Trip Planning - Haines Huts and Trails

Planning a trip to the Tukga Hut? Here’s everything you need to know:

Strenuous Backcountry Travel Required – PLEASE READ

Summer: Getting to the Tukga Hut requires hiking roughly 2.3 miles and 3200′ of elevation gain on steep, rough trail. The hike is strenuous for most, especially with overnight packs on.

Fall: As fall descends on the Chilkat Valley, a trip to and from the Tukga Hut becomes more complex and condition dependant. In September and October wet coastal storms become more common and when mixed with cooler interior air masses can bring snowfall to the hut even while the valley still feels like summer. Visitors should carefully consider what travel on a steep and snow obscured trail looks like for their party and allow plenty of time in the event travel is slow or impassible. Following the upper sections of the trail will also be far harder when snow obscures the path through patchy meadows, and users should have the route pre-entered into a GPS mapping device for bad weather exit. The Ripinsky Weather station is a good reference for conditions, but is located 600’ lower in elevation than the hut site. Avalanche forecasts are not offered in the fall but snowfall events can bring avalanche hazard on the upper portions of the trail.

Winter: The 7 Mile Saddle Trail remains the most common access point for locals skiing near the hut on Chilly Ridge and Mount 3920, but this route is not a casual ski tour from the car. The steep access trail can be ice covered in areas by groundwater seeps and crampons are always advisable. In early season it’s usually not possible to start skiing until treeline at 2000’. The steep trail combined with a dry microclimate and southern exposure mean it’s most common to carry skis for at least the first 1000’ even in peak snow levels, with branches bending low eager to deposit their snow loads down warm backs. Above treeline it is advisable to stay as close to the summer trail as possible in early season until the alder and alpine hemlock found on upper sections are covered. Later in the season a more direct route to the hut can be taken, as well as more direct descents as far down as snow allows. Accessing the hut requires travel through avalanche terrain and winter users should have the right equipment and experience for safe and self sufficient winter travel. The Haines Avalanche Center is a great resource for forecasts and observations, and users should be aware that our valley is characterized by rapid weather change and microclimates. Bears are often not in dens until late December, and wake up regularly and move about during the winter so bear spray is advised in all months.

Spring: Good corn skiing can be found on the south slopes below the hut at certain times, but starting in mid April long days and spring warming can bring periods with sustained wet slides and isothermal snow, making hut access tricky or impossible. By mid spring the snow starts to consolidate, making ski travel more pleasant and travel on foot possible at times. Still, daily temperature cycles and elevation differences make it possible to encounter dangerously hard crust and waist deep slush later in the same outing. By mid June, remaining snow should be well consolidated for travel and good skiing can still be found above the hut elevation by those with the legs and ambition.

Still sound like fun? Southeast Alaska adventuring may be for you! Be sure to consider your entire parties abilities carefully, stay tuned to recent conditions and make a travel plan in advance for how your group will handle conditions that are worse than expected.

Trailhead Parking (PDF Map Download)

Parking for the Tukga Hut is at the 7-Mile Saddle Trailhead (also labeled the Ripinski Trailhead on roadsigns). Google Maps , Apple maps , Coordinates: 59.26630, -135.60523 Haines is generally a very safe town, but like most trailheads and pull-outs, there is always a threat of break-ins by humans and/or bears, so please lock your vehicles and avoid leaving valuables or food inside.

Navigation (Click to download: GPX file, PDF Map)

The trail to the hut can become cloudy in an instant. We recommend having the route to the hut downloaded on a smartphone or gps device to ensure route finding ability regardless of weather conditions. From the parking lot, hike approximately .1 miles on the highway toward town until you reach the trailhead sign. From there, hike another 1.8 miles up until you reach a split in the trail, go left, and hike another .4 miles until you come out of the trees onto a flat, wide-open field. At this point, follow the tree line to your left until you reach an opening where you’ll see a defined trail and the roof of the hut poking out above the trees.

Heat

Guests heat up the hut upon arrival, but the Tukga Hut also has a propane heater with propane provided. The instructions to operate the propane system are printed out at the hut.

Kitchen

The kitchen has propane burners for cooking, propane is provided. The kitchen also has pots, pans, potholders, dishware, cooking and eating utensils, a French press for coffee, dish soap, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, and trash bags.

Water (Click to download: GPX, PDF)

Water sources vary greatly by season. Always pack enough water for the hike and stay hydrated throughout. Make sure to familiarize yourself with water sources described here by season, and be sure to review water source information before heading up to the hut. Bring a water filter and use clean, filtered water for all cleaning of shared hut dishes, utensils, and surfaces. Our suggested water sources by date are:

July-First Snowfall: We recommend bringing an empty dromedary and/or large water bottles to fill at the last creek on your way up, which is located at 59.28153, -135.59632, .1 miles before the 7-mile saddle trail intersection and .6 miles before the hut. For larger groups and longer stays, under or in the hut, there are two 5-gallon buckets labeled “water buckets”, and a homemade 2×2” wooden yoke. There is a water source at approximately (59.28930,-135.60282). The descent to this water source is steep and can be slippery and dangerous. Always travel in pairs or larger groups when collecting water for bear safety and ease of transport. Refer to the map below.

First Snowfall-July: Melt snow in one of the provided large pots. To save propane and time, please melt the snow and then filter it instead of boiling everything for drinking water.

Outhouse

The Tukga Hut has an outhouse about 20 yards from the front door. DO NOT pee in the outhouse, or off of the porch. The outhouse barrels are moved by volunteers, and become extremely smelly when urinated in. Urinate on the downstream side of the hut (to your right when walking out the door, or to your left when looking at the front of the hut from outside).

Sleeping

The Hut has a large plywood loft space and two 7’x8’ plywood bunks. Bring your own sleeping bag, pad, and pillow. We find 8 people or 4 couples, have excess room for gear and sleeping. However, if maxed out, the hut could fit around 16 sleeping pads, but the table, storage, and kitchen would be beyond capacity.

Lighting

We recommend bringing headlamps and other light sources (battery lanterns) for both inside and outside the hut at night, especially late August-April when it gets dark earlier. We do have string lights hung up around the interior of the hut that require a USB battery pack, which you are encouraged to bring.

Creature Comforts

There is an extensive list below, but to highlight two often forgotten items, pack earplugs and camp slippers (crocs), the hut is loud with multiple pads rolling around on wood, and can also become dirty/wet on the floor. The Hut generally has a few books to read, a few decks of cards, and a board game or two. Be sure to leave an entry in the logbook!

Packing Lists:

Summer Equipment List

The Tukga Hut is situated at 3,200’ feet in elevation, which is above treeline in Southeast Alaska. A warm summer morning at a trailhead can turn quickly (and without warning) into a cold, windy storm at higher elevations.

This list should be used as a guide in helping you prepare for your trip. Nothing in this list is a substitute for preparedness and knowledge. Never travel in the backcountry unprepared. None of this equipment is helpful unless it fits, it works, and you know how to use it! Please share this list with all group members.

General Equipment

Backpack
Sleeping bag
Sleeping pad
Pillow
Hiking boots/shoes
Wool hat
Warm gloves
Baseball or sun hat
Sunscreen and lip balm
Sunglasses
Water bottles (widemouth)
Flashlight/headlamp and extra batteries
Pocket knife
Personal items (toothbrush/paste, medications, prescription glasses, earplugs, eye mask, watch w/ alarm)
Personal wash cloth/travel towel
Food (Be sure some food is edible without cooking, and that each person carries their own trail food.)
Cell phone and extra batteries/case (Coverage is not guaranteed anywhere in the backcountry – keep your phone off until you need it.)

Personal Clothing (wool or synthetics – no cotton)

Foundation/Base Layer

Long underwear top and bottom
Socks plus extra pair(s)

Warm/Insulating Layer

Fleece Jacket/Vest
Sweater
Pants
Down/synthetic puff jacket

Weather/Waterproof Outer Layer

Jacket
Pants

Other

Hut slippers
Personal items (toothbrush/paste, medications, prescription glasses, earplugs, eyemask)
Personal wash cloth/travel towel
Disinfectant wipes

During Hunting Season

Bright/orange clothing

Group Equipment

Hut Trip Confirmation/Door Lock Combination (printed copy/copies)
Trailhead/Parking information
Guidebook/Route descriptions
Topographic maps
Compass
GPS and extra batteries
Altimeter and extra batteries
Hand-held two-way radios for inter-group communication
Water and/or water source information
Water purification method

Suggested Group Emergency/Survival Equipment

Emergency shelter (bivouac sack, lightweight tarp)
First-aid kit
Blister kit
Fire starting kit (matches, lighter, starting fuel) OR lightweight emergency stove
Small emergency pot
Ensolite or foam pad
Emergency communication device (such as SPOT, inReach, satellite phone or PLB – Personal Locator Beacon)

Winter Equipment List

The Tukga Hut is situated at 3,200’ feet in elevation, which is above treeline in Southeast Alaska. A clear and calm morning at a trailhead can turn quickly (and without warning) into cold and windy precipitation at higher elevations. Hypothermia and frostbite are common winter problems. Be sure that you know how to prevent, recognize, and treat these potentially life-threatening conditions. Bring enough extra clothing, emergency shelter and survival gear, food, and water to spend the night out if you do not make it to the hut.

This list should be used as a guide in helping you prepare for your trip. Never travel in the backcountry unprepared. None of this equipment is helpful unless it fits, it works, and you know how to use it! Please share with all group members.