The in-state outing is a Colorado Mountain Club institution almost as old as the club itself. From the earliest days of the CMC, dozens—and later hundreds—of club members would head for the mountains for one or two weeks. It was a time to take delight in nature, comradeship, and good-natured competition, in hiking, climbing, and fishing followed by songs sung around bonfires in the evenings (this long before Leave No Trace principles discouraged wood burning in the backcountry except in emergencies.)
As early as 1918, the first numbers of Trail & Timberline magazine were publishing panegyrics about successful in-state outings or, as they were called then, “annual outings.” The early articles are a curious mixture of timeless responses to the beauty of the mountains mingled with fascinating insights into “how things were done” in an earlier time: “There was much to be done in preparation for that first night. Fragrant fir boughs must be picked for our beds…” (5, 2).
The early accounts of the in-state outings are narrated in wonderful prose by writers who never had a college journalism professor bludgeon every bit of emotion out of their writing. The style gives the reader a curious sense of looking through a window into the past, “This year the Club is again to hold its annual outing on the same camp site in that veritable fairyland of flowers [Wild Basin]. Through the camp comes a tumbling, singing cascade, the banks velvety green with moss embossed with ferns” (15, 1).
There is no sense of word economy here, just a delight in the incomparable beauty of nature in the Colorado mountains: “Suddenly, we are in a flower-decked meadow walking waist high in larkspur, monkshood, daisies, and asters of every hue; paint brush from pale cream to brilliant crimson, the delicate blue mertensia with its touch of pink. You have seen flowers all the way, but when you reach this fairy garden you forget what has been left behind” (15,1).
We’d all write like that if we thought we could get away with it.
Stories about CMC in-state outings give insight into historical events, as well. Outings announcements in the early 1930s, when the Great Depression was making life grim for so many, always mentioned how inexpensive the event was. In 1933, the advertisement for the outing to Snowmass contained the usual descriptive language: “…it’s Snowmass again, with Snowmass and Hagerman Peaks rearing their heights above the lake for short, stiff climbs, with innumerable beautiful ridges and glens to be explored close by in easy hikes of an hour or a half day….” But the article also emphasized how cheap the outing would be: “…know that you will have in 1933 what we all need—the most vacation for our dollars that can be bought, the finest mountains to climb and unspoiled beauty spots to visit…”(172, 19). The 1935 announcement of “a detailed reconnaissance of the Gore Range” was even more blunt: “it will cost less than any previous outing in the history of the Club” (197, 31).
World War II made the in-state outing even more of a challenge than the depression had for members of the Colorado Mountain Club. In 1943, Trail & Timberline moaned, “It is difficult to plan anything these days with any assurance that plans will carry” (295, 92). Nevertheless, organizers of that year’s outing (again to Wild Basin, a club favorite over the decades) clearly expected the club to come through: “We hope enough drivers are willing to use a two week’s supply of rationed gas to accommodate all….”
By the end of the war, the pervasive effect of military discipline was making itself felt, even in the Colorado Mountain Club. The outing announcement contained no glowing promises of the beauty of the mountains; instead, it offered a detailed itinerary. On can almost hear the watches being synchronized: “Saturday: Arrive at Snowmass Falls Ranch. Sunday: Hike 7 miles to Snowmass Lake and establish camp. Monday: Snowmass Peak. Tuesday: Capitol Peak. Wednesday: Hagerman Peak. Thursday: North and South Maroon Peaks. (Fire-eaters to drop down to Maroon Lakes.) Friday: Pyramid Peak. Saturday: Castle Peak, if transportation can be arranged.” The plan for Sunday was a terse “Return home,” presumably if anyone was left alive. Clearly however, not everyone was expected to summit all the peaks. Almost as a post-script, the announcement includes a somewhat disdainful, “Fishing is excellent in the lakes and streams of this region” (372, 63).
By 1946, military precision had been replaced by post-war frivolousness. The writer introduces his narrative with, “Although fully prepared to die for good old T&T, and half expecting to do so, the writer of this tale would like to fatten his chances of survival by explaining that it is but one member’s impression of the 32nd Annual Summer Outing of the Colorado Mountain Club…. My apologies to the unfortunates who were not on the outing but expect to find out all about it by reading this. They’ll find slim pickings here” (334, 155).
Respect for authority does not seem to be a virtue carried on from the war. The writer describes the preparation for a hike: “… a large hat started up the trail to lead us to far-off Gannett Peak Camp. We later discovered the mertensia-blue eyes of Carl Blaurock, chairman, under the hat.
Blaurock, one of the legends of Colorado mountaineering, comes in for more gentle satire later in the article, “A grim-visaged Blaurock led 20 pallid enthusiasts up the glaciated corridor of Dinwoody Canyon to the saddle of Turret, to initiate them into the mysteries of living ice and stinging hail and scree” (155-166).
By 1965, the CMC had recovered from its post-war ennui, and the narrative again is paying attention to the scenery. “…there are many beautiful rugged peaks, canyons, trails, jeep roads, lakes, and streams. Whether you wish to climb every day, go jeeping, take color pictures, fish, or just relax with fellow campers amid mountain grandure, you should find complete enjoyment here” (555, 63).
Similarly, in 1977, the outing announcement invited people to “come with us, relax and refresh the body and soul in the northeast corner of the San Juans” (702, 123).
Recent years have seen the renaissance of the in-state outing (read the announcement for this summer’s offering in this edition of T&T). Members of the CMC who have never participated in the in-state outing are encouraged to take advantage of this venerable CMC institution. It’s nice to know that some things only get better with time.
Tom Beckwith is publications manager of the Colorado Mountain Club and editor of Trail & Timberline.