The Early Bird Cabin is a privately owned, off grid, rustic, timber framed cabin built in 2014 at an elevation of 10,500'. Staying at the cabin is a step up from tent camping or staying in a yurt. The cabin does not have running water (no showers), but it does have an outhouse. The cabin is heated by a propane wall heater and wood stove. Guests must know how to safely start and maintain a fire in the wood stove as outdoor temperatures in the winter months can get to below zero degrees.
A four wheel drive vehicle or an all wheel drive SUV is required during the winter months and an all wheel drive vehicle is required during the summer months. It is not unusual to see 18 to 20 inches of snow fall in one day during the winter. During the winter months, parking is at the bottom of the property on the circular driveway next to the shed (see pictures) and guests must walk up the hill to the cabin about 125'.
The cabin is situated on 6 wooded acres within 3 miles of Ski Cooper and the 10th Mountain Division Memorial in Colorado. Several trailheads are close by for hiking, bicycling, snowshoeing, or cross country skiing. Nova Guides located at Camp Hale, a historical Army military base, provides snowmobile and UTV rentals.
The cabin includes a propane cook stove for cooking, a hand sink for dishes, and a plastic wash basin. A 5 gallon water cube is available within the cabin. (No running water for drinking, so guests need to bring their own.) The loft with one queen bed and one full size bed is a cozy area for sleeping or reading. The cabin’s interior lights are run by battery. A small generator is available for the microwave, television, and DVD player. A selection of DVDs are available along with several board games. Expansive windows on all four sides of the cabin provide ample light and spectacular views of the wooded forest and the Holy Cross Wilderness mountain range. Relax on the large deck grilling burgers on the propane grill while enjoying the clean mountain air listening to the occasional chirping of birds or the chatter of the squirrels running around.
