This is our guide for what to pack for a winter hut trip, with my essentials….and not so essentials, I fill my pack with when heading out for a winter hut trip! Let’s be honest, one of the best parts of staying at a backcountry hut is the lighter pack you can carry!
Backcountry huts are an amazing opportunity to get out into the wild during the harsh winter months in a slightly more comfortable manner. The warmth of a fire and the joy of an indoor kitchen, go a long way during the harsh Alberta winters, I can tell you!
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What You Need To Pack For A Winter Hut Trip
Travel Gear – What You Need To Get To The Hut
My preferred method of transport in winter is cross country skis. I can’t lie, I’m definitely no pro but I find even as a beginner cross country skis serve me well, to get to places in the speediest manner. I personally have an entry level cross country ski setup but a whole cross country set up is easily available to rent in and around Banff and Calgary if that’s where you are based.
Since less gear is required many people will opt for a smaller backpack than perhaps the one they carry for summer backcountry camping missions when they pack for a winter hut trip. I stick with my Osprey Ariel 65 litre pack, one because I like to pack a few extra luxuries when I go on a hut trip (we’ll get on to those later) and two because I know the bag fits and is comfortable plus, I don’t have the money for numerous different size packs!
Never forgot gloves when you pack for a winter hut trip, I always find I take them off and stash them on warmer ski days but they are useful not only for the trip in but while exploring around the hut and for runs to the washroom in the night!
I personally find I get super warm when skiing, so I pack a hat in the lid of my backpack for cold days but often wear a headband to keep my ears warm but my head free to release the heat.
We all know snow reflects the sun so never forget sunscreen! Even if its overcast when you head out, mountain weather can change quickly and nobody wants sunburn in winter. With that in mind, don’t forget sunglasses as well. I love the Goodr brand, they are reasonably priced, polarized and originally created for running so I find they don’t slip down my nose! A must have for both summer and winter adventures!
Yes, bears hibernate but if you are heading out in winter, it’s still important to carry bear spray. The likelihood of needing it is drastically reduced in winter but it can be an excellent deterrent not just to bears but other animals such as cougars. It’s important to carry bear spray but also know how to use it.
Hut Essentials – What You Will Need When You Get There
Every hut is different, we typically stay in ACC Huts in Alberta and British Columbia which are most commonly propane powered, so we don’t have to worry about stoves or lighting. ACC Huts typically also come with foam mattresses and kitchenware, further reducing what we need to pack for a winter hut trip! For more information on ACC Huts head over to their website here.
I have to admit, sometimes I’ll carry my sleeping pad into the hut as well, just to make sure I have a great night’s sleep. You never know what kind of condition mattresses might be in, however so far all the huts I’ve ever stayed in, they’ve been in excellent condition.
Number one thing to pack for a winter hut trip is a sleeping bag or quilt. You’ll need this for a good nights sleep. Remember a lot of these huts come with wood burning fireplaces so they can get hot inside. If you have the luxury of different temperature rated sleeping bags, I’d definitely go for a warmer weather sleeping bag, even though it’s cold outside!
I like to pack my inflatable sea to summit pillow I take backpacking. It packs down super small but is comfortable and a perfect addition to any backpacking trips. It isn’t the cheapest pillow on the market but for me it’s a perfect fit!
In winter it’s important to understand there may not be a running water source nearby and the slow and painstaking task of melting and boiling snow may be the number one option. However I still include a water filter on my winter hut trip packing list. I usually take my Platypus Gravity Works 4 liter system as this is the quickest, lowest maintenance way of filtering water. If there is a water source it’s easy to dunk the dirty bag and take it back to the hut to allow the water to filter in the warm.
Although most of the huts I have stayed in have had lights it’s always a good idea to carry a head torch with you or some other light source when you pack for a winter hut trip. This is in the worst case, in case you end up stuck on the trail after dark, best case, so you have a light to make it to the often outside toilet!
Talking of the washroom, never leave home without toilet paper! Most huts don’t come with it, so you’ll definitely want to remember to pack your own!
Lots of the huts I’ve stayed at provide firewood and axes so I like to include an old newspaper and a lighter in my pack for a winter hut trip, to make sure I can easily light a fire to warm up when I arrive even if the wood is wet!
Since everything is shared from the kitchen to the sleeping situation, I also carry some sanitizing wipes with me in my pack for a winter hut trip, to give the hut a quick clean, especially the kitchen and table and sleeping pad. Once when I arrive and then again just before we leave so it’s nice for the next group.
Luxury Items
The lighter pack means a few luxury items make it on to my winter hut trip packing list, this involves eating slightly better food than dehydrated meals often. Think salami and cheese for snacks and eggs for breakfast!
What pairs great with salami and cheese but wine! A bottle of red wine often finds its way into the bottom of my backpack to take out to the hut. Who doesn’t want to find themselves sitting next to a fire in a cozy hut, sipping on a glass, or more likely mug, of red wine?
The ultimate in comfort and the one thing I’ll never forget to pack for a winter hut trip is a pair of slippers. These allow me to get around the hut without worrying about getting cold or wet feet and I always take hard soled slippers so I can use them to go to the washroom as well.
In case the weather isn’t in our favor I always pack a book and a pack of cards or Uno! A perfect activity for cold, frigid days when I don’t want to be outside for too long! Or to pass time when the early dark of night arrives at 5pm!
Lastly I carry a pair of hiking boots with me if I’m going to be at a hut for a few days. Not all cabins have cross country ski trails to explore for them, so sometimes I find it easier to explore in hiking boots with gators, rather than trying to break trail in cross country skis! They are also handy for washroom runs if you don’t want to wear slippers!
What To Wear For Your Winter Adventure
When it comes to cross country skiing, I tend to find I get pretty warm, so I start out with lots of layers and lose them as I warm up!
Base layers
Light weight and moisture wicking base layers are key. I like something with merino wool in since it helps wick sweat and doesn’t smell as bad as most more man made fabrics!
Mid layer
I like a fleece as a mid layer over my base layer, this one from eddie bauer is soft, cozy and doubles as a great item to wear in the hut if it’s a little parky! On chillier days I’ll also wear my arcteryx atom light jacket, a perfect combination of warm and breathable! I always pack a down vest as well, a perfect layer to keep your core warm on any cold days.
Shell
For a shell as a windstopper on warmer trips I’ll wear my summer rain jacket but in the cold winter my go to is a down Rab jacket, I like the Rab Neutrino jacket, it is super warm, great fitting and has a good layer of DWR on the outer so it takes a while to get wet.
Cross Country Ski Adventures
If you want to know more about cross country skiing into a backcountry hut, check out my post on skiing to Lake O’Hara where I spent a night at the Elizabeth Parker Hut, right here. Or find out all about our trip to the Elk Lakes Cabin where we skied into BC from Kananaskis.
