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FRANCIE'S CABIN
IMPORTANT: Check out the web page at www.huts.org before you leave for Francie's Cabin in the event of any last minutes changes in parking, access, etc. Francie's Cabin is equipped with
a wood stove for heat, firewood, propane cook tops, indoor composting
toilets, a wood-fired sauna, solar powered lights, twin size sleeping
pads and pillows, and other typical hut supplies. Please note, there are
no double sleeping accommodations and no oven for baking. You are responsible
for hauling out your trash, keeping and leaving the cabin clean, and for
your meal preparation, dishwashing and clean-up. No Dogs: Because of social, aesthetic and wildlife concerns, and because of the need to melt snow for water, dogs are not permitted near the huts. A U.S. Forest Supervisor's Order prohibits dogs within 200 feet of Francie's Cabin. Violations are punishable by law. No Motorized Vehicles: Motorized vehicles, including snowmobiles, are prohibited near Francie's Cabin within the 16 acre envelope designated by the U.S. Forest Service. Motorized vehicles may pass through the envelope on the designated route, but may not stop, park or play. Violations are punishable by law. Please plan to access Francie's Cabin under your own power, carrying your own gear. Check-In/Check-Out Time is 1:00 p.m.: Hut turnover time is 1:00 p.m. Please time your travels so you arrive at Francie's Cabin after 1:00 p.m. Upon departure, have your bags packed, cabin clean and other items on the "Before Departure - DO" list, which is posted at the check-in area in the cabin, and be ready to depart by 1:00 p.m. Use of Francie's Cabin by One Group: SHA realizes that groups that reserve all of the spaces at the cabin are seeking privacy. SHA will inform any maintenance personnel or volunteers staying in the Hutmaster's Quarters of the cabin to respect the privacy of the cabin guests. However, SHA is not able to prevent volunteers, hutmasters or registered day guests from staying in the cabin when one group has booked the upstairs. Groups that reserve the entire hut are asked to not overcrowd the cabin by bringing more guests than the reservation allows (maximum 20 guests). Overcrowding causes significant maintenance problems such as filling the composting toilet beyond its capacity and draining the resources of the cabin. Al Chaffee (Day Use Room) Reservations: Francie's Cabin has a separate day use room, named in memory of local photographer and mountaineer Al Chaffee. Use of the Al Chaffee Room is by advance reservation and fee only. Cost is $18/day for the exclusive use of the room for up to six people. Reservations for the Al Chaffee Room are taken by Summit Huts Association at 970-453-8583. Day room guests will have a confirmation letter. Handicap Access: Francie's Cabin was built in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and will accommodate persons with disabilities. However, Francie's Cabin should not be considered "easy access", as the trail to the cabin is a backcountry experience. For more information, please contact Summit Huts Association at 970-453-8583. Self-Reliance Required: You are on your own on the trail and at Francie's Cabin. You must be self-reliant and prepared for emergencies. Plan ahead and be prepared to execute a self-rescue. The county sheriff should be contacted in the event of an emergency (call 911, the Summit County Sheriff at 970-453-2232, or Summit County Dispatch at 970-668-8600). How to Get to Francie's Cabin There are a number of ways to get to Francie's
Cabin Spruce Creek Trailhead: You may use the Spruce Creek Trailhead. For information on this route, please see Brian Litz's book Colorado Hut to Hut. This trailhead is small and popular and may not provide adequate parking for hut users. Burro Trail from Breckenridge: The Burro
Trail (4 miles, 1640 ft. elevation gain) is a single track through the
woods with nice views. Please purchase and bring with you a topographic
map of the area and compass for specific trail directions. There is no
signage on the trail directing you to Francie's Cabin. We recommend the
topographic map produced by SHA and available from 10th Mountain Division
Hut Association (970-925-5775) or Mountain Outfitters, 112 S. Ridge Street,
Breckenridge (970-453-2201). The Burro Trail starts at the base of
the Peak 9 ski area at Breckenridge near Beaver Run Resort. Overnight
parking is not permitted at Beaver Run in the winter, so it is necessary
to park in the Tailings Lot (a.k.a. Watson Lot) off Watson Avenue (the
only lot in town where overnight parking is permitted) and take the Breckenridge
Ski Area shuttle bus to Beaver Run Resort. Parking/Shuttle Bus: Park at Tailings
Lot (a.k.a. Watson Lot just off Watson Avenue in downtown Breckenridge).
Park in the area designated for overnight parking. The Breckenridge Ski
Areas asks that you call their switchboard (970-453-5000) with the make
and model of your vehicle so they can better manage their lot. Please
post the parking permit on your dashboard; make copies if your group requires
more than one vehicle. Take the Breckenridge Ski Area shuttle bus to Beaver
Run. Note: Depending on the day and number of skiers, you may need to catch the Beaver Run shuttle bus at a place other than Tailings Lot. You may need to walk across Watson Avenue to the bus stop in the Miner's Lot to catch the Beaver Run bus. Those of you familiar with Janet's Cabin will find that the shuttle buses to Beaver Run are faster and more direct than those at Copper Mountain Resort. Access the Burro Trail to Francie's Cabin: From the shuttle bus drop area at Beaver Run Resort, walk or ski South past the maze for the Beaver Run Quad chairlift, across the ski run (being careful for skier traffic), and toward the ski school area. You will see the U.S. Forest Service trailhead sign for the Burro Trail just past the ski school area. Using a topographic map, follow the Burro Trail to the Crystal Lakes Road (steep!) or the Spruce Creek Road (less steep) to Francie's Cabin. See the topographic map for more specific directions. Late Spring and Summer Directions: If you have a reservation at Francie's Cabin in the spring after the Breckenridge Ski Area has closed Peak 9, or in the summer, you may park overnight in the "E" Lot at Beaver Run. Be sure to post your parking permit on your dashboard or you may be towed. Make copies of the parking permit if your group requires more than one vehicle. Occasionally in the summer, Beaver Run closes the "E" lot for group functions. Inquire at the Front Desk of Beaver Run for alternative parking options. For more information, contact: Francie's Cabin is located in the Arapaho National Forest and operates under special use permit from the Forest Service -- USDA. SHA is an equal opportunity service provider. Do not leave valuables in your vehicle
when parked at trailheads. SHA is not responsible for theft or vandalism
to vehicles. PARKING PERMIT
10th
MOUNTAIN DIVISION HUT ASSOCIATION |