Ski Road Trip in the Winnebago HIKE 100 FLX

Ski Road Trip in the Winnebago HIKE 100 FLX
Follow along on an epic winter adventure with pro skier, Amy Jane David.

By: Amy Jane David (@AmyJaneDavid)

I love the freedom of Winnebago travel. This winter, I’ve chased a few storms across the Rocky Mountain West seeking soft snow to ski. Pulling my Winnebago HIKE 100 FLX behind my truck gave me the freedom and confidence to spontaneously go to a new destination. There’s a comfort in knowing I have shelter from the weather, a cozy bed, and a kitchen to come back to wherever I end up next. 

In this article, I’ll share a recap of my trip and some perks of winter camping in my Winnebago HIKE 100 FLX and using it as a ski basecamp. Read my previous blog post to get the scoop on why I chose this towable and how my first winter shakedown camping trip went.

My Winter Ski Road Trip in the Winnebago HIKE 100 FLX

This March, I set out for a tour of the Intermountain West seeking good snow and friends. And I towed the Winnebago HIKE 100 FLX as my home on the road!

Starting in Sun Valley, Idaho, I drove to Jackson Hole and Pinedale, Wyoming, then off to Park City, Utah, a quick flight to Alaska, then up to the outskirts of Bozeman, Montana, and back down to Stanley, Idaho. At each location I sought out skiing, snowmobiling, and horseback riding. Here is an overview of my trip …

Ski Mountaineering in Wyoming

My first step was to load my snowmobile into the back of the truck. This configuration has been a learning curve, but I was able to load my Polaris 155 track into the back of my truck with the tailgate up to attach the trailer. I found that if I’m using a sled deck or have my longer track snowmobile, I will need to add a Torklift hitch extension with stabilizers to my truck. If you aren’t hauling a snowmobile, it’s an easy hook up to the 2 ⅝” ball hitch. Once I was loaded with snowmobile and ski gear, I hit the road to Jackson Hole!

There were a few cold sunny days, and the avalanche hazard was moderate when I arrived in Wyoming, so I connected with my friends Elise and Ryan to ski a couloir (steep gully outlined by cliff bands on a mountainside) in Teton National Park. We chose to ski a line that required several hours of hiking uphill through the trees before reaching the rocky alpine terrain. 

Once at the top of the mountain, to enter the couloir, we down climbed to a notch where Ryan set up an anchor and rope to rappel 20 feet. For the rappel, we put our skis on our backpacks and slowly lowered to a flat ledge of snow below. Next step was to ski down! This line was aesthetically pleasing with big, beautiful walls of rock along both edges. 

Nearly ten hours later, we glided across the flats back to the parking lot. I love these big days in the mountains being with people who hold interesting conversations. I also spend time reflecting inward, dig deep physically, and see what I’m capable of while being surrounded by a wild and massive landscape. 

After the sunny ski mountaineering day in the Tetons, there was a major storm incoming! I stuck around the Jackson area for several weeks to ski at both Grand Targhee Resort and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Both are on the Mountain Collective Pass which I use for two days of skiing at resorts across the U.S. 

Jackson received record snowfall during this week, so every morning I hustled to the tram with hopes of fresh powder. I spent the ski days filming with Teton Gravity Research as a skier in their upcoming snow film. Keep an eye out this fall when the film is released to see the action on the big screen! 

Next on the travel agenda was to make a short stop in Pinedale, Wyoming, where my family lives. I parked my Winnebago HIKE in my parents’ driveway, did laundry, took a hot shower, and snuck in a snowmobile ride in the Wyoming Range. The size of the trailer hits the sweet spot of being spacious enough to fit all the gear and live comfortably, yet it’s small enough to maneuver easily and stealth park in tight places!

Adventuring to a Yurt in Utah

Keeping the show on the road, I drove to Park City, Utah, where I met up with the Backcountry Access team for a yurt trip in the Uinta mountains. Our objective was to snowmobile to above 11,000 feet where a yurt is nestled among the big blocky peaks. We spent one night in the yurt enjoying woodfire-cooked pizza from scratch thanks to Inspired Summit Adventures guides. 

Bright and early in the morning, our team hopped on the snowmobiles to ride higher into the mountains for a few perfect ski laps. After ski touring at the upper elevation where the snow was cold and soft, we packed up and rode all the way back to the parking lot. It felt nice to reorganize my gear in the Winnebago HIKE before driving to my next location. 

In past years of being on the road, I’ve had my gear and clothing crammed in the backseat of my truck or in storage bins. I love the layout of the Winnebago HIKE with shelves, hangers, and closets to keep my items organized because it feels more like home. Between trips when I repack, it’s so much easier to swap out clothes and exchange the gear based on the trip objective. 

If I’m doing the gear shuffle during a storm, it’s a game changer to have a big space in the back of the Winnebago HIKE versus needing to lay everything out in the parking space outside. I can have the table set up or both couches in storage mode against the walls to have a lot of floor space. This is another reason the modular furniture in the back is convenient!

Side Trip to Alaska

I retraced my path back to Jackson and parked my rig at the airport. In the back of the camper, I took a quick nap and shuffled gear to prepare for a big ski trip to the Chugach Mountains of Alaska. I highly recommend not parking at the Jackson airport with a trailer because the fee is for two parking spaces and it’s pricey! I learned that the hard way. 

The week-long trip in Alaska was worth it though. I traveled with a few athletes from one of my ski sponsors, Rab Equipment. We skied big alpine terrain all by the power of hiking up the mountains to ski back down versus the popular helicopter access. Hiking up at sunrise and skiing down into the sunset off of Hatcher and Turnagain Pass was a highlight of my winter. I’m already dreaming of future adventures based out of a Winnebago in Alaska!

Read more about RVing in Alaska here.

Riding Horses in Montana

Upon returning to Wyoming, I had a quick turnaround before driving north to Montana. I camped on the property of a fellow Icelantic Skis athlete and horse trainer. We spent two days riding horses through the snow in the mountains surrounding small towns on the outskirts of Bozeman. 

Two of my favorite things in this world are skiing and horses, so it was a real gift to combine the two for a project coming soon with Icelantic Skis! Getting my western lifestyle fix in, I returned home to Stanley, Idaho. (See a list of fun places to camp in your RV in Idaho in this article!)

It was a wild road trip chasing dreams, hunting snow, and connecting with new people and old friends. I learned a lot about basing out of a towable camper during winter months and managing gear for multiple sports! I’ll share more about the insights I’ve learned for winter adventures in a travel trailer in my next article.

Why Base Out of a Towable RV for a Ski Road Trip?

There are so many benefits to basing out of a towable RV for a ski road trip. The biggest benefit I experienced is the flexibility. Because I knew I had a warm, dry, comfy place to sleep each night, I could change my plans based on the snow and weather as it evolved. If I wasn’t staying in my towable, I would have been worried about booking hotels in advance (along with the cost) and not having the ability to pivot travel plans based on weather as easily. 

I love how I can camp at or close to the trailhead for backcountry skiing or at the ski resorts. The towable is convenient because I can unhook my truck and drive to town or trailheads without packing up camp. In addition to the fun skiing, I also do quite a bit of remote computer work, so having a private workspace in the Winnebago HIKE has been a relief while on the road. I do enjoy setting up in coffee shops and libraries, but a mobile office is hard to beat! 

Traveling on the road in the Winnebago HIKE 100 FLX fits my adventurous personality and reminds me of building forts as a kid - it brings out a sense of spontaneity!