10th Mountain Huts Frequently Asked Questions -- FAQ

How long does it take to ski to a hut?
Travel time varies greatly depending on the difficulty of the route, personal ability, and weather conditions. A general rule of thumb is to estimate one mile per hour and an additional hour for every thousand feet of vertical gain. On clear days, when a trail has already been broken-out, most groups will travel faster than this, but in low visibility or if there is no broken trail, it can take even longer.

You must evaluate your own capabilities. Strap a full pack on your back and take a test hike or ski tour. Keep in mind that route finding, water breaks, taking off or putting on layers, and adjusting gear often add considerable time to a trip.

Route times are estimated in Louis W. Dawson's book Colorado 10th Mountain Huts & Trails and Brian Litz's Colorado Hut to Hut, both available from the 10th Mountain Store (to access the store, use the "shop" links on this page's main menu.)

Can I snowshoe to the huts?
Yes, traveling to the huts on snowshoes is an option. If you are not a confident backcountry skier or are new to traveling with a pack in the winter, snowshoes could be a good choice. Travel by snowshoes can be slower and more tiring than skiing, especially in deep, untracked snow. If you are not an experienced skier, however, attempting to ski with a pack in similar conditions could be even more difficult, making snowshoes a more enjoyable and efficient option. The choice is up to you!

Are snowmobiles allowed to access the huts?
10th Mountain strongly discourages the use of snowmobiles for access to the huts. The hut system was created for non-motorized travel and snowmobile use detracts from this unique experience. Most of the huts are located on U.S. Forest Service land, which is managed for a variety of recreational uses, including snowmobiling. Each hut, however, is surrounded by a USFS non-motorized envelope into which you cannot bring a snowmobile. Most envelope boundaries restrict access around the huts for 1/8 to 1/2 mile, although several huts have larger envelopes. Snowmobiles are not allowed in Wilderness Areas, or on private land without permission.

Relying on motorized support for a hut trip can be risky. Routes can be or become impassable to snowmobiles in deep, unpacked snow. Mechanical problems are also a concern. Please note that if a single snowmobile track exists to a hut, other snowmobilers will follow it, causing annoyance to hut users long after the original machines have gone. PLEASE DO NOT USE A SNOWMOBILE TO GET YOURSELF OR YOUR EQUIPMENT TO A HUT.

Don't think you can make it to the hut without motorized support? Consider the following ideas:

If you would like to avoid areas with high snowmobile use, choose travel routes through Wilderness areas where snowmobiles are not allowed. You may also choose the Betty Bear Hut, Sangree M. Froelicher Hut, Jackal Hut, or Vance's Cabin, as portions of the suggested routes to these huts are inaccessible to snowmobiles, or are closed to snowmobiles. You might want to avoid huts in the Vail Pass area, especially on weekends, since this area has heavy recreation use including snowmobile traffic.

The Alfred Braun Hut System was designed to be a back-country SKI system. As such the Alfred Braun Hut System strongly discourages the use of snowmobiles for access to the huts. The hut system was created for non-motorized travel. As such, snowmobile use can often detract from this unique experience. Our huts are located on U.S. Forest Service land, and each hut has unique travel management restrictions as governed by Forest Service Travel Management Plans. Around the immediate environs of each Alfred Braun Hut is a USFS developed recreation site envelope with snowmobile restrictions. Access to and from each hut is managed within the Developed Recreation Site Boundary. Snowmobiles should not drive to the front door of any hut. There are no snowmobile play areas within the Developed Recreation Site boundaries. Snowmobiles are not allowed in Wilderness Areas, or on private land without permission. In the winter of 2008-2009, the fines for snowmobiling in the Wilderness Areas were $550 per snowmobile. You must know where you are if you expect to remain legal and safe. PLEASE DO NOT USE A SNOWMOBILE TO GET YOURSELF OR YOUR EQUIPMENT TO A HUT.

Lindley Hut: Forest Service Special Order Closure to motorized traffic on the Iron Mine Road (except for administrative uses or adjacent landowners). The route is therefore closed to snowmobiles for the last 2 ½ miles to the hut. The Iron Mine Road begins at the bridge over Castle Creek, where there is a locked (for vehicles) gate.

Markley Hut: Express Creek Road is crossed by numerous active avalanche paths from Ashcroft Mountain, often resulting in steep, hard side hills which make snowmobile travel extremely tenuous. Consequently, the area is not a popular snowmobile destination or route. The Markley hut is surrounded by a developed hut site boundary envelope which extends approximately a half mile from the hut.

Tagert and Green-Wilson Huts: Located a hundred yards apart, these huts are protected by a winter-time motorized use closure of the Pearl Pass road from its intersection with the Montezuma basin road (a ¼ mile below the huts). In addition, the Maroon Bells Wilderness area is adjacent to the Pearl Pass road (within 10 feet of the road). Snowmobiles may be encountered on the Castle Creek/Montezuma basin portion of the access route.

Goodwin Greene Hut: This hut sits on a “cherry-stemmed” road surrounded by the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area. It is further protected by a developed hut site envelope, which begins at the saddle the road crosses above the hut, a ¼ mile south of the hut. With the Wilderness Boundary and the terrain surrounding the hut, snowmobile travel from the ridge down to the hut is not possible without incursion into the Wilderness.

The Barnard Hut: This hut sits near the Richmond Ridge Road, which is open to snowmobile use from the Aspen Mountain Ski Area. The road parallels the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness boundary, which lies east of the road. There is a Developed Hut Site Boundary envelope in the immediate vicinity of the hut. Of all the Braun Huts, this is the hut at which you are most likely to encounter snowmobiles along the Richmond Ridge Road. If you have a situation which requires snowmobile support due to age or a disability, this is the one Braun system hut which could accommodate such a use. Snowmobiles are not allowed at the hut itself. Please call for more information.

If you encounter snowmobiles in restricted areas (Wilderness, within the developed hut recreation sites around the huts, or on the administratively closed roads like the Iron Mine road or the Pearl Pass Road) please get a photograph, a name of the operator and the registration number from the snowmobile, if possible. This information can then be used to follow up with future enforcement actions. For maps of specific hut boundaries for the Alfred A. Braun Huts please click on the individual huts on our Huts & Routes page here.

What is the Vail Pass Fee?
The Vail Pass Fee is a use fee charged for winter recreation in the Vail Pass area. This area includes the following huts: Janet's Cabin, Shrine Mountain Inn (Jay's, Chuck's, and Walter's), Fowler-Hilliard Hut, and Jackal Hut. If you are booking a winter trip to any of these huts, the fee will be charged at the time you make your reservation.

Hut users pay one fee per night of hut booking, instead of per day as area day users do. For example, if you were going to spend Friday night at the Jackal Hut you would only have to pay once, instead of paying for Friday and Saturday. The fee is for use in the area, not for parking at Vail Pass. It does not matter which trailhead you use to access the huts in this area, or where you park your car. The fee is $6.00 per adult. Children 14 and under are free.

10th Mountain supports the fee program and believes that it has helped to protect the rights of non-motorized users. The money collected goes directly back to the Vail Pass management area to pay for maps designating specific areas to be used by each user group, trail signs, and U. S. Forest Service rangers who patrol the area.

How many huts should my trip include?
Most groups spend one or more nights at the same hut, though experienced groups can link multiple huts in one trip. Each hut in the system is accessible from its own trailhead or trailheads. While many of the routes to the huts are moderate in difficulty, most of the routes between the huts are longer and more difficult. In winter, a hut-to-hut trip can require very advanced navigation and route finding skills in addition to good skiing ability and physical strength. If you are unfamiliar with the huts, we recommend spending multiple nights at one hut instead traveling between huts, especially in winter. This way, if the route was harder than you had anticipated or you get blisters, you aren't faced with an even harder second day. More experienced hut users planning long, hut-to-hut trips often schedule layover days for rest or to take advantage of the surrounding terrain for skiing, hiking, and biking.

Are the suggested routes marked or maintained?
Summer routes are not marked. In the winter, suggested routes are only intermittently marked with blue diamonds, except within Wilderness Areas where they are intermittently marked with tree blazes. From one trail marker, the next marker is usually not visible, so route finding may be the most important skill you'll need for a successful trip. Many alternate routes also access the huts - these are usually unmarked and are not designated on 10th Mountain brochures or official maps.

Routes are not maintained in the winter, so do not expect to find a broken or groomed trail. Even shorter trips with minimal elevation gains can become very challenging in whiteout conditions or if you have to break trail through fresh snow. Map and compass skills are essential. Detailed topographic maps are available through local mountain shops or the 10th Mountain Store (use menu on this page). If you are interested in taking a class to improve your map and compass skills, 10th Mountain and other organizations occasionally offer navigation workshops at the huts. Please check the Education section of this site for more information (use menu on this page).

Where can I purchase maps?
10th Mountain produces topographic maps specifically for hut use. These maps are available from our reservations office at 970-925-5775 and from the 10th Mountain Store (see menu on this page). Official 10th Mountain maps are also sold at a variety of outdoor retailers in Colorado including Front Range REI stores.

Are there detailed guidebooks for the huts?
While 10th Mountain staff cannot plan your trip for you, guidebooks offer a
good option for hut users seeking expert advice and suggestions on
itineraries. These books are an excellent resource for learning about
different route options and researching trips. The authors also provide
estimations of route difficulty and travel time, as well as many helpful
hints and suggestions.

The Official Guide to Hiking and Mountain Biking the Hut System, by Scott Messina
This detailed book includes history of each 10th Mountain Division Hut Association Hut, complete route descriptions to and between the huts, must-do adventures from the huts, reservation information, suggested multi-day hut trips, great single track rides, day hikes, rock climbing and more!

The 10th Mountain Hut Book
By Warren Ohlrich. A winter guide to all 10th Mountain and Summit huts. Contains route descriptions, maps, photos, trip information, checklists and more.

Colorado Backcountry Skiing, by Louis Dawson
Covers the Elk and Sawatch Ranges including the Braun and Friends huts and surrounding area. This is the best resource available for the serious backcountry skier looking for a true ski mountaineering guidebook. Provides the most details for Braun Huts and Friends Hut. For a huge amount of info, see Dawson's backcountry skiing website. Also, not that Dawson authored the original guidebook for our huts, and has published his book on the web as his online 10th Mountain Huts Guidebook.

Colorado Hut to Hut, Volume 1, by Brian Litz
Sold in two volumes, this guidebook covers huts, yurts, and cabins throughout the State of Colorado. Volume 1 includes all the huts that are booked through 10th Mountain - the 10th Mountain system, Braun huts, and Friends hut.

Can I hire a guide?
Several guide services offer trips to the huts. These businesses operate under special use permit with the US Forest Service. Hiring a guide can be a great way to experience the huts, especially if you are a first time hut user or someone looking to experience more interesting routes and challenging hut-to-hut trips. In addition to guiding you on your trip, these services can also deal with logistics such as car shuttles and meals. It is not legal to pay someone to accompany you to the hut, deliver your equipment, prepare your meals, etc. if they do not have a US Forest service permit. Please see the Guides and Transport section of this site for a list of permitted guide services (see menu at top of page).

Why are the summer and winter routes different?
Winter routes to the huts often contain sections of cross-country travel, whereas summer routes follow established roads and trails. Winter snowpack makes off-road, off-trail travel more feasible. Obstacles such as water and dense vegetation can make winter routes impassible during the summer. Summer routes are not marked, however, they are indicated on summer maps produced by 10th Mountain. Winter routes are intermittently marked with blue diamonds, except in Wilderness Areas where they are intermittently marked with tree blazes.

Can I drive to a hut in the summer?
10th Mountain strongly discourages the use of motorized vehicles for access to the huts, except as group support vehicles for hikers or bikers. The hut system was created for non-motorized travel and we encourage everyone to reach the hut under their own power. If your group does use a support vehicle, be advised that each hut is surrounded by a Forest Service enforced, non-motorized envelope into which you cannot bring a vehicle. Most envelope boundaries restrict access around the huts for 1/8 to 1/2 mile, although several huts have much larger envelopes.

If you must drive, four-wheel drive vehicles with high clearance are recommended for all routes. The one exception is the Shrine Pass Road, which is usually passable for all vehicles. The roads to the Jackal and 10th Mountain Division huts are particularly steep and hazardous and 10th Mountain does not recommend driving to these huts.

Vehicle access to the huts is not always possible. After storms, mud can make many routes impassable. Be prepared with backpacks, hiking boots, raingear and warm clothes, in case you have to hike into or out of a hut due to road conditions or mechanical problems. The U. S. Forest Service, not 10th Mountain, controls the gates on the roads that lead to the huts. Gates are sometimes locked, especially early or late in the season, due to road conditions and snow. Hagerman Pass in particular tends to open late and close early. After winters with heavy snowfall,l it has opened as late as mid-August. Additionally, the road to the 10th Mountain hut is periodically closed in the summer season due to road damage and bad conditions. Please keep all of this in mind when planning your trip and be prepared to travel to the hut under your own power. 10th Mountain does not encourage or guarantee vehicle access to the huts.

What do I do in an emergency?
Self-rescue is the responsibility of your group. If a member of your group is injured on the trail or at the hut, you cannot rely on outside help. Your group must be prepared and equipped for a bivouac, rescue, evacuation, equipment repair and any other unexpected mishap. Every group should have complete first aid and repair kits. The County Sheriff should be contacted in the event of an emergency. County Sheriff phone numbers.

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

Will the cost of a rescue be paid for if I have Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue (CORSAR) card or a hunting or fishing license?
If you are involved in a rescue and are in possession of one of these cards or licenses, the rescue group that comes to your aid is eligible for reimbursement from the Colorado Search and Rescue Fund. 10th Mountain strongly recommends that anyone who visits the huts purchase a CORSAR card if they don't hold a current hunting or fishing license. In addition to providing reimbursement in the event you are involved in a rescue, the cost of these cards supports search and rescue groups and outdoor safety education programs in the State. CORSAR cards are available in a $3.00 annual card or a $12.00 five-year card and can be purchased from 10th Mountain directly, from the CORSAR website as well as at most sporting goods stores and some supermarkets. More CORSAR details.

Where can I take classes in first aid or backcountry safety?
You can get adequate first aid training by taking the requisite courses for an American Red Cross advanced first aid certification. Contact your local chapter of the Red Cross for details. Hut users who frequently travel in the backcountry should consider training that goes beyond standard first aid. The Wilderness Medicine Institute is a good place to start if you're looking for such training. Also check your local college. For example, Colorado Mountain College provides the Aspen area with quite a bit of first aid training, and includes a variety of programs such as a graphic design school and photography college.

Is my car safe at the trailhead?
A few acts of vandalism and theft have been reported at some of the hut trailheads. The Crane Park and Turquoise Lake Trailheads near Leadville have been the hardest hit. We are also aware of incidents within the last few years at the Tennessee Pass, Pando, Camp Hale, and South Turquoise Lake Trailheads. 10th Mountain has been working with the Lake County Sheriff's Department in Leadville (719-486-1249) for a number of years to address this problem. Patrols have been increased and the Turquoise Lake trailhead was moved to a more visible location with lighting.

Do not leave valuables in your car, and try to park your group's oldest or least conspicuous vehicle at the trailhead. Consider parking in a populated area, then using a shuttle service or having someone drop you off at the trailhead. Also, make sure to park at the designated trailhead. Driving in and parking along the road puts your vehicle at greater risk for vandalism and it may be plowed-in or towed. If your vehicle is broken into or damaged, please report the incident to both the local Sheriff's Department and 10th Mountain.

Will my cell phone work at the huts?
A cellular phone can be extremely helpful in the event of an emergency but cannot be relied upon. Communication is available only on some segments of the trails and only at some of the huts. From our experience, reception can vary, depending on location and quality of the phone. We ask that you keep the phone in the bottom of your pack, and that you respect others by not using it inside the hut. Most people go to the huts to get away from phones!

What is the check in/check out time?
Hut turn around time is 1:00 pm. Please be considerate of other hut users by not arriving before 1:00 pm, and by having the hut clean and your bags packed before this time on the day of your departure.

Do any of the huts have hot tubs or saunas?
None of the huts have hot tubs, but there are wood burning saunas at a few of the huts including Shrine Mountain Inn, Janet's Cabin, and Francie's Cabin. The sauna at Shrine Mountain Inn is located between and shared by Chuck's and Jay's Cabins, and is for the use of guest at all three Shrine Mountain Inn cabins. Due to a fire, there is no longer a sauna at Polar Star Inn.

Can I take my dog on the hut trip?
No. Dogs are not permitted on summer or winter hut trips, nor are dogs allowed in the huts or in the area around the hut. Since you must melt snow for water at most of the huts, dogs present a serious health hazard. In addition, we are very concerned about the problem of dogs harassing wildlife. 10th Mountain and the U. S. Forest Service take this rule very seriously and we ask that hut users help us encourage compliance. Please notify 10th Mountain if a party brings a dog to any of the huts.

What do we do for water?
Winter hut users will find large pots at the huts for melting snow. We advise that parties clean and refill snowmelt pots upon arrival at the hut, and snowmelt water should be treated or filtered before drinking.

In the summer, water backpacks are provided for collecting water from springs and streams. All water should be treated or filtered before drinking. Distances to water sources vary from hut to hut (see below). All huts have water sources within two miles and many have sources much closer. Consult a topographic map of the area for water source locations.

The Shrine Mountain Inn (Jay's, Chuck's and Walter's Cabins) is an exception and has potable hot and cold running water year round.

The Benedict Huts, Eiseman Hut, Fowler-Hilliard Hut, Jackal Hut, 10th Mountain Division Hut, Uncle Bud's Hut, Skinner Hut, Betty Bear Hut and Sangree M. Froelicher Huts have pumps in the kitchens which bring up water that is collected from the roof and stored in cisterns below the floor. This water is recommended for washing only and should not be used for drinking or cooking. Availability of this water is dependent on precipitation and conservation by previous users, so please do not rely on there being water in the cistern.

How far away from the huts are the summer water sources?
Approximate distances to water sources are as follows. These distances are to the sources nearest to the huts that typically are available throughout the summer. In cases of severe drought, sources could be unavailable. Similarly, in very wet years or early in the summer, additional water sources may be available. Please see the individual hut descriptions in the Huts & Routes section (see main menu above) of this site for more specific information.

Water at or very near the hut: Shrine Mountain Inn (Jay's, Chucks & Walter's) Polar Star Inn, Francie's Cabin, Peter Estin Hut

The process of buying, delivering, cutting, splitting, and stacking wood is expensive and takes the time of many volunteers. With the help of hut users, the maintenance costs and environmental impacts of cutting and burning firewood can be reduced. Please help us conserve wood!

What is the reservation lottery?
The lottery is a system of early reservations intended to fairly allocate limited winter hut space. The lottery occurs each March for the following winter season. All 10th Mountain members are eligible to submit one lottery entry form each year for the opportunity to book one trip itinerary. One member may book an itinerary that consists of multiple consecutive nights and may reserve for a group of people. For more information on 10th Mountain membership and the reservation lottery, please use the link on the menu at the top of this page.

What is the Backcountry Snowsports Intiative?
The Backcountry Snowsports Initiative (BSI) of the non-profit Colorado Mountain Club was formed to protect the interests of human-powered backcountry snowsports like skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing. The BSI’s mission is to preserve quiet, non-motorized areas on public land for non-motorized winter users. BSI works collaboratively with land management agencies, other advocacy organizations and user groups to find policy solutions at Vail Pass, Rabbit Ears Pass, Red Mountain and other popular areas around Colorado. For more information, visit the BSI blog at http://www.backcountryinitiative... or their website here, http://www.cmc.org/conservation...

Who uses the 10th Mountain Huts?
A great variety of people use the huts. Some groups use guides, others travel on their own with family and friends. Because the huts are used communally, please show respect for the people sharing the hut with your group. If you prefer a private trip, please reserve one of our smaller huts that sleep 6 guests, or reserve an entire hut. 10th Mountain works closely with not-for-profit groups, the young, and the elderly. For more information on 10th Mountain's support of these groups, please check out our Backcountry Exploration Program in the Programs section of this site (see menu at upper left).

10th Mountain Division and Summit Huts Associations, Alfred A. Braun Hut System, and Friends Hut operate under special use permits from the US Forest Service, and are equal opportunity service providers.