February 24, 2022 @ TACAW Doors open at 5:30PM
Who: Bristlecone Mountain Sports, Faux Reel Films, Huts For Vets 10th Mountain Hut Association, Polar Star Inn, FastG8
What: Premier of “It’s All Up Hill From Here, The John Seipel Story” along with other short films related to Veterans and a couple HFV short films by Krysia Carter-Gietz
Where: The Art Center at Willits (TACAW) 400 Robinson St, Basalt, CO 81621
When: February 24, 2022 Doors open at 5:30 PM, Show at 6:30 PM
Why: To raise money for Huts For Vets and awareness of mental health issues that effect the RFV and beyond.
“It’s All Up Hill From Here” is a 24 min ski adventure about John Seipel, the outdoorsman that built 7 of the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association huts and redefined back country living. The story follows John, Shawn, Nick and the expedition team on a 8 day hut to hut backcountry ski tour. They revisit the past to determine the future in this once in a lifetime opportunity for adventure. Shot on location in Colorado’s wild places.
As the builder of the Polar Star Inn John innovated many hut designs and helped to pioneer the backcountry ski culture that prevails today. Faced with having to let that lifestyle go, John has to pass on his cabin in the woods. But who is worthy to carry the torch of the Polar Star Inn?
Compassion Fest and Film Festival “Walk With Frank”
We believe that walking is an essential ingredient to well being.
Support CORE Act for Veterans
Colorado Veterans Urge Inclusion of CORE Act into Defense Bill
Act would honor World War II veterans who helped build outdoor recreation economy
Giving Thanks this Thanksgiving
I am grateful for Huts for Vets.
In the Fall/Winter of 2020, with the country and world dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic and all that entails, like many other people, I found my self in a depression. Having Post Traumatic Stress, coupled with the pandemic, I found that the symptoms were exasperated.
Reflections from a Solo
I sat on top of Mt. Yekel – by the way, I had the best seat in the house – to see the sea of mountains and nature unfolding. I did some sketching and introspected in my solo experience and I came up with this:
Returning Home
By: Jennifer Patronas, USAF Veteran
Reintegration after a deployment does not end on Homecoming Day. Of course, it is an exciting day to be welcomed home, but is followed by a huge adjustment period for the entire family. Everyone changes after deployment. Everyone has unique experiences, good and bad. New habits are developed, good and bad. But afterwards, everyone must live together again and resume life, but things never go back to the way they were before. A new normal had to be created.
Select Poems by Veteran Mark Seery
The Science Behind Huts For Vets
The Science Behind Huts For Vets
By Stephen Otero
As a human who is consistently humbled by the power of our environment, I believe in the healing properties of life which exist all around us. Sometimes all we must do is stop, look, be present, and we can experience the education our planet has to offer us.
Meet our New Program Director
My name is Erik Villaseñor. I served in the US Army as an infantryman from 2006 to 2012, with two combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. I’m 33 years old. I’m a husband, a father of two amazing children, a reader and writer, hiker and mountain biker. I’m also thrilled to announce that I am the new program director of Huts For Vets.
It’s All About Attitude
Life Lessons from Tom Brown’s Field Guide to Wilderness Survival
When I first pondered Tom Brown’s Field Guide to Wilderness Survival, I was sitting in a small discussion circle with fellow combat veterans atop Mt. Yeckel at 11,200 feet above sea level watching a storm huddle over distant peaks.