The Barnard Hut atop Richmond Hill under a starry sky.
We’re deep into winter now up here in the Colorado high country. It’s been a cold one this season and coming off the tail end of another round of storms, spring still feels a long ways off. One of the best ways to break up the grind a little bit, other than escaping to the desert or booking a tropical getaway of course, is to go on a hut trip. There’s just something refreshing about rounding up some friends, skiing to a cozy backcountry cabin miles from civilization, cranking up the furnace and enjoying a feast, games and conversation late into the night. It’s always a good time.
The crew atop Ajax. Left to right – Anna-Lisa, myself, Zerr, Vera, Dylan, Amelia, and our four legged friend, Meco (we had a special exception for her being a service dog).
Next up on the list was the Barnard Hut, located 7 miles south of the top of Aspen Mountain along Richmond Ridge. With an all Eagle County crew we had to purchase single trip “sightseeing” tickets to get up the Aspen gondola, but from there the route went down pretty easily as it’s just a long, undulating skin along a cat and sled curated trail.
Making headway. It was a nice morning for a stroll through the woods.
For Dylan and I the route brought back some recent memories of pain and suffering, as it’s the same 7-mile stretch we had to skin to finish off The Grand Traverse last March (going in the opposite direction of course). We reminisced about our mental and physical states as we pulled in to the Barnard hut and drank some warm soup, it being the race’s final aid station before the finish in Aspen. Good stuff.
Arrived.
We reached the hut around 3:30pm and loaded up the wood furnace as temps began to drop. Snow buckets full and the sun tucked behind a distant ridge line, we settled in for the evening.
Technically the Barnard Hut sleeps 8, with one bedroom separated from the main quarters and a loft up top. It was built by the Braun Hut system founder Fred Braun and named after Aspen resident Marsh Barnard.
Into the evening now it was time for dinner. And not just any dinner but maybe the most extravagant we’ve had at a hut thus far… a three course gourmet spread of surf n’ turf courtesy of Zerr. Well done Zerr 🙂
The first course: Scallops and mushrooms.
The third course: Steak and asparagus.
Cooling off outside as relinquishing control of the hearth to a bunch of girls who are always cold has a tendency to make for a toasty evening.
After dinner it was down to a hearty game of Cards Against Humanity and frosty Outer Range tall boys as the fire raged on. I think we all slept pretty well.
The next morning at the breakfast table.
Morning coffee in the sun.
One more before we headed out.
After tidying up we set off on the long skin back to Aspen. It was another gorgeous day, and warm enough to feel like spring for a few hours on our way out.
Skiing back to town.
Another one in the books this season with a fun crew! Which hut will be next…
What is cards against humanity and was it literally the same route as GT?
It’s a card game, we should play it sometime 🙂 Yep, same exact route!