Polar Star Carl’s Cabin Skiing

Megan, Shane, and Tom at Carl’s Cabin

For this year’s backcountry ski-hut trip I went to Carl’s Cabin with Megan and Tom. Carl’s is a small cabin that holds six, but only the three of us used it this time. The ski-in is about six miles and about a 2000 ft climb. It seemed a long ski in. In fact we almost hot-wired a snowcat we found on the side of the road about half way in.

We thought about hot-wiring it, but decided it might not be prudent.

After a long exhausting ski we arrived at Carl’s Cabin. It hadn’t been used in a couple of days so it was only 15° inside. After battling a finicky stove (who puts the stove by the entrance and away from the sitting area? Apparently Carl does) we finally got the cabin heated to a toasty 72°.

We earned our turns for the next two days and had some great powder runs above the cabin in two feet of snow. You did have to watch out for mine shafts though.

Polar Star Mine mineshaft with Shane’s ski track above.

A more frightening view of the Polar Star Mine mineshaft. It was dug horizontally into the mountain, but it was about eight feet deep here.

It was cold, but the snow wasn’t windblown so it was good skiing. As usual, the ski out was much easier than the ski in.

Megan enjoying the ski out.

Tom enjoying some turns on the way home.

Thanks Megan and Tom for helping me celebrate my 60^th orbit.

If you want to see more photos of the trip check out our photo gallery.