Crystal Hut
- Crystal Upper Hut sleeps up to 8 people in 8 twin beds across 4 bedrooms. The space includes 2 small living areas, a shared kitchen, and a bathroom with a shower and flush toilet.
- Crystal Lower Hut a sleeps up to 8 people in 8 twin beds across 3 bedrooms. The space includes 1 large living and dining area, a shared kitchen, and a bathroom with a shower and flush toilet
- The Upper and Lower levels share a common entryway. If only one level is reserved, guests may encounter another group during their stay.
- See the exact location of the hut here
- The cost for either Crystal Upper or Crystal Lower Hut is $400/night + 8.9% tax Friday – Monday and $250/night + 8.9% tax on Tue – Thu (Christmas week excluded from weekday pricing).
Maroon Hut
- Maroon Hut sleeps up to 8 people with 6 twin beds and 1 double bed across 4 bedrooms.
- The hut is rented exclusively to one party at a time. We do not place multiple groups in the hut on the same night.
- A Forest Service style pit toilet (outhouse) is located along a snow path behind the hut (see last image). Please note there is no indoor toilet in Maroon.
- See the exact location of the hut here
- The cost for Maroon Hut is $400/night + 8.9% tax Friday – Monday and $250/night + 8.9% tax on Tue – Thu (Christmas week excluded from weekday pricing).
Conditions of Winter Hut Rentals
Users of the Gothic Huts shall NOT ski into or out of Gothic during HIGH or EXTREME avalanche conditions, as we do not allow travel in and out of Gothic during these conditions. This is a condition of using the winter hut.
- Check-in time is 2 p.m. Check-out time is 11 a.m.
- Dogs, Snowmobiles, and Hunting are not allowed in Gothic.
- Each hut trip participant will need to fill out a RMBL liability waiver, which can be viewed ahead of time and filled out here: Winter Hut Guest Liability Waiver Adult guardians must include and sign for children under 18 on their waiver.
- The huts have in-floor heat, electricity, and running water.
- It takes 1 to 2 hours to skin out to the huts (mostly downhill).
- Make sure to bring: food, sleeping bag, pillow, towel, shampoo, and body soap.
- There is a full supply of cookware: full-sized oven, microwave, stovetop burners, etc. It also has plates, pots & pans, a coffeemaker, and silverware to take care of 99% of your cooking needs.
- Plan to take all of your trash home with you, including all food.
- Since the huts are located at RMBL where numerous research projects lie beneath the snow around the huts please do not ski anywhere in the Gothic townsite except to and from your hut, and do not build snowpits or snowcaves.
- Renters are required to clean the hut before they checkout. Cleaning supplies and a cleaning checklist will be provided at the hut. Guests should plan to clean and put away dishes, clean counters, scrub the toilet (Crystal Cabin) and sweep. Renters must leave the hut in a condition that is equal or better than how it was found as no one will be cleaning before the next group.
How to Get to the Winter Huts
Directions: HWY 135 to Mt CB. Continue on this road (Gothic Rd) until its end. This is the winter trailhead for Snodgrass and Gothic. You can drop people and equipment here, but cannot park overnight. Overnight parking for the RMBL huts is located .5 miles south of the trailhead on Gothic Road at the Fantasy Ranch parking lot. Renters can have up to 2 cars per cabin rental and passes and instructions will be sent prior to arrival.
You can take the Mountain Express “First Tracks” Shuttle to the winter parking lot from anywhere in Mt. Crested Butte. Download the app here.
The hut is a 4-mile, one-way ski on moderate terrain. Depending on snow conditions, avalanche hazards DO exist so you MUST check the avalanche conditions with the Crested Butte Avalanche Center before departing. Users of the Gothic Huts shall NOT ski into or out of Gothic during HIGH or EXTREME avalanche conditions, as we do not allow travel in and out of Gothic during these conditions. This is a condition of using the winter hut.
Be sure you know the exact location of the hut you rented– here you can download a map of Gothic, and see where Maroon Hut and Crystal Hut are located. Be prepared for a variety of winter weather conditions. Bring along adequate equipment and food for your stay. Be prepared to “rough it” in case of emergency. We recommend bringing and knowing how to use avalanche beacons as the route passes several potential avalanche areas.
Liability Waiver
Each hut trip participant will need to fill out a RMBL liability waiver, which can be viewed ahead of time and filled out here: Winter Hut Guest Liability Waiver
Adult guardians must include and sign for children under 18 on their waiver.
Cancellation Policy
Any changes or cancelations require a 30 day advance notice for an 90% refund of total trip booked. Cancelations made less than 30 days prior to your trip start date will result in forfeiture of your payment. The one exception to this policy is in the event of avalanche danger rated high or extreme by the Crested Butte Avalanche Center, or an elevated avalanche danger under which your group is not comfortable traveling the Gothic Road. In the case of high or extreme danger as rated by the Crested Butte Avalanche Center you can get a full refund of your fees or re-book during the current season at no extra cost. We expect the cancellation policy to be used in good faith. Please email winterhut@rmbl.org to make arrangements.
If you are unable to arrive at your booked dates, please inform the caretakers at winterhut@rmbl.org.
Reservations
Winter hut reservations are now open for the 25 – 26′ winter season. The booking calendar is below.
If there are date conflicts after you reserve, a RMBL staff member will reach out to you. If you have any questions please email RMBL winter caretakers at winterhut@rmbl.org (preferred) or call them at 970-349-7231
If the purpose of your trip is education or research-related, please jointly contact the Science Director at sd@rmbl.org and Administrative staff at admin@rmbl.org.