Pioneer Cabin Trail and Long Gulch Trail

Rating: 🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

Length 8.8 miles (my watch said 9.5) Elevation Gain: 3,018 ft 

Originally, we were going to hike this trail in the afternoon. But, the weather gave us a gift. And, the thunderstorms that were supposed to happen midday happened in the evening. It was lovely! We started up the Pioneer Cabin Trail and came down the Long Gulch trail. And yes, there really is a "Pioneer Cabin" in the middle of this trail. I usually think of a pioneer cabin as something similar to an 1800s one room cabin. This was built in 1938 by a ski company. So, not pioneer crossing the plains type cabin. More, ski bum type cabin. 

Now that we have that cleared up. This trail was in the shade on the way up. The trail switch backed up the way up the mountain. And then, this! Look at those high mountain bowls. 

Me on the way to the "Pioneer Cabin". Beautiful tops of the mountains views. 

We hit the pioneer cabin at our four mile mark. And, wow. We walked up to the mountain top and viola! There was this hidden gem of a cabin with a hidden gem of a view! 

Me at the cabin! The cabin says, "The higher you get the higher you get." All true. Maybe not the most inspiring thought, but a thought at least. 

They leave the cabin unlocked. So, of course Leti and I went in. We signed the book. As I was signing, Leti said, "This cabin is not built to code." So, I wrote that in the book. Little did we know at the time that the summers before there had been serious maintenance to the cabin. New stove. Work on the crumbling foundation. I still have faint hope that it will be built to code.

Here is Leti playing this really sad guitar. Apparently, you can stay the night. There are cots. And, the inside of the cabin has been loved, or rather, abused by many tourists. We learned that you can burn things in the stove, like wood and paper. But, they frown upon plastic. Which, who is burning plastic in the first place? I digress. It was a charming little cabin that didn't collapse on us while we were inside. 

Leti playing a song about hills being alive. 

We continued up the trail, or rather down the trail. And, it was a beast. It was steep and had, my favorite (note sarcasm), loose rock! But, we survived without incident and were in for more beautiful views. 

 I am including this picture because I accidentally got Leti's hand in it. And, she is pointing in the general direction of the beautiful view. This doesn't do this justice, but trust me, it was a stunning view. 

This last picture is just lovely. After this view, we headed down the long gulch, and found it to be appropriately named. 😁 We walked along the ridge line on the way down the gulch for miles, literally, and it really was beautiful. On our way down we heard a tree fall on the opposite side of the mountain. It was very loud. And we were grateful to not be under it, as I am sure you can imagine. I ran out of the steam on the picture taking, but just picture a long gulch with grassy hillsides and beautiful forests. Stunning. 

Another successful hike in the books!