Hut Run Hut with Rickey Gates

Rickey is a running legend, enigma, and human mountain goat. My first running experience with Rickey was in Oaxaca, Mexico on a group trip with Aire Libre, which is where I learned about HRH. Formerly a Salomon-sponsored athlete, Rickey turned his career from racing to running projects, like running across America, running every single street in San Francisco, and bringing groups of intrepid runners through the Colorado Rockies every year.

"Cell phone coverage will be non-existent, oxygen will be minimal, antics, fun and beauty will be at the highest level...with a priority of fun over fast."

Hut Run Hut is a six-day, one-hundred-mile mountain running journey spanning from Aspen to Red Cliff, Colorado (near Vail). Throughout each day, we ran through the Rockies and rested at remote 10th Mountain Division Huts at night. A small team of chefs, guides, and mountaineers managed luggage transfer, logistics, and meals as we journeyed across the Continental Divide. Spending every day running across sensational mountains was matched only by the lazy afternoons and evenings we spent relaxing in the homey mountain huts.

Scenes from the trail

Fitness

Traversing the Rockies requires some intrepidity. We ran days as long as 22 miles, traversed in and around calf-deep creeks, and bushwhacked up steep hills off-trail. A strong baseline fitness and sense of adventure is a must for Hut Run Hut.

That said, Rickey thoughtfully designs the trip to consider runners of different abilities and paces. Ages of our group ranged from 20s to 60s. Several members of our group were overcoming injuries and hiked the majority of the trip. In Rickey's words "if you believe you can run 100 miles, I believe you can, too!" I'd encourage anyone doubting their abilities to reach out to Rickey.

The group was also well supported with 2-3 guides each day. Typically Rickey led the group at the front and there was always a guide or two at the back so no runner could ever be "dropped." Rickey or other speedy runners would mark the trail just as one would find in a race, so if you're a middle of the pack runner like me, you don't have to rely on your phone to navigate or stress about getting lost (although Rickey does share a CalTopo link so you have the option). We took many breaks throughout the day to regroup, eat, and make sure no one was left too far behind.

Highlights

Some of the hardest days were my favorite - not just because we were constantly taking in mind-blowing views or brushing our hands along the beautiful fields of the Holy Cross Wilderness, but because of the camaraderie of the group when we were truly, deeply exhausted. I have particularly fond memories of day four, when we ran from Uncle Bud's Hut to Jackal Hut along the Colorado Trail with about 3,000 feet of elevation gain, much of it off-trail, and by the end we were so tired we were telling only the worst jokes and hallucinating the charcuterie boards we knew was waiting for us.
Afternoons and evenings in the hut were special. We'd arrive around 3pm and spend the rest of the day snacking, napping, reading, and chatting. The huts are private, so it was always just the twelve of us. We'd recap the day and huddle together on the hut deck to stretch, have a beer, listen to Rickey's sister, Merritt (also one of our guides) play us some ukulele tunes, or scatter to a sunny corner to soak in some quiet time.
The final day of Hut Run Hut was my birthday. The night before I got to enjoy donuts at 11,000 ft elevation and spent my actual birthday cruising down the final nine miles of creek trail. My husband met me at the our final lunch stop and we celebrated that night in Vail. The perfect birthday!

Day Six: Birthday donuts at 11,000 feet and our last morning together before our final run to Red Cliff

Food & Accommodations

Each afternoon we were greeted by a spectacular charcuterie board, followed by a beautiful, nutritious dinner prepared by chefs who followed us to each hut. Lunch was provided on the trail each day with the same degree of thoughtfulness and culinary creativity. Beer was on ice at the end of each day, if that's your jam (my request for diet coke was also kindly accommodated).

The 10th Mountain Division Huts is a massive system of 38 backcountry huts connected by 350 miles of trail. Each hut is completely secluded with very simple amenities (outhouses only and no showers) and a mattress and pillow in a dorm-style sleeping arrangement. It's quiet, rustic, simple living at its best.

Rickey & Group Dynamics

Ricky considers the Colorado Rockies his own backyard and home, and he is truly the ideal trip leader. Rickey has a calm, humble demeanor that belies the meticulous attention to detail he devotes to ensuring a well-organized, enjoyable, and safe experience for all participants.

The challenging nature of long days on the trail and cozy evenings in the hut made for an wonderfully intimate mountain experience. Participants in our group spanned across forty years in age differences and a wide range of abilities, but ego and competition was a no-go. We spent every evening in the hut giggling and traded salt tabs and stories every day on the trail. Our WhatsApp group remains intact to this day.