• Backcountry and leadership skills can be learned prior to the trip through participation in 10th Mountain workshops. These are offered at the beginning of each season, and similar workshops may be available at outdoor shops or schools in your area. Please refer to www.huts.org for additional workshop information.
• Guide services may be of assistance to your group, and are listed on this website and in our brochures.

LEADERSHIP GUIDELINES

Suggested Outdoor Skills
· Current first aid and CPR (wilderness first responder is highly recommended). Knowledge of your group's medical conditions and requirements, prior to the trip is strongly suggested.
· Winter Skills should include but are not limited to: Backcountry skiing/snowshoeing experience including knowledge of ski/snowshoe equipment, use of skins, waxing, and repair. Also, experience using map, compass and altimeter, and navigating in white-out conditions. Avalanche awareness including stability evaluation, route selection, and rescue is advised. Knowledge of winter survival techniques and winter driving skills on snow-packed winter roads is highly recommended.
· Summer Skills should include but are not limited to: Hiking/backpacking experience (including navigation, familiarity with terrain, and knowledge of alpine weather patterns), mountain-biking experience including riding skills, bike repair, and 4 wheel driving skills.

SUGGESTED GROUP EQUIPMENT
· First Aid Kit: appropriate size for the group and leaders' level of training.
· Survival Kit: at least one of each of the following items per group: shelter, emergency stove, small cooking pot, fire-starter and fuel, extra ground pad, extra sleeping bag, water purification method(s), and a snow shovel (in case of an emergency winter bivouac). If your group plans to travel in avalanche prone terrain, it is strongly recommended that each person have an avalanche shovel, beacon and probe poles.
· Extra Group Clothing: including hat, gloves, and an insulating layer. This may be useful for a participant who has forgotten their gear, or for replacing gear that has become wet while in use. See enclosed information sheet for clothing and equipment lists.
· Repair Kit: appropriate for winter ski/snowshoe equipment or summer mountain biking/hiking.
· Navigation: 7½ minute USGS map(s), 10th Mountain map(s), compass, altimeter and GPS.
· Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue Card: 10th Mountain suggests that your group purchase a CORSAR Card for each hut trip participant. Money generated from the sale of these cards goes to a state fund that provides reimbursement for expenses incurred during search and rescue missions. Cards are $3.00 per person, per year. Cards can be purchased through 10th Mountain, at many outdoor retailers, and where hunting and fishing licenses are sold.

OTHER LEADERSHIP CONSIDERATIONS
10th Mountain suggests that the leader(s) consider the following points in planning your trip. Note: even experienced group leaders will benefit from reviewing these points.

· Even the simplest act of transportation - on skis, snowshoes, bicycles or foot - can become very complex in the backcountry because of route conditions, weather, route finding, avalanche, injuries or ill-prepared group members.

· Group members should take responsibility for their own health and comfort as well as for the comfort of others.

· It is helpful to discuss cold injury awareness before the trip.

· It is also beneficial to discuss and demonstrate clothing and layering before the trip.

· Group leaders should pre-travel a hut route to check for unique aspects as well as possible alternatives.

· Be realistic about travel plans. A foot of fresh snow is beautiful, but can slow down even strong groups.

· Try to tour with the group at least one week before the actual hut trip. This will allow you, the leader, to pre-check equipment, clothing and the general overall ability of the group.

· For winter trips, the more avalanche awareness and training a group has the better. Leaders should also have experience in choosing appropriate alternate ski routes when skiing off 10th Mountain's suggested routes. Practice with beacons, probe poles, shovels, etc. can only benefit all members of the group.

· We encourage use of the hut logbooks. Please provide younger hut users with reasonable guidelines.

· Share with your group members your backcountry knowledge and survival skills. Knowledge about bivouac techniques, snow shelter construction, and emergency fire techniques are always helpful.

· A brief session on waxing and skin use (winter trips) or bicycle maintenance (summer trips) will save priceless minutes and hours on the trail.

· Group leaders should be aware of any medical limitations of the participants. It's good to know about asthma, allergies, etc. before the trip. Also bring a list of participants' names and phone numbers.

· It can be helpful to provide participants with a list of what is available at the huts. Participants can save a lot of pack weight by not duplicating items already at the hut.

· Educate participants about the value of staying hydrated & fed during the journey to and while at the hut.

· Make sure that the last person to arrive is not the only one to have the confirmation letter and hut combination.

· Upon arriving at the huts, review fire escape routes and evacuation procedures; locate fire extinguishers and escape ladders, and educate your group about use of the gas and wood-burning stoves. No smoking is allowed in the hut or outbuildings.

· Relax. Enjoy the backcountry. Have fun.