**Four Marriages, Three Rules, Two Huts, One Bear—and Zero Disasters
Colorado Backcountry Biker的点评
点评:Eight friends, four couples, and a combined 74 years of marriage set out on Kevin’s three-day, two-night Dominguez hut-to-hut trip. We were primarily celebrating a 20th anniversary, with slightly less fanfare for our own 19th, another couple’s 18th, and yet another’s 17th. Apparently, nothing says enduring love like three days on mountain bikes with no private bathrooms.
Kevin gave us three simple rules:
1. Don’t break a bone.
2. Don’t break your bike.
3. Don’t get lost.
Thanks to Kevin’s excellent preparation—and a little marital cooperation—we managed to obey all three.
Day one was the navigation test, but Kevin’s directions were so good that we made it to the first hut without a single wrong turn or heated debate over whose map was upside down. The hut was clean, well stocked, and beautifully situated next to a ranch with horses and incredible views.
Day two brought a longer loop and a 90-minute rainstorm, which provided both adventure and a complimentary bike wash. We returned soaked but smiling to another hut stocked with fantastic food and drinks personally selected by Kevin. Meanwhile, he had transported all our gear ahead of us, allowing us to feel rugged without actually having to carry anything rugged people carry.
Day three featured a long, mostly downhill ride ending at Gateway Canyons, where hot showers and comfortable beds made us feel like pioneers who had negotiated an excellent hotel package. The routes included plenty of two-track, but Kevin mixed in some genuinely fantastic singletrack that made each day memorable.
Our only remaining goal was to see a bear. After three days of eagerly scanning the hillsides and finding enough cattle to open a steakhouse, Eagle-eye Ryan spotted a black bear about 100 yards up the hill. Final box checked.
Kevin took care of every detail—the routes, spotless huts, excellent food and drinks, luggage transfers, and final hotel destination—while still making the trip feel like a real backcountry adventure. It was the perfect anniversary trip, and we would absolutely do it again.
翻译:八位好友、四对夫妻,加上累计74年的婚姻岁月,一同踏上了凯文组织的为期三天两夜的多明格斯山间徒步之旅。我们此行主要是为了庆祝一对夫妻的结婚20周年纪念,此外还有一对夫妻的19周年纪念、另一对的18周年纪念,以及再一对的17周年纪念——虽说庆祝的规模稍小一些。显然,没有什么比骑着山地车连续三天出行且没有私人卫生间更能体现爱情的持久力了。
凯文给我们定下了三条简单的规则:
1. 别摔断骨头。
2. 别弄坏自行车。
3. 别迷路。多亏了凯文出色的准备工作——再加上妻子的鼎力协助——我们成功完成了全部三项任务。
第一天是导航测试。不过凯文的指示极为精准,我们一路上没有走错任何岔路,也没有因为“谁的地图是倒的”而发生争执。那间小屋既干净又物资齐全,地理位置也极佳:就在一个养着马的牧场旁,四周景色美不胜收。
第二天我们要完成一条更长的路线,还遭遇了一场持续90分钟的暴雨。这次体验既充满了冒险乐趣,还能免费洗车。我们浑身湿透却面带笑容地回到了另一间小屋,那里备有凯文亲自挑选的各式美食与饮料。与此同时,他早已把我们所有的装备提前送到了那里,让我们能尽情享受野外探险的乐趣,却无需背负那些硬汉们才需要背负的沉重行囊。
第三天则是一段漫长的骑行之旅,大部分路段都是下坡路,最终我们抵达了盖特威峡谷。热水淋浴和舒适的床铺让我们感觉自己就像成功谈下超值酒店套餐的先锋旅行者。沿途有大量双车道的骑行车道,但凯文还安排了一些真正绝妙的单车道,让每一天都令人难忘。
我们剩下的唯一目标就是看到一只熊。在连续三天热切地搜寻山坡、甚至找到了足以开一家牛排馆数量的牛群之后,视力超群的瑞安终于在离我们约100码远的山坡上发现了一只黑熊。目标达成!凯文妥善安排了每一个细节——路线规划、一尘不染的小屋、美味的食物与饮料、行李转运,还有最终的住宿酒店——同时让整个旅程宛如一次真正的荒野探险。这是一次完美的周年纪念之旅,我们绝对还会再选择这样的行程。