ANNUAL RESERVATIONS GALA
IMPORTANT! UPCOMING CHANGES TO GALA 2024
You asked! We listened! Upcoming Gala Changes
What is changing?
Many of you let us know you would like to see some options to book huts outside the Gala. There are many people wanting an opportunity to stay in the huts who do not live here and/or cannot attend the Gala.
For the 2024-2025 season we have something new for hut reservations. We will be holding back spots at each of the huts. These spots will not be available to book at the Gala.
How will this work?
After the Gala, the held back spots will be released one month in advance (with the exception of November, which will be released a few days after the Gala) and will be available to book online. For example, in January, the held back spots for February will be released and reservable online. We estimate spots will be opened near the end of each month, but we will not be publishing an exact date or time. You will need to check the website near the end of each month.
How many spots will be held back?
The following spots will be held back and released to online reservations each month. One spot = one person:
- 2 spots at the Yurt
- 2 spots at High Hut
- 4 spots at Snow Bowl
- 4 spots at Copper Creek
When will the held back spots open up to the reservation system online?
ALL of the held back spots for the month will be released the month prior.
What is the impact of this change?
We do realize this may impact some of you who like to book the entire hut and we wanted to let you know prior to the Gala, in case this impact your decision to come to the Gala.
The agreement between MTTA and DNR, the landowners, is to maximize the number of overnight guests in the huts (aka heads in beds), not reservations. In recent years, we have many people booking entire huts with only a handful of people showing up, thus denying access to others. The purpose of the hut system is a shared experience with other users and we would like to ensure as many people as possible can enjoy the huts and surrounding area.
Additionally, our visitor base is expanding and everyone should have an opportunity to experience the huts through the year.
If I book spots at the Gala, can I also book the additional spots online?
If you get a reservation at the Gala, you may still reserve spots online. Reservations online are first come, first served.
Questions?
Please send those to reservations@skimtta.org.
General Gala Information
What is the Reservations Gala?
The MTTA Gala is held each year in the fall to open our winter reservation calendar for the coming year. The demand for winter reservations greatly exceeds supply so we hold a Reservations Gala each fall. Its a place to get information on the huts, speak to MTTA Volunteers, and reserve a spot in one of our huts.
How Does it Work?
- It is free to attend Gala and you do not need to purchase tickets ahead of time.
- At Gala, participants make a $10.00 donation per ticket.
- One ticket is good for one single reservation.
- The tickets are drawn at random to determine the order in which reservations are made.
- In years past, tickets were drawn in groups of 12 and called in groups of 6, because we called people by name. This year, we will have double roll tickets. You will keep one half of the ticket and put the other half in the drum. Tickets will be announced by ticket number, no need to write your name on them.
- The first 12 tickets will be announced. After we begin to make the first reservations, we will continue to call numbers so there are always 12 people in line, instead of calling in groups.
- The more tickets you purchase, the better your chances of getting called.
- We will continue to make reservations until everyone who wants a reservation has one or until 5pm, whichever comes first.
When & Where is Gala?
Gala is held each fall (usually the beginning of November) and is normally held at a location in the Seattle/Tacoma area. When details are available they will be posted below.
A few days after the event, the online reservation system will open up. Many mid-week and off season dates will be available to reserve. See 2024 Changes to Gala for more information.
Through the winter season, we also keep a cancellation list. We do receive many cancellation requests for all the huts through the season. If you would like to be added to this list, please email reservations@skimtta.org. As cancellations are made, updates will be emailed out letting you know the dates and huts available. You will then need to go into the reservation system and make your reservation. Open spots fill up fast and are on a first come first serve basis. At this time, cancellation emails are only sent between November and March.
2024 Gala Details
Our 2024 Gala was successful. Thank you to everyone who was able to attend and support MTTA! We appreciate it.