The Shining Mountains Group (SMG) serves CMC members in Estes Park, Loveland, Lyons, and other areas. Organized in 1986, the Group welcomes guests and members from other CMC groups to our activities.

A high percentage of SMG members are singles. The Friendly Bunch (TFB), a Shining Mountains Group section organized to help singles of all ages get acquainted with each other, sponsors a variety of outdoor and indoor, day and evening SMG activities. While most participants are single, all CMC members are welcome.

Outdoor activities include hiking, biking, volleyball, tennis, snowshoeing, skiing, and car camps, just to name a few. They are planned for beginning to intermediate skill levels, so you don't have to be an expert to take part.

Indoor activities include theme potlucks, information seminars on various topics, game nights, dining out groups, movies, plays, concerts, and sporting events as well as square, folk, polka, and ballroom dancing. Indoor and outdoor activities take advantage of seasonal opportunities.

Since SMG has members in a wide geographical area, the Group has TFB contacts in several different local areas including Loveland, Longmont, Boulder, Fort Collins, Greeley, and the Denver metro area. The Activity Schedule lists the area representatives; or call the CMC Office to contact a TFB representative in your area.

Located two miles from the Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) Wild Basin Entrance Station and the Wild Basin Lodge, the Wild Basin Warming Hut is surrounded by an abundance of winter trails for skiing, snowshoeing and winter hiking. The hut provides access to a magnificent area. The hut trail starts at the winter parking lot for Wild Basin and follows the summer road for one mile to the warming hut and summer parking lot. The trail then continues 1/4 mile from the warming hut to Copeland Falls (a good trip for beginning skiers). One and one-half miles further is the very popular Calypso Cascades (hard-packed conditions make this section good for advanced skiers and snowshoers, but not hikers). About a mile further is Ouzel Falls (this part of the trail usually has a ski track, but is not well used in the winter).

RMNP opens the warming hut from late November through March with CMC volunteers as hosts. The hut host party leader must be a CMC member, and at least one member of the party must remain at the warming hut during daylight hours. To aid RMNP visitors at the warming hut, there are brochures about the trails and terrain as well as charts on ski waxing, first aid supplies, and extra blankets and a telephone for emergency use. The CMC provides tea, coffee, and cocoa. The CMC host is asked to keep a pot of water on the wood stove for park visitors who need to come in and get warmed up with a hot beverage. Visitors may leave a donation to the CMC to help cover these costs.

The warming hut has electricity but no running water or toilet. Pit toilets are a short distance from the hut. The hut has two small, open bedrooms with one full bed and two single beds, and the main room has a couch, lamp, table and four chairs, wood burning stove, electric stove with oven, refrigerator, dishes, pans, and utensils. You must bring sleeping bags or bedding, food, flashlights, and some water to use until stream water can be boiled. You will also need skis or snowshoes to cover the mile from the winter parking area to the warming hut.

Participants in the annual Wild Basin Warming Hut work party have first choice of dates to host the hut. The work party chops and stacks firewood and prepares the hut for winter use. If you would like to sign up for the work party or are unable to attend the work party and would like to make reservations for hosting the warming hut, contact the CMC Office or check the Activity Schedule to find the contact person. There is no charge for hosting the warming hut; no dogs or pets are permitted.

No reservations are needed for day use, so stop by the warming hut for the warm fire, warm drinks, and to visit with the hosting CMC party while you are skiing, snowshoeing, or hiking in the Wild Basin area.