Cross Country Ski Hut Burns Down Near Ashford

Saturday, April 12th, 2008
Fire burns down popular hut, devastates MTTA
Posted by Craig Hill @ 05:37:31 pm

A popular hut for cross country skiers near Ashford has burned to the ground, the Mount Tahoma Trails Association announced today.

At meeting in Ashford this morning the group unanimously voted to rebuild the Snow Bowl Hut, one of four huts in a trail system that gets 1,300 overnight visitors each winter.

The organization is seeking funding and volunteers to help rebuild the hut. Visit skimtta.org for more information.


“Our volunteer force can use a lot of support right now, moral and financial,” MTTA board member Judy Scavine said via e-mail Saturday.

MTTA officials believe the hut burned down on March 21. The cause of the fire has not been determined as in under investigation.

Visitors to the MTTA’s Copper Creek Hut on March 21 reported seeing a large fire. However, because the Snow Bowl Hut has been inaccessible the last two years because of flood damage it wasn’t until April 3 that the organization could arrange for a flyover to check the hut.

“The sight was devastating,” said MTTA board member Mike Dunn. “The hut was completely gone. To think of all the work that went into that Hut, the camaraderie of the volunteers, the enjoyment of the visitors. … It’s just so sad.”

The two-story hut on Department of National Resources land accommodated 10 overnight guests and came equipped with a kitchen, sleeping pads and large sundeck.

The MTTA recently celebrated the purchase of a new $165,000 Pisten Bulley Snowcat to groom its 50 miles of trail. They’d hope to start raising money for a second groomer.

Monday, April 14th, 2008
Destroyed ski hut was not insured
Posted by Craig Hill @ 09:25:16 am
The popular ski hut south of Ashford that burned to the ground recently was not insured, according to a board member of the Mount Tahoma Trails Association.

Judy Scavone said the MTTA could not get the hut insured because it's "just too far from the nearest fire hydrant."

The fire that destroyed the hut likely took place late last month and is being investigated by the Department of Natural Resources, which owns the land the hut was built on.

Snow Bowl Hut was built by volunteers in 1991 at a cost of $20,000.

From: blogs.thenewstribune.com/adventure/2008/..._hut_was_not_insured

That's a shame. My then young son and I would go there and to high hut five-ten years ago most every winter/spring for some cruise skiing and father/son time. amazing nice huts to stay in for just a donation fee.

I will certainly send them a couple of dollars to help towards a replacement if they choose to do so. Alot of love went into those places,

This is very sad. I helped build the snowbowl hut in 1991 along with my old man and several others (we liked the skiing in what became snowbowl), maybe a group of 20 that were there most weekends, but over the years I'm sure dozens and dozens of others put tons of work into it. I will always remember flying down the trail with the cat shining its lights down the way. Before long we were far ahead standing on a pass watching the Snow Cat. It looked like a space ship far up the hill floating down toward us.

I'm glad High Hut is still there. That place brings back a lot of crazy memories, especially the first night anyone ever slept in it. What a nighmare! The stove filled the hut with smoke and we had to move it later on (to a place less affected by wind). So much more work was put into that than snowbowl, the second effort besides the yurt which used to be up at Golden Lakes at Mount Rainier before it was moved near Snowbowl hut. Lots of good times up there.

This is a sad thing for sure. So many bruised and cold fingers working on those buildings which for some reason never did seem to happen in the summer.

Here is a more complete story on the ski hut:

www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/story/336410.html

Hopefully, this hut may be rebuilt soon!
www.mountaineersfoundation.org/component...on_bruni_request.pdf