2024 Single-Day Tours: AT/Split/Tele
CTA’s volunteer led tours are a great way to discover new sections of the Catamount Trail, explore our chapter managed zones, and get to know all of the amazing terrain that Vermont has on tap. SDTs are FREE and open to both CTA members and non-members. Before you reach out to a Tour Leader to signup please make yourself familiar as possible with the trail section or zone. Review the appropriate Trail Section Map or Zone Map to help make sure your skill level and experience is adequate for the tour in question.
Registering for a Single-Day Tour
Before registering for any CTA tour please read the following information:
Skier Responsibilities
Recommended Equipment List
Skills and Fitness Guidelines
To sign-up for a tour please follow the steps below.
- Fill out 2024 CTA Single-Day Tour Online Wavier.
- Check to make sure your waiver was submitted properly – Click Here To Confirm.
- Contact the tour leader well in advance of the tour. Do not wait until the night before. The leader will provide information on the meeting location, meeting time, and other necessary details. All CTA tour leaders are volunteers..
Here are some additional guidelines to consider when participating on a CTA tour:
- Have the skills and physical conditioning necessary to complete the trip. If you’re unsure… Ask the tour leader.
- Bring sufficient food and water for a full day and extra layers.
- Stay with the group.
- When leaving the trail, tell someone or leave your pack.
- At the end of the tour check out with the leader before leaving, otherwise they may not know you’ve left and might go back out to look for you while you’re on your way home.
- Leave your dog at home unless specifically allowed by the tour leader.
2024 Single Day Tours
January Day Tours – 2024
Dutch Hill Intermediate/Advanced Intro Tour Series – Readsboro/Dutch Hill Vermont
Intermediate to Advanced – Sunday, January 7th
Come see what DHASH is doing at Dutch Hill, and see the potential for the future. Join us as we skin up and ski down some of the historic ski trails of Dutch Hill in Readsboro and new glades created by DHASH. This is not a beginner tour. Tele skiers, AT-skiers and split-boarders will need climbing skins or good climbing skills and be able to control downhill speed. Typically a less-than-one-hour climb, then lunch at the top to enjoy the view. Strong turning skills are useful but not required for the descent. We can do laps until your legs quit! Exact route will vary and depend on conditions and participants. If conditions are poor, we can tour to the top of Dutch Hill proper, about a two-hour loop. This requires climbing and descending skills, but more gradual descents. See www.dhash4vt.org for more information on the Dutch Hill Ski Area and the Dutch Hill Alliance of Skiers and Hikers. Sign up by prior Thursday.
Contact: Sam Bartlett, sam@bart-tech.com (Put CTA in the subject line) or 413-834-0274.
Jay Peak Sky Haus – Uphill Tour
All Skill Levels, Saturday, January 13th, 10:00am
Join us for an uphill tour at Jay Peak Resort to the Sky Haus Summit. This tour is not technically difficult, however, due to the 2.6 mile uphill and over 2000ft of elevation gain it is a challenging climb to reach the Sky Haus. This is a no-drop event, and all skill levels are welcome and encouraged. $25 resort fee or Jay Peak uphill pass required.
Contact: Aaron Mills, Aaron_Mills@live.com for to sign up or for additional details – Please include “Jay Peak Uphill” in the subject.
Dutch Hill Intermediate/Advanced Intro Tour Series – Readsboro/Dutch Hill Vermont
Intermediate to Advanced – Sunday, January 21st
Come see what DHASH is doing at Dutch Hill, and see the potential for the future. Join us as we skin up and ski down some of the historic ski trails of Dutch Hill in Readsboro and new glades created by DHASH. This is not a beginner tour. Tele skiers, AT-skiers and split-boarders will need climbing skins or good climbing skills and be able to control downhill speed. Typically a less-than-one-hour climb, then lunch at the top to enjoy the view. Strong turning skills are useful but not required for the descent. We can do laps until your legs quit! Exact route will vary and depend on conditions and participants. If conditions are poor, we can tour to the top of Dutch Hill proper, about a two-hour loop. This requires climbing and descending skills, but more gradual descents. See www.dhash4vt.org for more information on the Dutch Hill Ski Area and the Dutch Hill Alliance of Skiers and Hikers. Sign up by prior Thursday.
Contact: Sam Bartlett, sam@bart-tech.com (Put CTA in the subject line) or 413-834-0274.
February Day Tours – 2024
Brandon Gap Ski/Snowboard Tour – Brandon Gap Winter Recreation Area, Rochester
Intermediate to Advanced – Saturday, February 3rd
Telemark/AT Skis or Splitboards with skins. Helmets required.
Come and experience the ski zones at the USFS Brandon Gap Winter Recreation Area. Spend the day traveling through the glades with plenty of great climbs and descents. We will try to cover several of the zones during the day. Plan on about 6 hours in the forest. Bring lunch, plenty to drink and weather appropriate clothing. Be prepared to spend the day.
Contact: Karl Fjeld, karlfjld6@gmail.com or Greg White, whitey5362@gmail.com
Dutch Hill Intermediate/Advanced Intro Tour Series – Readsboro/Dutch Hill Vermont
Intermediate to Advanced – Sunday, February 4th
Come see what DHASH is doing at Dutch Hill, and see the potential for the future. Join us as we skin up and ski down some of the historic ski trails of Dutch Hill in Readsboro and new glades created by DHASH. This is not a beginner tour. Tele skiers, AT-skiers and split-boarders will need climbing skins or good climbing skills and be able to control downhill speed. Typically a less-than-one-hour climb, then lunch at the top to enjoy the view. Strong turning skills are useful but not required for the descent. We can do laps until your legs quit! Exact route will vary and depend on conditions and participants. If conditions are poor, we can tour to the top of Dutch Hill proper, about a two-hour loop. This requires climbing and descending skills, but more gradual descents. See www.dhash4vt.org for more information on the Dutch Hill Ski Area and the Dutch Hill Alliance of Skiers and Hikers. Sign up by prior Thursday.
Contact: Sam Bartlett, sam@bart-tech.com (Put CTA in the subject line) or 413-834-0274.
Jay Peak Sky Haus – Uphill Tour
All Skill Levels, Saturday, February 10th, 10:00am
Join us for an uphill tour at Jay Peak Resort to the Sky Haus Summit. This tour is not technically difficult, however, due to the 2.6 mile uphill and over 2000ft of elevation gain it is a challenging climb to reach the Sky Haus. This is a no-drop event, and all skill levels are welcome and encouraged. $25 resort fee or Jay Peak uphill pass required.
Contact: Aaron Mills, Aaron_Mills@live.com for to sign up or for additional details – Please include “Jay Peak Uphill” in the subject.
Dutch Hill Introductory BC Tour (Readsboro) – Dutch Hill, Readsboro
Beginner to Intermediate – Sunday, February 11th
Want to explore Dutch Hill but aren’t confident about your downhill skills? Held at the same time as the regular Dutch Hill Intermediate/Advanced Tour Series (perfect for those coming with someone having more experience), we’ll skin to the top and take a few mellow runs down the easier trails, waiting for everyone along the way.
Contact: Jeff Nugent, jnugent.vt@gmail.com or 802-257-1325
Dutch Hill Intermediate/Advanced Intro Tour Series – Readsboro/Dutch Hill Vermont
Intermediate to Advanced – Sunday, February 18th
Come see what DHASH is doing at Dutch Hill, and see the potential for the future. Join us as we skin up and ski down some of the historic ski trails of Dutch Hill in Readsboro and new glades created by DHASH. This is not a beginner tour. Tele skiers, AT-skiers and split-boarders will need climbing skins or good climbing skills and be able to control downhill speed. Typically a less-than-one-hour climb, then lunch at the top to enjoy the view. Strong turning skills are useful but not required for the descent. We can do laps until your legs quit! Exact route will vary and depend on conditions and participants. If conditions are poor, we can tour to the top of Dutch Hill proper, about a two-hour loop. This requires climbing and descending skills, but more gradual descents. See www.dhash4vt.org for more information on the Dutch Hill Ski Area and the Dutch Hill Alliance of Skiers and Hikers. Sign up by prior Thursday.
Contact: Sam Bartlett, sam@bart-tech.com (Put CTA in the subject line) or 413-834-0274.
Side Country Glade Ramble! – Huntington/Bald Hill/Camels Hump Nordic
Intermediate to Advanced – Thursday, February 22nd
We’ll spend the day exploring some of the local gladed areas around Huntington using the Catamount Trail for access. Exact location will depend on the conditions. Modern AT, splitboard or telemark skis and climbing skins are required. This is for experienced skiers that are comfortable making turns in variable condition on challenging wooded descents. This tour will take the better part of the day and include several significant climbs with some great gladed terrain as the reward. Some rolling terrain. Bring snacks, lunch, and drinks. Maximum of 8 skiers/boarders. Sign up by Saturday, February 10th.
Because of the rolling terrain, snowshoes are not a suitable replacement for splitboards.
Contact: Bill Hegman, bhegman@gmavt.net
March Day Tours – 2024
SkyTop via Ranch Camp, Trapp Cabin for lunch, Lightning Knoll, down via Dewey & Burt – Stowe
Intermediate to Advanced, XCD/BC Nordic – Saturday, March 2nd
Ski Skytop at Stowe from Mt Mansfield cross country area via Ranch Camp Trail, Trapp Slayton Pasture Cabin for lunch, Skytop approach from Trapp Trail network to Lightning Knoll.
Down via Dewey and Burt/Bruce trails to Mt Mansfield cross country base area. The trip is about 2000 vertical ft. Uphill to Trapp Slayton Pasture Cabin is on groomed trails and takes about 3 hours. This is about ⅔ of the uphill trip. The cabin has very good reasonably priced soup,sandwiches and hot cider. This is also a good bailout point for anyone having equipment problems or otherwise doesn’t feel up to continuing. The rest of the ascent from the Trapp network is on an ungroomed trail that is often partially washed out and should take about 2 hours. The descent on the Dewey, Bruce and Burt trails is through open glades on the upper part (1st thousand feet of vertical) and eventually merges back into the Mt Mansfield touring network. I’ve found the snow conditions here better than other nearby areas in the same weather conditions. Use the same skis that you would use for sections 22 and 23 of the Catamount Trail. I use Madshus Epoch skis with a 3 pin Telemark binding and Garmont Excursion boots, but other similar skis or even AT skis would do. Bring skins to make the uphill part faster and easier.
Contact: Peter Mager, peter@mager.com
Phen Basin BC Tour – CTA parking area Battleground Condos, Route 17, Fayston
Advanced – Saturday, March 2nd
Skiers will ascend into the Phen Basin of the Camels Hump State Park on Section 19 of the Catamount Trail to explore the Hemlock Hill area. Climbing skins will be required. Advanced skiers will enjoy downhill turns through the unmanaged hardwood forest. This is a five-hour tour. Bring lunch and layers. See our Difficulty Rating System (https://www.mrvbc.org/events/tours) to determine if MRVBC’s tours are the right fit for you. Participation Limit: Maximum of 8.
Contact: Kevin Russell, kevinrussell@gmavt.net
Glades in Michigan Valley on back side of Bolton Mountain accessed from Nebraska Notch – Stowe
Intermediate to Advanced, XCD/BC Nordic – Sunday, March 3rd
Ski the back side of Bolton Mt from Nebraska Notch, accessing via Bolton-Trapp part of Catamount Trail. There are nice low angle glades to the side of the trail in Michigan and Cotton Brook watersheds. This tends to be fairly popular on good weather weekend days; the parking lot fills up by midmorning, but the area is large enough that it’s easy to find fresh lines to ski in the glades. Use the same skis that you would use for sections 22 and 23 of the Catamount Trail. I use Madshus Epoch skis with a 3 pin Telemark binding and Garmont Excursion boots, but other similar skis or even AT skis would do. Bring skins to make the uphill part faster and easier.
Contact: Peter Mager, peter@mager.com
Dutch Hill Intermediate/Advanced Intro Tour Series – Readsboro/Dutch Hill Vermont
Intermediate to Advanced – Sunday, March 3rd
Come see what DHASH is doing at Dutch Hill, and see the potential for the future. Join us as we skin up and ski down some of the historic ski trails of Dutch Hill in Readsboro and new glades created by DHASH. This is not a beginner tour. Tele skiers, AT-skiers and split-boarders will need climbing skins or good climbing skills and be able to control downhill speed. Typically a less-than-one-hour climb, then lunch at the top to enjoy the view. Strong turning skills are useful but not required for the descent. We can do laps until your legs quit! Exact route will vary and depend on conditions and participants. If conditions are poor, we can tour to the top of Dutch Hill proper, about a two-hour loop. This requires climbing and descending skills, but more gradual descents. See www.dhash4vt.org for more information on the Dutch Hill Ski Area and the Dutch Hill Alliance of Skiers and Hikers. Sign up by prior Thursday.
Contact: Sam Bartlett, sam@bart-tech.com (Put CTA in the subject line) or 413-834-0274.
Brandon Gap Ski/Snowboard Tour – Brandon Gap Winter Recreation Area, Rochester
Intermediate to Advanced – Saturday, March 9th
Telemark/AT Skis or Splitboards with skins. Helmets required.
Come and experience the ski zones at the USFS Brandon Gap Winter Recreation Area. Spend the day traveling through the glades with plenty of great climbs and descents. We will try to cover several of the zones during the day. Plan on about 6 hours in the forest. Bring lunch, plenty to drink and weather appropriate clothing. Be prepared to spend the day.
Contact: Karl Fjeld, karlfjld6@gmail.com or Greg White, whitey5362@gmail.com
Beyond the marked trails in Sterling Valley – Sterling Valley Backcountry
Intermediate to Advanced – Sunday, March 10th
The Sterling Valley in Stowe has a long history of backcountry skiing. Beyond the well marked Nordic trails are mellow powder filled glades. This tour is intended for any intermediate to advance skier/rider looking for a nice tour in a new place. We will meet at the sterling forest trailhead at 8:00AM and will plan to spend 4-6 hours (2-3k vert) in the woods exploring what Sterling Valley has to offer beyond the marked trails. AT, tele, or splitboard gear is required. We will ski intermediate to advance terrain, but expect a little bit of bushwhacking and a little bit of skating/sidestepping on the exit (splitboarders are welcome, but you’ve been warned!)
Contact: Aaron Rice, airandrice@gmail.com
Jay Peak Sky Haus – Uphill Tour
All Skill Levels, Saturday, March 16th, 10:00am
Join us for an uphill tour at Jay Peak Resort to the Sky Haus Summit. This tour is not technically difficult, however, due to the 2.6 mile uphill and over 2000ft of elevation gain it is a challenging climb to reach the Sky Haus. This is a no-drop event, and all skill levels are welcome and encouraged. $25 resort fee or Jay Peak uphill pass required.
Contact: Aaron Mills, Aaron_Mills@live.com for to sign up or for additional details – Please include “Jay Peak Uphill” in the subject.
Dutch Hill Intermediate/Advanced Intro Tour Series – Readsboro/Dutch Hill Vermont
Intermediate to Advanced – Sunday, March 31st
Come see what DHASH is doing at Dutch Hill, and see the potential for the future. Join us as we skin up and ski down some of the historic ski trails of Dutch Hill in Readsboro and new glades created by DHASH. This is not a beginner tour. Tele skiers, AT-skiers and split-boarders will need climbing skins or good climbing skills and be able to control downhill speed. Typically a less-than-one-hour climb, then lunch at the top to enjoy the view. Strong turning skills are useful but not required for the descent. We can do laps until your legs quit! Exact route will vary and depend on conditions and participants. If conditions are poor, we can tour to the top of Dutch Hill proper, about a two-hour loop. This requires climbing and descending skills, but more gradual descents. See www.dhash4vt.org for more information on the Dutch Hill Ski Area and the Dutch Hill Alliance of Skiers and Hikers. Sign up by prior Thursday.
Contact: Sam Bartlett, sam@bart-tech.com (Put CTA in the subject line) or 413-834-0274.
April Day Tours – 2024
Jay Peak Sky Haus – Uphill Tour
All Skill Levels, Saturday, April 6th, 10:00am
Join us for an uphill tour at Jay Peak Resort to the Sky Haus Summit. This tour is not technically difficult, however, due to the 2.6 mile uphill and over 2000ft of elevation gain it is a challenging climb to reach the Sky Haus. This is a no-drop event, and all skill levels are welcome and encouraged. $25 resort fee or Jay Peak uphill pass required.
Contact: Aaron Mills, Aaron_Mills@live.com for to sign up or for additional details – Please include “Jay Peak Uphill” in the subject.