Everyone going to a hut must read this information before departing.

Thank you for booking a trip with the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association. We hope that you will enjoy your stay at the huts. The following information is provided to help you plan your trip and also to ensure that the impact to the wildlife and the fragile environment surrounding the huts will be minimized.

Backcountry Preparedness
The huts are situated between 9,700 and 11,700 feet in elevation. Be aware that going to a hut requires long climbs at high altitude. Weather in the mountains can change rapidly. A warm summer morning at a trailhead can turn into a cold storm with lightning at 11,000 feet. Hypothermia and altitude sickness are common summer problems in the mountains. Be sure that you know how to prevent, recognize and treat these potentially life-threatening conditions. Snow and hail are possible at high elevations in the summer and temperatures can drop below freezing. Plan on bringing extra clothing and sufficient food and water. Start early in the day and allow plenty of time to reach the hut. Remember, your pace must accommodate the weakest member of your group.

Emergencies and First Aid
Communication of any kind, even in an emergency, is not possible from most of the huts. If a member of your group is injured or becomes ill on the trail or at the hut, you cannot rely on outside help. Plan ahead and be prepared to execute a self rescue. Your group should be equipped with first aid supplies and have experience in emergency medical procedures. The county sheriff should be contacted in the event of an emergency. (Dial 911.)

Before you start your trip, leave the following with a responsible friend or relative:

1. Your automobile make and license plate number, the trailhead(s) you will be parking at and the appropriate county sheriff's number.
2. Your exact travel plans including dates, huts, routes and your plans in case of an emergency.

The Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue Card
The CORSAR card supports the Colorado Search and Rescue Fund, a program that reimburses county sheriffs for costs incurred during search and rescue operations. The CORSAR card costs $3/year and can be purchased 10th Mountain and where hunting and fishing licenses are sold. 10th Mountain strongly encourages all hut users to support this program. If you hold a current Colorado hunting, fishing or ATV license, you are included in the CORSAR program and do not need a CORSAR card.

Sheriff's Office Phone Numbers

Pitkin County: (970)920-5310 Margy's, Betty Bear

Eagle County: (970)479-2200 Polar Star, Peter Estin, Harry Gates, Shrine Mountain Inn, Ben Eiseman, Fowler/Hilliard, Jackal, Vance's Cabin

Lake County: (719)486-1249 Skinner, Uncle Bud's, 10th Mountain, Sangree M. Froelicher

Group Leader
Since the trip organizer may not be experienced in the backcountry, we recommend that your group discuss how decisions will be made in the field and who will be the leader, particularly if problems arise. Be honest when assessing each member's strengths, skills, and experience. If no one in your group can provide leadership you should consider hiring a guide. A list of permitted guides is available from 10th Mountain.

Route Finding
You are responsible for finding the route to the hut. We strongly recommend that someone in your group has experience in routefinding in bad weather conditions, reading topographic maps and using a compass. Most routes and trailheads are not marked or maintained. The map on the back of the brochure is intended for trip planning only, not for navigation. Detailed topographic maps can be purchased through 10th Mountain or local outdoor stores.

Suggested Equipment List
This list should be used as a guide in helping you prepare for your trip. Never travel in the backcountry unprepared. Remember, what you pack in you must pack out. Clothing should be made from wool or synthetics (not cotton). If you are traveling during hunting season, bright orange clothing or vests are strongly recommended.

• Warm Jacket
• Wool Hat
• Long Pants
• Socks/Extra Pairs
• Gloves
• Wind/Raingear
• Wool Sweater
• Baseball/Sun Hat
• Proper Footwear
• Sleeping Bag
• Ground Cloth
• Food and Liquids
• Pillowcase
• Maps
• Sunscreen/Sunglasses
• Water Bottle
• Compass
• Water Filter
• Flashlight/Headlamp
• Survival Kit, (knife, matches, space blanket, etc.)
• First Aid/Blister Kit
• Bicycle Repair Kit
• Hand Towel/Toilet Kit
• Earplugs
• Day Pack
• Insect Repellent
• Lip Balm

Cellular Phones
A cell phone can be helpful in the event of an emergency, however, communication is only possible from some of the huts and some segments of the trails. Please respect other hut users by keeping your phone out of sight and not using it inside a hut.

Hut Maintenance
Please be advised that regular summer maintenance of the huts requires pumping out the outhouses, servicing the photovoltaic systems and repairing the huts. Some work may go on during your stay and we apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause you.

Hut Amenities
Each hut sleeps sixteen people divided among three or four bunk rooms. Huts are booked to capacity and are often occupied by more than one group. Please be courteous of others with respect for noise, quiet hours, use of alcohol, cooking, personal gear storage, etc. Overflow camping around the huts is not permitted. Huts include:

• Wood burning and propane cooking stoves (see Fires, below)
• Wood burning heating stove (see Fires, below)
• Firewood (see Fires, below)
• Eating/cooking utensils
• Mattresses/pillows on sleeping platforms
• Photovoltaic lighting and/or lanterns
• Hut supplies (toilet paper, soap, cleaning supplies, trash bags, etc.)

Propane and photovoltaic systems are not fail-proof. Backup includes wood-burning cookstoves, flashlights and candles. Please read all instructions posted in the hut carefully and pack out all of your trash.

Water
Water is available at springs or streams between 1/4 mile and 2 miles from each hut. There are 5 gallon water backpacks at each hut to help you collect water. All water is untreated and should be boiled, filtered or treated.

Arrival Checklist – Fire, Ice, and Snow Precautions

• When first arriving at a hut, familiarize yourselves with emergency fire procedures and exits.  Fire could occur at the hut and would likely be either a structure fire (inside the hut) or a wildland fire (in the forest outside the hut). In order to decrease the chance of a fire-related tragedy, you need to be aware of the hazards of both types of fires and what to do if either one occurs.  If a structure fire is uncontrollable, get everybody out, with their boots and clothing if possible.  Report any damage to 10th Mountain.  See Summer Hut Use Information sheet for additional fire information.

• When first arriving at a hut, evaluate hazards due to falling snow and ice that could occur and avoid exposing yourself to those inherent risks when collecting snow and moving around the hut.

Hut Instructions

Familiarize yourselves with all hut instructions posted at the huts.  Please remember that the propane stoves and the photovoltaic systems are not fail-proof.  We do not refund hut trips because of mechanical failures. 

Fires
Due to potential forest fire danger, campfires are allowed in the metal fire rings only. Water and tools are provided in case of a fire emergency. Be sure to find out the current fire danger rating and whether there is a fire ban in effect from the Forest Service before your trip.

Forest Service Ranger District Numbers:

• Aspen (970)925-3445 Margy's, Betty Bear
• Sopris (970)963-2266 Harry Gates
• Eagle (970)328-6388 Polar Star Inn, Peter Estin, Ben Eiseman
• Holy Cross (970) 827-5715 Shrine Mountain Inn, Fowler/Hilliard, Jackal, Vance's Cabin
• Leadville (719)486-0749 Skinner, Uncle Bud's, 10th Mountain, Sangree M. Froelicher

Dogs
Dogs are not allowed at the huts.

Hiking and Mountain Biking
The Forest Service roads close to the huts are great for mountain biking and hiking. Please tread lightly. Mountain bikes are prohibited from entering the Wilderness Areas. For detailed information concerning wilderness boundaries, maps may be purchased through 10th Mountain or contact the local U.S. Forest Service. Please do not ride or hike off the designated trails and roads. The alpine environment is very fragile so new routes should not be established. If biking, be sure you know how and have the equipment to fix flats or broken chains, adjust brakes and shifters, etc. Helmets are strongly recommended.

Horses
Horses are permitted at some of the huts with prior approval from 10th Mountain. Please call for further information.

Parking & Vehicles
Do not leave valuables in your car at the trailhead. Unfortunately, cars have been broken into and/or vandalized in the past. Since the huts were built for cross country skiers, mountain bikers and hikers, motor vehicles are strongly discouraged except for group support. All support vehicles must park 1/4 mile away from the huts, outside of the green gates, in the designated parking areas. Keep in mind that some routes may remain snow covered and impassable by vehicle well into August and others become impassable when wet. Contact the Forest Service for information on road openings/closures. Plan ahead and bring packs, etc. in the event that a support vehicle is unable to reach the hut.

Arriving at the Hut
The trip confirmation letter with your itinerary and hut door lock combinations are sent to the group organizer. Huts are locked with padlocks so combinations are necessary for entry. There are no resident hutkeepers. Please post the confirmation letter on the board upon arrival. All users must have a reservation or face eviction by those who do.

Arrival and Departure Times
Please be considerate of groups that may have reservations before or after your group when planning your arrival and departure times. We suggest having the hut clean and your bags packed up by 1:00 p.m.

Cancellations/Changes
Cancellations and changes must be made 30 days prior to your trip start date in order to receive an 80% hut credit for a future trip. Cancellations made less than 30 days prior to your trip start date will result in forfeiture of your payment. No refunds.

Waivers
A "Use, Waiver and Release" form must be initialed and signed by each person in the group. Release Forms must be returned to 10th Mountain before your departure. The huts may not be occupied by any person who has failed to initial, sign and return a Release Form to 10th Mountain.

If you have any questions, please call 10th Mountain at (970) 925-5775, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The 10th Mountain Division Hut Association is a not for profit organization operating a backcountry hut system. We welcome comments and suggestions.

10th MOUNTAIN DIVISION HUT ASSOCIATION
1280 UTE AVENUE, SUITE 21
ASPEN, COLORADO 81611
RESERVATIONS: 970/925-5775 — OFFICE: 970/925-4554 — FAX: 970/925-5317 — E-MAIL: huts@huts.org — WEBSITE: www.huts.org

[return to info sheets, waivers, equipment lists]