Henry’s Hut

I’ve grilled twice now at Henry’s Hut: once last year during a late season blizzard and last weekend on a 50-​degree blindingly sunny day. I’m not sure which was more fun. Last year, the little teepee-​like warming hut was packed to the gills with big groups of friends drying off, staying warm and gathered aroung huge carved wooden chairs and tables eating feasts I had a hard time believing people could haul up in a backpack. Sandwiches, fruit, veggies, salads, chips, cookies, brownies, wine, beer, champagne… in fact one table had what looked like an entire full bar with mixers. The big grill outside — in spite of whiteout conditions and freezing cold temps — was full of burgers, brats, buffalo, elk loin, venison, shrimp, veggie skewers, etc. Everyone inside shares condiments, plates, napkins and the like. There’s even a microwave. This past Saturday, the hut was empty and everyone was gathered around the grill or sitting in chairs or snow drifts soaking up the sunshine, with beers and wine plopped in the snow to chill. Henry the dog is always there looking for a pat on the head or an extra bite of snausage. The best part is seeing so many people in costume. I think some people make a day of hanging out at the Hut, and don’t even ski much. You only have to take two lifts up (Vista Bahn and Mountaintop Express) to get here and you could easily take cat tracks back to the base of the Village, which explains all of the small children wearing butterfly wings who can barely toddle around. Henry’s is much easier to access than the grills at Belle’s Camp in Blue Sky Basin. You’re at the top of three lifts so you can take runs while you leave someone to man your food on the communal grill. The front side of Vail Mountain is tough for an average/​timid snowboarder like myself to navigate, full of steep black diamond runs or flat cat tracks, but hanging out with friendly people at Henry’s Hut for an hour or two can absolutely make the day worthwhile. We traded swigs of whiskey for chips, pretzels for bites of aged cheese, buns for beers. I was almost able to block out that just a short time after my grillfest, I slid down the iciest part of Riva Ridge on my butt and looked like a fool.