Ted laid out all the good hiking pics so I'll take a moment to add a little bit about this crazy winter camping thing and hut life. Ted and Jon got me into this crazy gig and I haven't been the same since. I even ventured out on a solo night hike once and stayed at the log cabin just to test the winter gear out. And I too once found it hard to understand why one would hike into zero degree weather with negative wind chill and then feel cozy about staying in a 35 degree hut. All I can say is it only takes one visit to the unspoiled hills in winter and you are hooked. As for the temperatures and wind - its all relative. Once inside
the hut it borders on balmy. Well not quite but there is a definite comfort level. And yes, you bundle up as can be seen in the pics but it is comfortable and various libations and hot liquids make so you can't even tell it is only 38 degrees. Time is passed eating, drinking, playing scrabble, eating and drinking some more, planning the hike, talking about old hikes, asking the hut mistress about where she's been, asking the other hikers if they summited that day, telling tall tales, challenging the scrabble vocabularical choices, comparing route choices, feeling
young again, wondering if the morning will be clear or stormy - you get the picture. You're in the club and that is all that matters.
"Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change? We're just eating some cheese, drinking some wine" Oddball - Kelly's Heroes

Pictured above: 1. settling in after hiking
2. getting scrabulous in the evening
3. drinking some tea, eating some cheese and pepperoni, digging how beautiful it is up here

Can't wait to do it again.
Big Johnny Moose