Volunteer Information, 10th Mountain Huts, Colorado

10th Mountain Huts - 2008

Date	Days	Location
June 30- July 2	Mon, Tues, Wed	Jackal Hut
July 11 - July 13	Fri, Sat, Sun	McNamara Hut
August 25 - August 27	Mon, Tues, Wed	Skinner Hut

Note to hut users interested in volunteering: Each year, 10th Mountain has a few returning volunteer groups that are assigned an entire volunteer period before the May 1st volunteer call-in. In the past, these groups have included a 10th Mountain Division veterans group and various youth groups. We appreciate the support and dedication of all volunteers, and regret any inconvenience caused by this lack of availability. Of course, if you wish to volunteer, but the scheduled volunteer periods don't fit your schedule, there are additional volunteer opportunities available to either individuals or groups. Please contact 10th Mountain for more information or to schedule your volunteer period.

Work includes: processing 8 cords of wood (chain-sawing, splitting and stacking), painting, refurbishing stoves, cleaning, re-vegetation, trail work, etc.

You will need to bring a pair of work gloves, a sleeping bag if you are staying overnight, and meals for the length of your stay. For the woodchop weekend bring full camping gear. 10th Mountain provides light snacks and soft drinks. After work, roughly 4-5pm, we generally go for hikes or enjoy a post work mountain bike ride, so bring your bike if you like riding. As on regular hut trips, dogs are not permitted.

We encourage as many people as possible to hike or bike up to the huts for the work weekends. If you do drive, a high clearance, four wheel drive vehicle is strongly recommended. Jackal and 10th Mountain huts have very steep, rocky, extreme four wheel drive roads. The roads to Uncle Bud's, Fowler-Hilliard, Skinner, Benedict and Betty Bear are bumpy, steep in places, wash-boarded, and may require four wheel drive . Gates, Estin, and Eiseman huts can usually be reached without a four wheel drive vehicle, unless the roads are wet, in which case the roads can be extremely slippery and four wheel drive and chains may be required.

Volunteers are welcome to work for as many or as few days as they like. For each day worked, 10th Mountain will reward each volunteer with a free hut night (valid for 1 year). We ask you to use these free nights Sunday through Thursday.

Please sign up only if you are committed to working. Ted or Carol Billings will contact you a few days before the weekend you have signed up for, to get an idea about when you will be arriving and to answer any last minute questions.

Again, if you are interested in working but the above dates don't work for you or are already filled, please ask to be put on our list of "Other Interested Volunteers." We often need volunteers for special projects and welcome your assistance.

PLEASE CALL 10th MOUNTAIN starting May 1st, 2007 at (970) 925-5775 TO SIGN UP. SPACE IS LIMITED AND THESE WEEKENDS ARE POPULAR – SIGN UP EARLY!

Work will include stacking wood and cleaning the hut to get ready for the upcoming winter season. Please bring: Water, lunch, work clothes and gloves, rain jacket, sunscreen, insect repellent, and personal items if you plan on staying the night. You will be on your own for dinner. Each person who volunteers will earn a free night in the Hutmasters Quarters at a Summit Huts Hut. (Janet's Cabin, Francie's Cabin or Section House). For more information or to sign up please contact Summit Huts at summithuts@colorado.net or 970-453-8583.

Francies Cabin & Section House Volunteer Days
Pre-register with Summit Huts Assoc. Dates to be determined.

Janet's Cabin Volunteer Days
Pre-register with Summit Huts Assoc. Dates to be determined.

Just imagine you and your friends and family gathering at one of the Alfred Braun huts for a day of volunteering, followed by a potluck dinner and an evening of camping fun.

We have 6 huts in our hut system, and this year Hutmaster Hawk needs help cutting, hauling and stacking the firewood. 6 Huts means a lot of wood to chop, so we are setting up a weekend at each hut and you are invited to come for one or come for all. Pick a weekend, hike in, bike in, or drive the back roads in with your friends and family. We need to cut a few loads of wood, wash the windows, clean the stoves, mop the floors, touch up the paint, stock the supplies, and generally polish the huts. There will be some heavy lifting involved, but also less strenuous activities abound.

We are aiming to get about ten adults for each volunteer weekend. Children are welcome and encouraged to attend. Wear your work clothes. Tools, gloves, work truck and chainsaws will be available. Camping out nearby the huts (or in for some) will be ok. Nearby hikes or rides will be possible, peaks to be chased or forts to be made. A potluck dinner will be organized (mention what you’d like to contribute when you call in or e-mail). Lunch and breakfast you’ll be on your own. So, pick a hut and bring your friends. Participants are recognized with Alfred Braun Hut System hut credits.

These dates are flexible, of course, so if your family, group or crew is interested in volunteering at another time please call me.

Please contact the Hut Manager, Hawk Greenway, at 970-920-7859 for more information or to schedule a volunteer trip. The Braun system credits volunteers with 1 free hut night credit per day of volunteer labor.

Hands on work weekend to prepare the hut for the winter. Volunteers deep clean the hut and stock wood and supplies. Volunteers are welcome to sleep at the hut. Bring good attitudes, able bodies, and sleeping bags. Food is provided. For more information contact Murray at jmurray1952@hotmail.com.

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.