{"id":972,"date":"2021-10-08T08:09:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-08T08:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/?p=972"},"modified":"2021-09-14T15:36:54","modified_gmt":"2021-09-14T15:36:54","slug":"running-the-rockies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/2021\/10\/running-the-rockies\/","title":{"rendered":"Running the Rockies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by Rachel Walker<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deep in the Colorado high country, amidst the wildflower meadows and jagged peaks of the Rocky Mountains, lie 34 stone and log huts owned and operated by the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association. These intimate and elegant backcountry cabins act as jumping-off points for endless high alpine summer and winter adventures. One of our favorite adventures? Trail running\u2014or hiking\u2014from hut to hut across some of the West\u2019s most jaw-dropping terrain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We tracked down local guide and professional running phenom, Rickey Gates, who designed an extraordinary six-day trip that winds through stands of aspens, to alpine lakes adorned with columbine and ptarmigan, across stunning ridgelines and deeply forested valleys, all of which end at a series of perfectly appointed huts deep in the Rockies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To immerse yourself fully requires a range of logistics: reserving the huts, trail finding, and most importantly, shuttling gear, food, and your evening cocktail mixes from one hut to another so that your trail time is unencumbered. Don\u2019t stress, Rickey\u2019s done the work for you. Here\u2019s what you need to know, and how to make the most of your trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Huts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Modeled after similar hut systems in the European Alps, these nature-rich hideaways vary in layout and size (they sleep between 6-16 people), but remain constant in charm. True, the rustic nature of these cabins means you\u2019ll need to pack in your own food and sleeping bags\u2014 and maybe a croissant or two. But what you sacrifice in luxury, you\u2019ll make up for in adventure in the form of meandering trail systems across unrelenting high-mountain beauty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Guide<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Join pro runner, Rickey Gates, on his signature trip called Hut-Run-Hut, a six-day, 100-mile adventure that brings you across unparalleled terrain between Aspen and Vail (2021 trips cost $2,600 per person). With the help of Aspen Alpine Guides, your trip planning will be a zero, and adventure a 10. You can also find other permitted guides, maps, and alternative routes at huts.org if your miles, or desires, differ from Rickey\u2019s trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Iconic Route<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although there are several ways to link up different variations of huts, Rickey Gates\u2019 Hut-Run-Hut trip follows a breathtaking route along the Continental Divide. Days range from 10-25 miles per day\u2014with a priority of \u201cfun over fast\u201d\u2014and includes some off-trail navigating over terrain that undulates from 8,000-13,000 feet in elevation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Rickey\u2019s guidance, you\u2019ll explore everything the Sawatch and Gore ranges have to offer including chest-deep wildflowers, fairytale streams, above-treeline tundra, and heart-stopping summits. After each day, you\u2019ll land comfortably at huts such as Margy\u2019s Hut, Betty Bear Hut, Uncle Bud\u2019s Hut, Jackal Hut, and Fowler Hilliard Hut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Food<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After logging miles, it\u2019s time to kick back with healthy and nutritious appetizers and a gourmet dinner by a private chef before relaxing in the sauna\u2014only available at select huts\u2014or by the fire with a good book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To celebrate your final day on the trail, splurge on a delectable dinner in Vail reflecting on your adventure that left you with a Rocky Mountain High.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

This blog post is an article from Manifest Magazine. Read the digital issue in its entirety here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Rachel Walker Deep in the Colorado high country, amidst the wildflower meadows and jagged peaks of the Rocky Mountains, lie 34 stone and log huts owned and operated by the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association. These intimate and elegant backcountry cabins act as jumping-off points for endless high alpine summer and winter adventures. One…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":973,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Running-the-Rockies.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/972"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=972"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/972\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":974,"href":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/972\/revisions\/974"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/973"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=972"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=972"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=972"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}