Methow Rendzevous Huts and Guesthouse

Destination: Methow Valley, WA
Terrain: Groomed for Classic and Skating
Trip Rating: Intermediate Plus

Cost Includes:

• Shared house Jan 9-11 near Winthrop.  
• Rendezvous Huts Jan. 11-15.  We’ll have one night at Gardner Hut, two nights at Cassal Hut and one night at Grizzly Hut.
• Freight hauling of all food and gear to each of the three huts
• Saturday or Sunday night dinner at the Guesthouse - one dinner, we’ll go out for the other.

Not included:  Methow Trail Passes, breakfasts and lunches

The Methow Valley Trails system  combines beautiful views, excellent classic and skate  grooming,  and miles and miles of skiable trails.  We will spend two days skiing from a shared house within a half mile of Winthrop, then four nights at higher elevation, staying in the cozy Rendezvous Huts.

Participants must be able to ski on groomed trails gaining 1000+ feet of elevation and be able to comfortably negotiate speed and turns on groomed downhills. 

While skiing to the Rendezvous Huts, we will carry only day packs.  All additional gear and food will be hauled to the huts for us by the tour operator.   Participants must be comfortable with very cozy shared co-ed accommodations, minimal privacy and no running water for 4 nights.  The huts are very rustic - some water is hauled in and if needed we will melt snow for more water. We sleep in shared bunks and keep warm by the wood burning stove. Our cook stove is propane, and there is no electricity.  The privy is a close walk through the snow away.

While at the Guesthouse, we will have one shared dinner and plan to go out for one.  While at the huts, meals will be shared.  The specifics of the meals will be discussed during our pre-trip Zoom meeting. Here are details about the huts.   Carpools are encouraged.  Those who can’t drive will need to take initiative to make sure they have a ride.  Drivers who have room for riders are asked to be helpful.  

Itinerary:

• Saturday, Jan. 9  is a travel day.  A  trip to Winthrop, Washington in winter typically takes 7-9 hours.  Some in the group may prefer to drive part way on Friday and spend Friday night enroute, allowing for some skiing Saturday afternoon.  We can discuss this at the Zoom meeting.  A stay in a motel Friday night is not included in the cost of the trip.

• Sunday we ski in the valley, and prepare for our ski into the huts Monday morning.

• Monday - Thursday we stay at three huts - Gardner, Cassal Hut and Grizzly Hut,  all located within the smooth, pristine, Methow groomed trail system. 

• Friday, we ski out and head home.   

• If you know you snore loudly or use a cpap machine, this may not be the trip for you.   If you have a spirit of adventure and cooperation and don’t need WIFI to keep you happy, this may be your best ski experience yet.

Trip limit:  7 participants
Cost:  $450 per person
Travel miles:  From Portland, 800 miles round trip, plus mileage to the ski areas
Trip Coordinator:  Donna Wiench