Classic ski overnighter at High Hut (MTTA), 17-18 March
2012 --- 7.8 miles roundtrip with 2400 ft elev gain
(Day 1: 12
miles to Yurt and High Hut, Day 2: 7 miles of early morning ski & ski
out)
It was a PWC event hosted by Emily Grice. The Mt Tahama Trail Associaton (MTTA) currently maintains 3 huts and its groomed snow-trails: Copper Creek Hut (North district), the High Hut (South), and the Yurt (South). All of them are located centered around the Ashford, WA which is about 7 miles short of the Paradise Visitor Center at Mt Rainier National Park (MRNP). The 4th hut, the Snow Ball Hut which was burned down on the South district will be restored and avilabe in 2012 winter. I have been to the Copper Creek Hut twice on the North district as part of the PWC event. On each trip, I tremendously enjoyed xc skiing/hiking on the snow and having my son, Danny, on the first trip and my brother, James, on the 2nd trip.
It's a lot different from backpacking in the wilderness but spending one night at a heated hut in a winter wonderland environment is like having a vacation at a resort. One has to earn it by hiking, snowshoeing, or skiing up to the Hut which is at a high altitude (4800 ft elev) !
It was my first time visiting the High Hut. The High Hut is well known for the spectacular Mt Rainier views if the weather is clear. The trail is a lot steeper than the Copper Creek Hut (4.4 miles with 1000 ft elev gain vs 3.9 miles with 2400 ft elev gain), so, one needs to be in a good physical shape to carry some essentials to spend the overnight at the Hut.
Day 1: People gathered at the Ashford Fire Department at 1000. Emily, Karla, & Nancy carpooled. Gary & Janice. Paul and I. Thanks to Jackie and Rod who were the ski patrollers and carried our food up. My plan was to snowshoe/hike up to the junction between the High Hut and the Yurt, dropped off the snow sled, xc ski to Yurt, and back up to the High Hut. Paul decided to do the same. Despite his bad knee and elbow, he carried his full pack with ease. Yurt trip was additional 8 miles with about 1000 ft of elevation gain. So, it was about 12 miles trip with 3500 ft elev gain. The dinner was excellent. Irish food (corn beef and potato) was prepared by Emily. It was probably the best corn beef I've ever eaten.
Day 2: It was a better day but still did not have the view of the Mt Rainier and its surrounding. For about one hour, Paul and Gary backcoutnry skied while I xc skiied about 3 miles round tirp to the Juciton on the trail. Left the Hut just passed 1000, and arrived at the trailhead close to 1100. It was about 50 minutes of downhill ski. I've never thought that I would be able to ski down the steep hill. The snow condition was just right, and just right for my ski level.
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