On the opposite end of the gastronomic spectrum are groups of skiers who prepare lavishly and are not concerned with carrying heavy packs stuffed with bottles of wine, cheesecakes, fruits and vegetables, bread, cheese, and ingredients for gourmet meals. Usually there is a bit of good- natured competition when the cooks begin to eye each other's creations. The huts offer comfortable accommodations, but getting to them is not like cross-country skiing across your local golf course. The distance from the trailheads to the huts varies from about three miles to more than 10 miles. Elevation gains average 2,000 feet to more than 3,000 feet in the thin Colorado air.
Most people ski into just one hut for a couple of days.
Trails connect some of the huts, but those routes are long, difficult and not well marked. Few people travel from hut to hut. None of the trails require special technical skills, but the climbs are demanding and definitely not suited for beginners. Carrying a fully loaded pack while skiing is the biggest challenge and requires adjustment in technique. Skis with metal edges, climbing skins, poles, and heavy leather or plastic boots are recommended.