Dear Betty Bear gals,
Where do I even begin? What a week. Each and every one of you blow me away.
Your determination and grit are out of this world. Can we talk about that skin into the hut?! Wow, what a journey. After numerous blister care stops, the sun beating down on us, and the real kicker of all, the highly steep switchbacks on the final approach, you did it!! And you did it with grace. Watching everyone naturally splinter off into small pairs and groups was so sweet. Genuine comradery, filled with encouragement and a “you can do it” attitude as we made our journey. It was sweet watching new friendships develop and old ones grow.
Can I say how much I admire you guys? You took to hut life so well, and everyone played their part. Adaptive. Ambitious. Curious. Between devotional times in the morning and debriefs and sermons at night, your hunger for the Lord was busting at the seams. It was indeed a weekend for the books. Let’s take a moment to reminisce!
The Scoop
It was the perfect kind of retreat for this ambitious crew of adventure-seeking women. 6 miles later, 11 girls arrived one by one at a warm, sun-filled cabin in the middle of untouched wilderness. Betty Bear Hut is one of Colorado’s many famous 10th Mountain Division Huts. Its primitive location with serene views provides the perfect space to unplug.
It all began last Fall. Claire, SFC’s Operations Coordinator, tossed the idea of a girl’s hut trip out to a few pals. They all jumped at the idea, so Claire dove in. Shortly after receiving a permit, the planning began! From activity planning to morning devotional and night-time talks to meals, day tours, packing lists, invites, etc., the effort paid off in this incredible weekend in the woods.
We wanted this trip to be an empowering opportunity for women highly experienced in the backcountry and those just diving into the niche part of shred culture. With this in mind, we started the weekend slow and steady in Glenwood Springs, where we gathered for a day tour up Williams Peak. Before the tour, Claire and I led a debrief meeting. Derek and Greg, our lovely guides, assisted in training the girls on some backcountry basics, including beacon checks, radio etiquette, safety tips, transitions, and skinning techniques. The tour went well, and the vibes were high. Each time a girl summitted the peak, you could hear hoots and hollers, encouraging her on the final accent. We concluded the afternoon with a series of avalanche rescue drills, empowering the trained girls to help their peers learn and encouraging the new girls toward the AIRE framework.
On night one, we met at our hotel to divide up the food, tie-dye matching buffs, and learn about the biblical judge Deborah. In planning the trip, Claire and I discussed what we wanted to focus on spiritually. It made the most sense to lean into the themes of the backcountry. In the mornings, Claire planned devotionals based on the Bible Project’s podcast series on mountains. In the evenings, I planned talks about being bold and courageous women based on Deborah and Esther’s stories.
Night 1, we crashed, and we crashed hard; after dinner, a debrief, and a few hut chores, all the girls were wrapped up in their sleeping bags and out like a light. The following morning, I came upstairs to find the fire crackling, and girls dispersed throughout the cabin, spending time in God’s word, coffee or tea in hand. Soon after, everyone rallied to head out for the day. During our day tour, Derek and Greg taught the girls about terrain traps and different turning techniques. Our day tour was full of beautiful moments and surprises. We saw a white snow hare on our path, discovered the most incredible view at the top of our climb, had lunch in the sun, and skied some steeper terrain with untouched snow. It was glorious.
Night two at the cabin was the sweetest. Everyone fellowshipped over games, making key chains, or reading in the sun on the porch. We cooked and ate together amidst lively conversation. I shared about Esther’s courage, and we debriefed our day before heading off to rest up for the next adventure. On day two, we split into groups, some girls returning to the same terrain as the previous day and others of us adventuring to a new peak. We closed the trip with a debrief by the fire and breakfast for dinner.
It was the most restful yet challenging retreat weekend ever. The crew of ladies were incredible women of the Lord. I have never seen more encouragement, empowerment, and determination in such a setting.
I can’t wait for next time, gals. SFC Girls only forever.
Love,
Liz