hillard huts, this trip will have time skiing above treeline and powder skiing in the trees.
Availability
Winter
Backcountry Skiing
Hut Trip
Difficulty
Intermediate to Advanced
starting at (USD):
$1,100 Per person
Winter 2025-2026 Dates: ##
- 3 days, 2 nights skiing and riding in the Vail Valley’s pristine backcountry
- Pre-Trip Orientation Meeting and experienced guide to help you every step of the way
- Trip meals: Meals included (with consideration of any dietary restrictions).
- Reduced pack weight: Sleeping bags, dry goods, beer, and wine are already cached at the hut(s).
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.
Itinerary
Paragon Guides has been guiding the 10th Mountain Hut System since its inception in 1982. Your backcountry adventure into the 10th Mountain Division Hut System can range from 2 to 6 days, touring through some of Colorado’s most breathtaking mountain terrain. Join us for the adventure of a lifetime and come discover the other side of Vail.
Day 1: Ski in
The Shrine Mountain Inn sits atop of Shrine Pass at 11,223 feet elevation.
Starting from of the Vail Pass Rest Area site off of Interstate 70, the 2.7 mile ski in climbs 615 feet. We should arrive to the hut around noon and get established for the night.
This relatively short ski in allows for time in the afternoon to explore the area and get a few turns in before dinner.
Day 2: Ski Shrine to Fowler
This 6.6 mile route will traverse the Shrine Mountain Saddle to the Wearyman Creek drainage, then climbing Ptarmigan Ridge toward the hut. Elevation gain: 1623ft. Elevation loss: 1016ft.
Day 3: Ski Out to Camp Hale
Depending on the route chosen by your guides, the 5-6 mile ski down to one of the Camp Hale trailheads will drop approx 2500ft in elevation down McCallister Gulch.
As we descend into the National Historic site of Camp Hale, your guides will tell a few stories of the 10th Mountain Division Mountaineering Troops that trained at Camp Hale during WWII.
Pricing
Price Per Person
Note: The pricing below does not include hut fees (approximately $592/night for a maximum of 12 participants). Additional shuttle costs may apply based on group size and trailhead distances.
- 1 participant: $720.00/person/day
- 2 participants: $545.00/person/day
- 3-7 participants: $395.00/person/day
- 8+ participants: $345.00/person/day
back country gear rentals
All private guided & group tour rentals receive 15% discount on AT Packages!
- Alpine Touring (AT) Package (skis, boots, skins, poles): $110
- Telemark Touring Package (skis, boots, skins, poles): $60
- AT Skis and Skins Only: $80
- Telemark Skis and Skins Only: $35
- AT Boots: $60
- Telemark Boots: $25 – Scott Excursion
- BCA Avalanche Package (beacon, shovel, probe): $30
- Beacon: $30
- Shovel: $10
- Probe: $10
- Backpack: $15
FAQ
Cell phone service is never guaranteed in the backcountry, and at this time we do not offer specific information about service providers. Hut users have reported the following information, listed below by hut:
- Confidence rating of getting service at the hut or nearby location: Low 0 – 50%, Medium 51 – 75%, or High 76 – 100%.
- The best location at, or closest to the hut to try to make a call or text.
- The closest town you are facing for service.
Colorado’s snowpack is notoriously unstable at times and demands your full attention and respect. The potential for avalanches is always our number one safety concern. Big lines in steep terrain in mid-winter is not what we offer. We select conservative routes that are appropriate to the condition of the snowpack, time of year, and size of group. Our guides have a minimum Level II certification from the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE). From December through March, Paragon Guides announces the daily avalanche report, issued from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, on KZYR 97.7 FM. We require that all participants wear a beacon and carry a shovel and probe. We provide this equipment on our custom tours and hut trips. Equipment is available for rental if you’re participating on a scheduled Paragon Ski Club tour.
what participants are saying
My family had a fantastic time with Paragon Guide, Nick, when he led our group of 11 between Uncle Bud’s and 10th Mtn Huts. We hired Paragon Guides because we were nervous about route finding in this remote area, which turned out to be wise, since fresh snow and very few blazes made this trail completely obscure. We were SO impressed with Nick’s perfect combination of professionalism and fun. He walked that line well, expertly briefing us on the details of our journey, making sure we took safety precautions at the right times, while also joking around, engaging in light conversation and role modeling the importance of a positive attitude on our long journey. We were so happy that we hired Paragon Guides to help us with this trip!
Trip Advisor Review