I've never written a review about a hiking destination but you can't
just go around stuffing your face and writing reviews without a dash of
exercise once in a while, can you? During Wintertime in the Tahoe/Donner
backcountry, a plethora of near death experiences await you, hence
cometh the Peter Grubb hut - a safety hut to rest your laurels or save
your life.
The Grubb Hut is available for reservations at a mere $15 and all you
need to do is get there. Sounds easy huh? Dependant on the season this
could be anything from a slightly strenuous 2 hour hike to a helicopter
out snowshoe failure! Take GPS, check the weather and you'll be just
fine.
The hike boasts amazing scenery and it won't be long before the
backcountry silence becomes a spiritual haven of both tranquility and
uneasiness. We hiked in December after a period of little snow which
made it achievable but challenging with hiking boots. If you want to up
the ante a little, drink beer, leave late and complete it in the dark
with GPS and a general concern for your well-being. What amazed me is
just how much you can still see at night.
Once there, the Grubb hut is a very basic safety hut - communal sleeping
loft, fire/stoves, seating etc. You may get lucky and get some solar
generated light. You may get unlucky and have a parasite ridden dog
there! You really have to revel in the adventure of it all as the
sleeping conditions are not quite the Ritz Carlton. My advice for a good
night's sleep is to pack enough wine to feed an academy and drink until
you pass out.
The return hike boasts great views of castle peak and you have a longer option to the left with more scenery. All in all, it was a great experience and the near death experiences never quite came. Well unless you count conversing with 4 Yelp employees at the hut. In their mid-20's, all as sober as a German Math Professor and in bed by 8! What is the youth of today coming to? They didn't make em like that years ago ;)
(4 out of 10) 
Find us on Facebook
See us on Youtube
