We milled every post and beam in the hut, and repurposed old douglas fir lumber that previously comprised a loading deck. We purchased auctioned vehicles and materials from a local mine in Lake County. We dug the foundation using Tux’s self-constructed mini-backhoe. We fashioned a dump truck out of an old Toyota pickup and plywood. Limited capital meant substituting “sweat equity” and backwoods engineering in place of additional funds. The group pooled $100,000 of their own resources to complete the project, a meager amount compared to million-dollar-plus budgets spent on similarly-sized projects in other parts of Colorado. This began a seven-year, off-the-grid construction project at an elevation of nearly 12,000 feet. Finally, in 2008 four mining claims came up for sale and Tux pounced with five other partners. Our design captures the grit and will that these miners exhibited when they accomplished herculean feats like hauling materials to build cabins at extreme elevations.įor years, Tux had kept his eye on old mining claims in areas that held potential for outdoor exploration. Weston Pass is still the site of many old cabins, one of which is located on the top of Horseshoe Mountain at nearly 14,000 feet. During the pioneer days, early settlers and miners claimed land on the pass in search of gold and silver. Hipcamp: What is the history of your land?Įddie: In the late 19th century, the road over Weston Pass served as the first stage coach route into Lake County, connecting the two largest cities in Colorado at the time: Leadville and Denver. It has been our most effective online platform for linking up with individuals who want rugged adventures and high-mountain solitude. Thanks to Hipcamp, we have shared our hut with a global audience of adventure seekers. This spiritual renewal is vital as our lives are increasingly lived at desks, on the internet, and indoors. We see Weston Pass Hut as a sanctuary where people can leave everyday distractions behind to renew their spirit. We all grew up in the mountains and have been involved in outdoor adventure our entire lives. For all of us, outdoor recreation is fundamental to our identity and culture. Tux has had a core group of 10 fellow mountain enthusiasts helping to develop the project since 2008. From all this experience, he guided us in his vision to build a unique structure that blends into surrounding beauty atop Weston Pass. In the valley next to Weston Pass Hut he built a site for two Yurts. The basement of their first house: he built it. The first apartment that Tux and his wife occupied: he built it. A lifelong builder and problem-solver, Tux has cultivated a deep love for our high mountain county through decades of living in Leadville. Harold Tuxhorn (“Tux”) has been the leader and visionary for our project. Hipcamp: Why do you do it – Why did you decide to join Hipcamp, and allow campers on your land?Įddie: We built our hut to host backcountry enthusiasts who seek outdoor seclusion.
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