Annual ‘The Cycle Effect’ Hut Trip Recap, by TCE Coach Julia Walsh

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Each summer, regional non-profit The Cycle Effect — an organization that uses the bike as a catalyst to mentor athletes and foster belonging, physical wellbeing, mental health, community engagement, leadership skills and fun outside — embarks on a hut trip to the Continental Divide Cabin and Point Breeze Cabin on Tennessee Pass outside of Leadville. This annual trip is sponsored by Lee Rimel, owner of the CDC and PBC huts. Lee has been working with the group for several years to facilitate an amazing hut weekend experience, offering two nights at the huts, along with a fire mitigation project, a special drumming ceremony in the on-site tipi, and of course plenty of bike riding and bonding time for the members of the group.

In the words of The Cycle Effect, the trip is a celebration of strength, belonging, and adventure, bringing together girls from across the organization’s teams to ride, camp, cook, laugh, and grow side-by-side in the mountains — ultimately helping them to find their place on the trail, and with each other. While TCE has hosted this trip for many years, this was the first year the group tackled a shuttled ride down the Colorado Trail to Camp Hale, providing an epic adventure and a worthy challenge that left all the girls beaming with pride.

“It is a powerful experience to observe these girls pedaling their mountain bikes into the huts with a full pack on their backs!” said Lee.

Coach Julia Walsh, who led the trip for The Cycle Effect, said about the experience: “This hut trip felt special; the way girls showed deep compassion for one another on tough rides and the way they all wanted to help was truly unlike anything I have experienced before.”

Julia shared a full recap of the trip from her perspective on The Cycle Effect’s site, and we wanted to repost it here as well, to give members of our hut community an inside look at one of our Backcountry Exploration Program group’s hut trips, and get to know this great organization and all the work they’re doing. Read on to learn more!

TCE Hut Trip Recap, by Coach Julia Walsh:

 

“With The Cycle Effect annual hut trip in the rear view mirror, I wanted to take a moment to reflect. These trips are centered around TCE core values, and for this year BELONGING was the focus. Bringing four teams together from Summit, Routt, Mesa, and Eagle counties, we wanted girls to leave feeling like they were one big team. By the end, girls had exchanged contact info, took farewell selfies together, and embraced in big hugs. Mission: accomplished!

On July 15th, 19 girls arrived at the Tennessee Pass Trailhead full of nerves, excitement, and sugar from the drive. Humming Taylor Swift tunes while lubing chains, pumping tires, and filling water bottles, they prepared to embark on a shuttle ride down the Colorado Trail to Camp Hale. While The Cycle Effect has hosted this trip for many years, this was the first year we tackled this ride. Ten miles of roots and rocks above 10,000 feet, the girls were challenged, proud, and tired. This epic adventure ended with a spicy river crossing, where girls took off their shoes, giggled, goofed, and were relieved to see the vans waiting in the parking lot next to a beautiful high alpine pond!

Still glowing with the joy of the ride, the team moved into the huts and tents they would call home for the next two nights. Throughout the trip, three different squads were assigned various food prep tasks: cooking, cleaning, chill. Night one we refueled with tasty burritos, eating out on the beautiful deck of the coaches’ hut. After a silly game with Oreos and a beautiful reflection on the day, girls headed off to bed to rest up for day two.

The 7am wakeup came early, but girls popped up, ready to ride and play in the woods. Day two morning consisted of a loop from the hut through wildflowers, forests, and high alpine terrain. Encouraging each other to try tough features and “just keep pedaling”, the team conquered 10 more miles of riding!

This hut trip is made possible because of a partnership with the landowner, 91 year old Lee Rimel, who led our afternoon of service work. Girls were taught about the importance of fire mitigation and then went to work with gloves, saws, and clippers to clear branches. It is incredible how much a group of 20 people can accomplish in one afternoon!

Lee then led us into his teepee, where he handed out cold drinks and taught us about the Native people whose land we were on, honoring them with a drum circle. Girls were enthralled with the experience and asked insightful questions.

After the fire mitigation work, we spent time winding down by making tie dye shirts, talking about how the colors represent belonging because they all swirl and fit together to make something unique and beautiful, just like TCE!

Once again, the girls cooked dinner, grilling brats, tossing salad, and toasting buns. There were many chefs in charge of the grill – haha! Mixed groups of girls played cards on the deck, until a raucous game of Capture The Flag broke out. So much friendly strategizing and competition!

The girls were early to bed on night two and got to sleep in on the last morning. With a lot of packing, cleaning, and playing to be done, the final few hours at the hut flew by. With loaded packs on backs, girls rode out to the vans, helping each other as random items dropped (crocs, water bottles, pillows etc.). Back in the parking lot, everyone circled up one last time to reflect on the trip, giving shout outs and acknowledging moments of growth and belonging.“

All photos courtesy of The Cycle Effect