March 9-11, 2026: Hosted by Winter Wildlands Alliance, Colorado Mountain Club and 10th Mountain Division Hut Association, this year’s Backcountry Snowsports Initiative (BSI) Summit will take place at the Sangree M. Froelicher Hut in Leadville.
Sangree M. Froelicher Hut in Leadville.
Who:
Winter Wildlands Alliance, Colorado Mountain Club, backcountry partners, grassroots groups, hut associations, SnowSchool educators, public land managers, snow rangers, wildlife experts and other friends.
What:
BSI’s mission is to protect sustainable recreation opportunities for backcountry skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers and winter hikers. BSI builds community awareness around human-powered recreation and promotes conservation of the wild lands that sustain them. As a program of the Colorado Mountain Club (CMC), with support from Winter Wildlands Alliance, the BSI works statewide on Forest Service and Over-Snow Vehicle (OSV) Planning, winter recreation mapping and data collection, wintering wildlife conservation, snow rangers and other issues.
When:
Beds are available for a maximum of 16 people per night from March 9-11, 2026. Be sure to reserve your spot in advance. First come first serve.
Where:
The Sangree M. Froelicher Hut and Alpine Resource Center is located on U.S. Forest Service land about 5.5 miles east of the Town of Leadville at an elevation of 11,650 feet. The main winter route (nonmotorized) into the hut is approx. 3.1 miles mostly uphill, starting at the Buckeye Gulch Trailhead.
Cost:
Sponsored by 10th Mountain Division Huts Association, this trip has no cost to participants, but is fully self-supported in terms of food, beverage, sleeping gear, musical instruments, and travel/ski equipment. Read through the hut website for details, protocols, approach and other information. Any questions, reach out to Brittany Leffel.
RSVP: Registration is now closed. If you’d like to receive an invite to attend next year’s gathering, please reach out to Brittany Leffel.
Itinerary
Theme: From Tracks to Action: Shaping the Future of Human-Powered Winter Recreation in Colorado
Question: What is the future of human-powered winter recreation in Colorado & how does the BSI help shape it?
BSI Outcomes:
- A shared understanding of why winter recreation management matters (safety, access, conservation)
- Clear pathways to engage in TMR, EXPLORE Act implementation, data collection, and regional collaboratives
- Practical advocacy tools you can immediately use in your communities
- A sense of understanding and momentum: “I know my role now.”
Location: Sangree M. Froelicher Hut and Alpine Resource Center
Monday, March 9th
- 10:00am – Meet at Buckeye Gulch Trailhead, pack and gear up
- 1:00pm – Arrive and settle in, Lunch (bring your own)
- 2:00pm – Introductions & BSI History
- 3:00pm – Ski Break
- 5:00pm – Dinner (bring your own)
- 6:00–8:00pm – Fireside Chat: Why Winter Recreation Management Matters
Tuesday, March 10th
- 10:00am – Noon – Morning Discussion – Understanding the Current Landscape
- Travel Management Planning: Where We Are & What’s Next [Winter Wildlands Alliance]
- The Federal Landscape: Tools and Challenges [Winter Wildlands Alliance]
- Working Alongside the Forest Service [White River National Forest]
- Noon-1:00pm – Lunch (bring your own)
- 1:00-3:00pm – Afternoon Discussion – Advocacy Skillbuilding
- Collecting Winter Recreation Data for Better Land Management [CMC & Winter Wildlands Alliance]
- Keeping the Backcountry Safe [Jeff Spearhawk & Friends of CAIC]
- Diversifying the Backcountry [Caitlin Yong, Backcountry Together]
- 3:00-5:00pm – Ski Break
- 5:00pm – Dinner (will be provided)
- 6:00-7:00 Group Lab: BSI in Action
- 7:00-8:00pm – Social Time
Wednesday, March 11th:
- Departure will be on your own schedule
Winter Wildlands Alliance is a national nonprofit organization working to
inspire and empower people to protect America’s wild snowscapes.
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