September 23-25, 2005

This was my first trip to Margy's Hut which is located at 11,300 feet on a lightly treed hillside just below timberline, about 10 miles northeast of Aspen, Colorado.  This was my second mountain bike trip within the 10^th Mountain system; both of these superb trips were carefully orchestrated by Rick Light (my first such trip was to the Polar Star Inn located near New York Mountain).  We mountain biked an easy 6 miles with day packs to reach the hut.  Most of our gear was carried up in a pickup truck, which is usual for summer and spring trips to the huts.  The hut is owned and rented by the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association.

The aspens on the ride up were awe inspiring!

Margy's Hut has beautiful views of the Elk Mountains to the south, and the aspens were at their peak when we visited.  The views were absolutely the finest that I can remember from many dozens of Colorado mountain experiences.  Margy's Hut, which sleeps 16, was one of the first two huts in the 10^th Mountain system; it was built in 1982.  The building of this hut represented a major step for the fledgling 10^th Mountain organization, which had to promise the Forest Service that the hut would be razed if it was not used.  Hut construction was funded by former secretary of defense Robert McNamara and friends, in memorial to Robert's wife Margy.

Our group included Rick and Ken Light (brothers), Shelly Cross, Lucie Parietti and Eric Ponslet, Andrea Johansen, Alison Dragt and Dave Chamberlin, Dave Scudder, and me.

In addition to daily over-eating, we biked and hiked many hours in the gorgeous setting above and below the hut.