Pear Lake Winter Hut

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The reservation system will open promptly on this webpage on Wednesday, November 6, at 9:00 AM PST. Pear Lake Winter Hut will open on December 20, 2024, and close on April 20, 2025. There are a total of 10 beds available in a shared room. Each bed is $75 per night + $3 processing fees.

This historic cabin is available to the public from December to April (weather, snow, and trail conditions may change closure date). The advanced-level ski/snowshoe trail offers a chance to explore the beautiful wilderness of the Sierra Nevada mountains during the winter months with a cozy cabin waiting for you at the end of your day. Begin your trip at 7,200 feet at Wolverton and ascend a steep six miles east to the Pear Lake area of 9,200 feet. The hut sleeps ten people and offers many amenities to lighten your load. Advance reservations are required.

The trip to the hut is for experienced backcountry skiers under potentially dangerous winter conditions. For your safety, it is advised that you review all information provided and be prepared for your trip.

Equipment provided at the hut:

Ten bunks with mattresses (no bedding)
Wood pellet heating stove with fuel
Composting toilet
Coleman cookstoves (fuel not provided)
Cooking utensils, plates, mugs, and bowls
Caretaker

Equipment you need to bring:

Sleeping bag for freezing temperatures
Propane fuel and matches
Water purification equipment
Food
Clothes and personal gear

Information for Booking:

Due to the high demand for reservations, some overbooking of stays might occur by the reservation software. If SPC finds that more than 10 beds are booked for any night, we will cancel any bookings to bring the number to no greater than 10 beds. Canceled bookings will be based on the number of beds available and the timestamp of the transaction. This is critical for the safety and enjoyment of everyone at the hut.

Please review the ski in/ski out schedule when determining your stay at Pear Lake Winter Hut. While booking, please keep in mind that our reservation system will NOT allow you to book dates that conflict with our ski in/ski out schedule.

Hike Level: Experienced Backcountry Skiers

Dates: December 2024 - April 2025

Book Now

Questions? Please email adventures@sequoiaparks.org

Trail Condition Updates

Meet Your Hut Keepers

Amanda Guenther

Amanda Guenther is excited to return for her second winter as a hut keeper. She looks forward to welcoming both new guests and long time hut veterans. Her favorite things about being at Pear Lake are the expansive views from high ridges, touring the Tablelands before the fog rolls in, observing the changing snowpack throughout winter, and evening sunsets on the front porch.

In the summer, Amanda serves as a wilderness ranger at the LeConte Ranger station in Kings Canyon National Park. Her profound appreciation for the Sierra and its ecosystems drives her dedication to protecting this sacred land and its historic structures.

When Amanda is not roaming the Sierra wilderness on ski or foot, she can be found at her home in Bishop, California brewing endless cups of tea, trying to keep pace with her spouse on a bicycle and lavishing attention on her three cats.

Ben Ditto

Ben grew up in an outdoorsy family in the south-east. Learning to climb in his youth, his love of cliffs led to big walls and ultimately to mountains in general. For decades after college at the University of Utah he worked as a photographer specializing in documenting climbing expeditions around the world.

Based in Bishop, CA where he does creative work, he prioritizes time on the rock, skis, and with friends and family.

Lacy Greene

Lacey is very excited to return for a second season and participate in the team of hutkeepers for such a special place.

Lacey is lucky enough to call the Owens Valley home and to work throughout the Sierra Nevada. Although skiing rates high, to the point of distraction over many pursuits, she is also happy when otherwise self-propelled, preferably uphill, out of doors. But if there is snow, she is most likely skiing. Lacey also performs duties as a snow surveyor in the winter and has a “secret agenda” to ski away from the Owen’s Valley, conduct a survey, staff Pear for a tour, and return home to her spouse and a warm bowl of beans.

Mike Springer

Mike Springer will begin his first winter season as a ski hut keeper in Sequoia National Park, bringing with him two decades of experience living and working in the park. For the past ten years, he’s lived in the wilderness each summer as a backcountry ranger for the National Park Service. This unique role has deepened his love for exploring Sequoia’s hidden lake basins, high routes, and lesser-traveled areas, which have become some of his favorite places to roam.

Mike has also served as a cave guide and naturalist with Sequoia Parks Conservancy. He enjoys connecting with people over stories about the park’s unique landscapes and ecosystems.

More Information

Road and Safety Information
For current Weather and Road Conditions in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, call (559) 565-3341, and press 1.

Please keep in mind that road conditions are always changing. We recommend that you visit the National Park Service website for current conditions.

For information regarding weather please visit

https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-118.66901207179762&lat=36.60543593905882

Important Reminders for Registered Hut Visitors:

Be aware that the Generals Highway between Grant Grove (Kings Canyon) and Lodgepole (Sequoia) is not a reliable winter road. Check road conditions before you embark on your journey.
You must have a wilderness permit. Permits are free and can be filled out at Giant Forest Museum at any time. The registration box is outside the museum, just to the south of the front doors.
When considering any adventure, plan for the safety of the least experienced person in your group.
When in doubt, don’t go out! Let’s have a safe season everyone!

You are responsible for your safety.

Natural areas present hazards. Cold temperatures, icy or uneven ground, wild animals, biting insects, and changing weather conditions all pose dangers. Rocks roll, trees topple, and limbs drop without warning. People create other hazards with campfires, traffic, snow play, and poor decisions.

Understanding and preparing for the risks is a critical part of every trip to a National Park; visit www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/safety to learn more.

WILDERNESS PERMITS
Wilderness permits are required year-round for all overnight trips in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks’ wilderness, including the Pear Lake Winter Hut. For your own safety, you are required to fill out a free wilderness permit at the Giant Forest Museum (self-service kiosk open 24 hours) so that your travel plans are submitted to the National Park Service.

SAFETY STATEMENT & AVALANCHE RISK
The trip to the hut is for experienced backcountry skiers and snowshoers only. It should not be attempted by beginner skiers or snowshoers. The trail is steep and includes a 2,000-foot elevation gain in six miles. A fun outing with good snow conditions can easily turn into an eight or more hour ordeal with poor weather or bad snow. Low clouds and whiteouts are common, which can make following the trail very difficult. Not everyone makes it to the hut as planned. We recommend starting out on the trail as early as possible. It is essential that survival equipment be taken. For your safety, it is advised that you review the “what to bring” checklist provided and be prepared for your trip. All equipment should be in excellent condition, and all winter backcountry users should be familiar with proper avalanche techniques. Avalanche conditions exist at all times on the trail to Pear Lake. Users are ultimately responsible for assessing the dangers and determining if they should proceed on their trip or cancel it. Hut visitors travel to the hut and use the facility at their own risk. A refund will not be issued because of a winter storm.

Please review the cancellation policy if needed.

For more information on avalanche safety, please visit:
www.avalanche.org/avalanche-education/
www.weather.gov/safety/winter-avalanche

HANTAVIRUS
Regarding the potential for exposure to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) at Pear Lake Winter Hut: Mice are native rodents in the Sierra, including the Pear Lake wilderness and Pear Lake Winter Hut. The Pear Lake Winter Hut will be cleaned according to Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines prior to opening for the season. The Sequoia Parks Conservancy will set traps and continue to use CDC cleaning procedures when rodents or rodent droppings are detected. However, the Sequoia Parks Conservancy cannot guarantee that the hut is HPS-free. Hut users are advised of the risks, and those wishing not to be exposed to the potential of HPS may choose not to register for the Winter Hut.

For more information on hantavirus safety, please visit:
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/HantavirusPulmonarySyndrome.aspx
https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/index.html

EARLY DEPARTURE*
*Emergency situations only. For your own safety, it is not advised to depart from or arrive at the hut on any days that are not your designated ski-in or ski-out days. We know unforeseen circumstances may require you to depart the Wolverton parking area before the road has been plowed. In this rare situation, you must use the guidelines that are provided to you when you complete your reservation.

By submitting a reservation form for the Pear Lake Winter Hut, you acknowledge and agree to the terms of the liability waiver.

There are NO REFUNDS or date changes. Refunds can only be given if the Generals Highway has been closed or the National Park Service has issued an official trail closure or advisory of no backcountry travel on your reserved ski-in day.