Warm up this winter by gliding into any of these backcountry huts. Hut, hut, go!

Want that wilderness experience, but don't want to work too hard for it? Check out the cozy and comfortable Spooner Lake cabins on Tahoe's eastern shore. Within a 20-minute snowshoe or cross-country ski, you can be relaxing at your own private winter cabin. And you'll be treated like backcountry royalty: the firewood is already chopped, the stove is primed, there's even coffee for the morning. Located amidst fragrant pines, the Spooner Lake log cabin is a two-level Scandinavian-style retreat. It can sleep up to four people comfortably and–big bonus–there's an indoor bathroom! (No late-night hikes through snow to the outhouse.) Utensils, cookware and basics like sugar, salt and pepper, plus tea and hot cocoa are also on hand. Pack in your own food and sleeping bags. Right out your door are 50 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails on 9,000 acres. When the sun goes down, light the lanterns, grab a board game, and relax next to the fire. Cabin fever never felt so good.

TIP: For those seeking that extra bit of remoteness, Wild Cat cabin is about a mile and half yonder, requiring a little more work. Similar to Spooner, the main differences are its size (only for two people), and the loo (it's outside). Also, the views are better: You can see across Lake Tahoe to Emerald Bay and the Desolation Wilderness.

Spooner Lake Cabins, 3709 Hwy. 28, Glenbrook, NV; 775-749-5349. Winter rates start at $160 per night. It's about half a mile ski or snowshoe to the Spooner Lake cabin. You can rent snowshoes or cross-country skis at check-in when maps to the cabins are provided.

A cozy hut on the edge of a meadow surrounded by 9,000-foot mountain peaks can be all yours in just a few hours, as long as you're willing to do a little legwork to get there. Peter Grubb Hut, a Sierra Club hut system favorite, is accessible via 2.5 miles of snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. The trail begins with a steady climb up Castle Valley Road, a popular route for Truckee-based locals and their dogs. The last half-mile is off trail, marked by blue ribbons and triangles on trees in a mixed forest of lodgepole pine, white pine, and red fir trees. Follow the blue to the two-story hut sitting on the edge of Round Valley. The only high-rises here are Castle Peak and Basin Peak. Solar panels power the lighting for evening meals, card games and conversations. Your only other duties: making your meals from whatever food you packed in and keeping the hut tidy. Get Grubby!

Space in the Peter Grubb Hut fills quickly in November each year, but spots are still available. It sleeps 15. The cost is $15 per person, per night. For reservations, contact Clair Tappaan Lodge at 800-679-6775. The Sierra Club will not give route directions or provide GPS coordinates to the hut for liability reasons. Make sure you have a good map, compass, and at least one other person in your party.

The remote and beautiful backcountry wilderness of Yosemite is absolutely attainable—if skiing 10 miles to a backcountry hut is your kind of adventure. Ostrander Hut is an A-frame classic built from oak and stone in the 1940s, complete with a wood-burning stove, kitchen, and 25 bunks spread out on two stories. Set 100 feet from Ostrander Lake (pictured) at the bottom of a bowl surrounded by jagged peaks, this winter-only destination has housed many a backcountry skier. But make no bones about it, it's not easy humping your backpack 10 miles through the snow to get there—including a final climb up Heart Attack Hill. The experience is all BYO: food, stove, and emergency bivvy. (Lest you have to sleep in the snow on the journey out, allow plenty of time to get the hut.) Skilled backcountry travelers can take the Horizon Ridge route; newbies and intermediates should opt for the Bridalveil Creek route. But the prize is worth it: pure solitude and a historical roof over your head. Ostrander Hut even has a supply of ice skates for when the lake freezes over. The fun part is designating the person to check the strength of the ice. Rock, paper, scissors. Go wild.

BONUS: On the ski back down Horizon Ridge you can see a sublime wintery landscape with Half Dome as a fixture along the way.

The trip to Ostrander can be strenuous and should be undertaken by people with at least intermediate skills and in good physical shape. To make reservations, call 209-372-0740. (Don't be discouraged if the line is busy; they handle a lot of calls!) The cost starts at $30 per person, per night for non-Yosemite Association members. For information on what to bring and how to get to Ostrander Hut, visit their Web site. Like any backcountry winter outing, be sure to have a good map, compass, and gear to spend the night in the snow should you not make it to the hut.

We're two weeks into 2010, how are you doing with your New Year's resolutions? It's not too late to refresh or restart—Team In Training (TNT) has your back. Is 2010 your year to try a triathlon? Good on ya! Get in tri-shape for TNT's first-ever South Maui Triathlon (June 13). Swim, bike, and run in a tropical paradise that starts and finishes on the soft sands of world-famous Wailea Beach. TNT isn't just about triathlons, marathons, and century bike rides; they like to hike, too! Lace up your boots and join TNT for a one-day or multi-day hiking adventure in the Grand Canyon. Or for those who prefer to stay local, join TNT for a day hike in Yosemite. Whatever you choose, TNT has a manageable training plan with professional coaches to provide tips on everything from how to change a flat tire to staying focused during training. You'll also be helping in the fight to beat blood cancers. That's a resolution worth not giving up on!

RSVP for an upcoming TNT info meeting:

Peninsula & Silicon Valley: RSVP
Sat. Jan. 16, 10 a.m. Avenidas Senior Center, Palo Alto
Tues. Jan. 19, 6:30 p.m. Sobrato Community Conference Center, Milpitas
Thurs. Jan. 21, 6:30 p.m. Community United Methodist Church, Half Moon Bay
Sat. Jan. 23, 10 a.m. Crowne Plaza Foster City, Foster City
Wed. Jan. 20, noon Hilton Garden Inn, Cupertino
Additional meetings in the Peninsula & Silicon Valley

Monterey & Santa Cruz: RSVP
Sat. Jan. 16, 10 a.m. Embassy Suites Seaside, Seaside
Tues. Jan. 19, 6:30 p.m. Best Western Seacliff Inn, Aptos
Thurs. Jan. 21, 6:30 p.m. Casa Munras Hotel, Monterey
Sat. Jan. 23, 10 a.m. University Inn & Conference Center, Santa Cruz
Additional meetings in Monterey & Santa Cruz

San Francisco & Marin: RSVP
Sat. Jan. 16, 9:30 a.m. Potrero Hill Sports Basement, San Francisco
Wed. Jan. 20, 6:30 p.m. SFSU Downtown Campus, San Francisco
Sat. Jan. 23, 9:30 a.m. SFSU Downtown Campus, San Francisco
Additional meetings in San Francisco

East Bay & Solano: RSVP
Sat. Jan. 16, 2:30 p.m. Pleasanton Middle School, Pleasanton
Tues. Jan. 19, 6:30 p.m. Fairfield Cordelia Public Library, Fairfield
Thurs. Jan. 21, 6:30 p.m. Fremont Marriot, Fremont
Sat. Jan. 23, 2:30 p.m. Danville Community Center, Danville
Additional meetings in the East Bay/Solano

Sonoma & Napa: RSVP
Tues. Jan. 19, 6:30 p.m. Rohnert Park Cotati Public Library, Rohnert Park
Thurs. Jan. 21, 6:30 p.m. Fleet Feet shoe store, Santa Rosa
Additional meetings in Sonoma & Napa