Hut Trippin'

Hut Trip 2007 was a complete success. A freak April snowstorm threatened the trip and my paranoia shackles rose as thoughts of hiking through a blizzard and triggering avalanches raced in my mind. However, by Friday afternoon, the weather was crystal clear and, once again, the weathermen were wrong!

I am now a huge fan of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. The staff was totally responsive and friendly as I peppered them with questions. (I also had visions that the gentleman I was speaking with was a complete and total mountain hottie. Yummy!) Their website (http://avalanche.state.co.us/) also has this nifty Danger Rose tool which I checked continuously for about 2 days. Ah, the joys of technology!


Two of our original team were lost in Durango in snow and another fell victim to strep. And so we were eight. Within our first mile, it was quickly apparent that our most significant challenge would not be snow and cold but heat and sunburn. The layers quickly came off and we all sucked feverishly on our CamelBak (BEST invention EVER!). Up, up, up we went through mud and slush and snow. Torres employed the "slow and steady" technique while OkayByUs used a delightful shuffle that only a woman with a renewed sense of life and independence could pull off. Long Legs (aka my hubby) was purposefully loaded down with one bottle of Jack Daniels and a Black Box...and he still kicked our assess.

As these things tend to go, the last part of the hike, when one is most eager and ready to be done and relaxing, was the most difficult. The first four miles were all consistently uphill but the final two miles took on new degrees. There was lots of huffing and puffing and even some moans and grunts. But everyone made it!


The hut was delicious. When I think of a 'hut,' I think of a meager shelter with barely four walls. However, the huts that the 10th Mountain Division maintains really should be renamed Glorious Mountain Cabins. Our hut, the Polar Star Inn, is a huge and beautiful wood cabin cut and built by hand. It sleeps 17 people and comes fully equiped with a cozy fireplace, a huge stash of wood and propane gas for a stove and lights.

We stripped down and cracked our beers and basked in our success. Drinking, dinner and Parrot ice cream topped off the night. Hubby and Tess managed to finish not one but two bottles of Jack (okay...others helped...) and everyone passed out while my hubby pleaded to play boardgames (never.ending.energy)


Throwing on our sweaty clothes, we sailed back down the mountain in record time. Lots and lots of laugher. It was..quite fabulous.

And, of course, yesterday I went through my typical withdrawal of an incredible weekend with phenomenal people who are so far away...Sigh.