Betty Bear (Again)

This winter, our annual 10th Mountain Hut trip was to Betty Bear, again. I decided to be bold and try making the trek into the hut on cross country skis this year. At times I thought it to be a marvelous idea and at times I wondered what the heck I was thinking. In any event, I made it to the hut in decent time.

Hut trips are always special, and this year, fresh snow fell while we were at the hut, bringing even more magic to the trip. Having a variety of gear, skill level and personalities at the hut, some members skied laps on nearby peaks; some members toured around the lakes and toward Hagerman Pass; and still others curled up by the wood stove and drank tea. 

My favorite moment and memory from this trip was drinking coffee and watching the sunrise over a blanket of fresh snow in the early morning while everyone in the hut was still sleeping. 

Andrew's Lake

Finding powder in an old stomping ground always puts a smile on my face. To me, Andrew's Lake between Durango and Silverton is one of my favorite places, and certainly one of those important places.  Just like the poem that was written from a father to a son in 1986:

The Important Places

Child of mine

come as you grow

in youth you will learn the secret places

the cave behind the waterfall

the arms of the oak that hold you high

the stars so near on a desert ledge

the important places

and as with age you choose your own way

among the many faces of a busy world

may you always remember the path that leads back

back to the important places.

— Dad for Forest, 1986

I first heard this poem and learned about the film The Important Places during the 2015 Five Points Film Festival in Carbondale, and it reminded me of all of my "important places" in the San Juan mountains. When my husband told me he had gotten time off work for the holidays, I was excited to get back to my old stomping ground. We pulled into the parking lot for Andrew's Lake just as the storm was lifting, and we were ecstatic to see the pocket of freshly dropped powder. 

Justin's mom met us in the parking lot with her wooden skis, and we toured into the powder. It was invigorating and much needed. The clouds lifted, and we were greeted with blue skies and familiar views. It was the perfect start to a wonderful holiday week spent with family and friends in Durango, Colorado. 

Harry Gates Hut

Hut Trip Tip: When overnighting in an isolated mountain chalet beware of guests "exercising" with hatchets! 

I've never been on a winter hut trip nor had I spent any time in a 10th Mountain Hut ever, so when the opportunity to venture to Harry Gates Hut presented itself early this winter, I jumped at the opportunity!  Eight of us woke up early on December 14th and began our trek up to the hut. 

The trail climbed quickly into an aspen forest before spitting us out onto a 4-wheeling road that's used to access the hut during the summer months. We arrived at the hut in the late afternoon, cold, sore and tired! The inviting hut quickly made us feel cozy and comfortable, and we were quickly ready for cocktail hour. 

We all pitched in to whip up a delicious spaghetti dinner complete with garlic bread and salad. Surprisingly we even had some leftovers. We spent the night playing games, sharing stories, laughing and stoking the fire. Just before bed we decided to head outside and celebrate our journey by lighting sparklers and dancing around in the moonlight (it wasn't nearly as weird as I just made it sound)! 

In the morning, we made a huge breakfast consisting of eggs, bacon, veggies and bagels before cleaning up the hut and beginning our hike/ski/snowshoe back down to our cars. It was an adventure for sure that already has us all thinking about which hut to venture to next winter!