The Hut Journal

It’s our third time back here and each time has been more enjoyable than the last. We skied ourselves to exhaustion on Valentines day, better than any I can remember. We even had a visit from the Valentine Viper, it left cards and candy hearts throughout the cabin. Can’t wait till that sauna is in – my muscles need it.

— Mary Kay, Bill, Ozark, Sneffles (the dogs)

I picked a bucket up from the yard today, it was left out seven days ago. I took the tape measure out just to see how deep the water was – 11 inches in seven days. Will it quit raining soon? The meadow sure is green. El Niño is warmer this summer than it has been since 1983 – the year Hoover dam went over the top with Colorado snow melt water. Should be a huge winter. Last winter there was seven feet of pack in here, what will it be this winter? Great tree skiing no doubt.

It was grey dawn out when I heard the commotion outside the hut. I figured Andy was showing up early to work, so I got up to see what he was doing. It wasn’t Andy at all though, it was a male black bear – looking for remains in the tub of empty pop cans out back. He ripped a bunch in half, bit into others – making a real mess. Wow, my first day at the hut and bears already. I will get those cans cleaned up though.

We were planning to write a story and tell the world about High Lonesome Hut – but now think we would be fools not to keep this wonderful retreat to ourselves! Love the peace and quiet, the smell of the burning wood and cooking on the stove. Spent the day alternating between skiing out and about the meadows, and curling up with a book. Tonight we’ll paint Easter eggs (traditions are traditions no matter what the locale) and wish for a few more days, then head out tomorrow, grateful for the reprieve from the maddening crowds!

— Lori and Chance