OUR STORY

The Story of High Camp Hut

A 'Simply Amazing' Place Near Telluride, CO

There’s a moment at High Camp Hut when time slows down. Maybe it’s the alpenglow casting a soft light on the peaks, a rainbow stretching below Sheep Mountain, or the warmth of friends gathered around the woodstove. Whatever it is, it leaves an impression—one that keeps people coming back year after year.

That magic is what first drew my parents, Dave and Sherry Farny, to this place in 1990. They bought it from Anaconda for its mineral and surface rights. They immediately put this land under a conservation easement with The Nature Conservancy. At the time, they ran Skyline Guest Ranch and would lead guests up to High Camp every Friday night, giving them a glimpse of something rare—a wild place untouched by roads, noise, or distractions. When they sold Skyline in 2004, I knew High Camp’s story wasn’t over. A year later, I bought it, stepping into a role I hadn’t fully anticipated but quickly came to love.

In many ways, I was always meant to be here. Growing up, my parents ran Ashcrofters and the Telluride Mountaineering School, where summers were spent climbing peaks, learning resilience, and building a deep appreciation for wild places. Over the years, I ran a restaurant, built a catering business, and founded Cindy Bread, all unknowingly preparing me for what I do now—welcoming people to this special place and sharing in their adventures.

For more than 30 years, guests have left High Camp with stories they’ll never forget and a longing to return. As we transition to a nonprofit, we’re ensuring that this place remains a sanctuary for generations to come—a retreat where people can step away from the world and reconnect with something real.  Just as my parents did decades ago. Just as I do every time I make the journey up.

-Cindy Farny