Weekender: Mount Tahoma Trails

Backcountry Hut Heaven
Mount Tahoma Trails

Story and Photos By Ken Campbell

Photo at right: High Hut in Winter, photo courtesy MTTA

When the conversation turns to backcountry snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, the choices are as varied as the environment. If you’re looking for the largest no-fee, hut-to-hut trail system in North America, for example, you’ll find it here, just to the southwest of Mount Rainier National Park.

The Mount Tahoma Trails Association is a local non-profit that maintains trails and overnight facilities for skiers and snowshoers in one of the most beautiful areas in the state. Gliding along on the crisp, groomed tracks through a snow-covered forest of fir and hemlock on a cold winter afternoon is about the most fun you can have standing up.

 

Approximately 50 miles of trail make up the system, catering to skiers of all abilities. The main trails, as well as a few of the spur trails, are kept groomed, at least for the majority of the time. Expert trails are not groomed and can be challenging, depending on snow and weather conditions.

Judy Scavone, MTTA board member, is quick to credit the success of the system to its all-volunteer make-up. “We owe our success to a strong cadre of talented and skilled volunteers, through whose efforts the public can enjoy a safe, high-quality backcountry experience,” she says.

 

The Huts

There are two huts and a yurt that are currently available for overnight use. A third hut –Snow Bowl – is almost finished and will be ready for visitors by the time the snow falls next winter. (The previous Snow Bowl Hut was destroyed by fire in 2008 and the replacement is being built with donated funds and volunteer labor from MTTA members.)

To call them “huts” is a bit misleading. Better to call them chalets or backcountry lodges instead. Each of them comes equipped with stove, oven, cooking supplies, and ample furniture.

 

The Copper Creek Hut, in the northern section of the system, provides the easiest access for families and can sleep up to 14 guests in its bright and open loft. High Hut, at 4,760 feet, sleeps eight and features territorial views of the Cascades, including Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens. The yurt is the most intimate and the most remote of the three, with space for six overnighters.

The association hosts occasional moonlight trek and dinner events, which fill up quickly. For $50 per participant, you can ski into the Copper Creek hut and enjoy a complete dinner of prime rib or salmon, complete with appetizers, side dishes, dessert and drinks, then ski back out to vehicles under the light of a full moon. More information is available on the MTTA web site; space is limited.

 

With the quiet hiss of the skis as the only sound, a day at the Mount Tahoma Trails may be the definition of winter peace and serenity. When the backwoods luxury of the huts is factored in, even if the weather outside is frightful, you can rest assured that the fire inside will be delightful.

Snow cat grooming the trail near Copper Creek hut

If you go

• To access the trails you’ll need a Discover Pass and a Washington Sno-Park Permit.
• There is no charge to stay in the huts, but there is $15 per-person, per-night reservation charge for all overnight visits.
• Learn about the reservation system and check availability online at http://skimtta.com/
• For up-to-date information, email MTTA at mtta@skimtta.com.

Ken Campbell is an outdoor sports instructor with years of experience leading tours and expeditions in Washington, California, British Columbia and Newfoundland. He makes his home in Tacoma, where he owns and operates Azimuth Expeditions, specializing in paddle sports instruction. Visit http://lastwilderness.blogspot.com for more information and upcoming expedition updates.

 

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