Wallowa Alpine Hut trip - McCully Basin 2011

First week of March I found myself driving to Joseph OR for a four day three night back county hut trip in the Wallowas.  Nervous and excited about this adventure that I spontaneously signed up for through Wallowa Alpine Huts http://www.wallowahuts.com.  In mid February in an attempt to fight the winter blues I called CB (owner of Walloawa Alpine Huts) and asked if there were any trips I could go on.  He replied emphatically "Yes! there are two.  One is all couples and one is all men."  I took a breath and replied "I don't think I want to go on the all couples trip". He replied "I don't blame you, I wouldn't go on that one either."  After more discussion about the other trip and learning that there was another woman on it, I signed up.  

This was my second time back country skiing in the Wallowas - the first time was two winters ago and it was my first time ever back country skiing.  I am new to skiing, but I love being outside and climbing around in beautiful landscapes.

Guest Yurt

Thursday morning I met the group I was to be spending four days with and the three guides/cooks.  After a safety check, gear check and a hardy breakfast we were off to shuttle up to the base where we would begin the 4 mile skin up to the yurts.  The base is made up of four yurts; two sleeping yurts that sleep 5 people for guests, one cooking yurt and the guides sleeping quarters and sauna yurt.  After a quick tour of the camp we were off to explore the McCully Basin for the remaining afternoon.  The snow was amazing!  Being new to skiing I don't have all the lingo down to describe it - but it was light, powder and lots of it, lots of untracked powder everywhere you looked.  

 The four days went too quickly.  Every morning after a big breakfast we met at 9:00 am skinned up and ready to hit the basin.  For the two full days we averaged 4,000 vertical feet of descent + climbing.  By the fourth day I was getting tired, my thighs burned on the down hill and my big toe nails were bruised, but wanted to keep going, the sun was out, the conditions were excellent and all that was waiting for me at home, besides my always cheerful dog, was a lot of frustrating reports to work on.  We kept going until 1:00 pm as the conditions were getting warmer and sunscreen was applied multiple times.  Back at the camp area we packed our stuff up and descended the 4 mile trail back to the car.  The drive back to Hood River was a blur of happy muscle fatigue, memories of great snow, yummy meals and a slightly sunburned face.  Definitely going back next year!