Avalanche Hazard Information
Colorado is known for its avalanche prone snowpack. A number of the suggested routes to 10th Mountain Division Huts pass through or are next to terrain that may be prone to avalanches. Accordingly, pick the suggested route that most suits your group and its abilities, carry appropriate equipment, and always exercise prudent backcountry travel techniques when passing through avalanche prone terrain. Remember, avalanches can occur in forested areas and can run into forested areas from open slopes. Moreover, a number of huts booked are situated in the midst of extreme avalanche terrain. Many other huts, while located in more modest terrain, still have access routes that cross avalanche paths.
We strongly suggest that someone in every group be experienced in evaluating avalanche and snow stability hazards and practicing prudent backcountry and winter mountain travel techniques. For up to date avalanche information for all of Colorado, visit the website for the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC). Another excellent resource is the Forest Service National Avalanche Center website. While this site doesn't have local forecasts it does have a wealth of information on backcountry travel in avalanche terrain and snow science, as well as tutorials on some basic skills and snow science.
Below are listed locations where avalanche debris has been found across 10th Mountain's suggested routes and routes to the Braun huts and Friend's Hut. These observations are described as a person is traveling towards the hut. We do not have any recorded information regarding terrain around the huts or routes that are not marked. Keep in mind that history does not predict the future and that these records only reflect avalanche activity in the years since each hut was built. Routes with no observations listed should still be traveled with caution and prudence.
We recommend that you start checking the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) Website regularly before your trip to see how conditions are evolving. Study your maps to see what type of terrain you will be traveling through to see if there are alternative routes that might be feasible if snow stability conditions deteriorate. During most of the winter, travel to the huts, other than those in the Braun Hut System, is possible with a relatively minor degree of risk. However, if your trip falls within a period or cycle of high or extreme instability, you must make the decision of whether or not to go. The huts are always open. While deep snow, bad weather, and white-out conditions are to be anticipated on any trip, a hut credit may be issued if a trip is cancelled due to avalanche danger associated with an extreme avalanche cycle. To be considered for a hut credit, please send us a detailed letter and we will respond in writing as soon as we can. We are sorry, but hut credits can not be approved over the phone.
The following observations were collected from staff members, guides and hut users. We welcome new information. Avalanche size/destructive force is based on SWAG-Snow, Weather and Avalanche Guidelines of the American Avalanche Association
Size-Destructive Force
- D1 Relatively harmless to humans
- D2 Could bury or injure a person
- D3 Could bury a car, damage a truck, destroy a wood frame house, or break a few trees
- D4 Could destroy a railroad car, large truck, several buildings, or a substantial amount of forest.
- D5 Could gouge the landscape, largest snow avalanches known.
Locations of Observed or Reported Avalanche Activity Along Suggested Routes
(Elevations indicate approx. elevation where slide crossed the trail, not starting zones.)
- Burro Trail to Francie’s
- Union Creek (Copper Mountain) to Janet’s
- Vail Pass to Janet’s
- Breckenridge to Section House
- Como to Section House
- Vail Pass to Shrine Mountain Inn
- Commando Run to Shrine Mountain Inn
- Shrine Mountain Inn to Redcliff
- Shrine Mountain Inn to Fowler-Hilliard
- Pando (McAlister Gulch) to Fowler-Hilliard
- Camp Hale (Resolution Creek) to Fowler-Hilliard
- Fowler-Hilliard to Jackal
- Camp Hale (Pearl Creek) to Jackal
- South Camp Hale (Ranch Creek) to Jackal
- South Camp Hale (Cataract Creek) to Jackal
- Jackal to Vance’s
- Tennessee Pass to Vance’s
- Tennessee Pass to 10th Mountain
- Crane Park to 10th Mountain
- 10th Mountain to Uncle Bud’s
- Turquoise Lake to Uncle Bud’s
- Uncle Bud’s to Skinner
- Turquoise Lake to Skinner
- Skinner to Betty Bear
- Road 505 to Betty Bear
- Hunter Creek to Benedict
- Benedict to McNamara
- Hunter Creek to McNamara
- Lenado to McNamara
- McNamara to Margy’s
- Lenado to Margy’s
- Norrie/Diamond J to Margy’s
- Granite Lakes to Margy’s
- Montgomery Flats to Gates
- Spring Creek to Gates
- Sylvan Lake to Gates
- Gates to Estin
- Yeoman Park (Ironedge) to Estin
- Yeoman Park (Hat Creek) to Estin
- Sylvan Lake to Estin
- Estin to Polar Star
- Yeoman Park to Polar Star
- West Lake Creek to Polar Star
- Spraddle Creek to Eiseman
- Red Sandstone Rd to Eiseman
- Buckeye Gulch to Sangree M. Froelicher
- East Tennessee Creek to Emmelyn Hut
- Emmelyn Hut to Sangree M. Froelicher
- Meadow Creek to High Lonesome Hut
10th Mountain Division Hut System
-Approx. 2.5 miles from trailhead, slope on skier's right (10,400'). D1.
Union Creek (Copper Mountain) to Janet's
-1.78 miles from trailhead on skier's right. D2.
No avalanche activity observed.
No avalanche activity observed.
No avalanche activity observed.
Vail Pass to Shrine Mountain Inn
No avalanche activity observed.
Commando Run to Shrine Mountain Inn
No avalanche activity observed.
Shrine Mountain Inn to Redcliff
No avalanche activity observed.
Shrine Mountain Inn to Fowler-Hilliard
No avalanche activity observed.
Pando (McAlister Gulch) to Fowler-Hilliard
No avalanche activity observed.
Camp Hale (Resolution Creek) to Fowler-Hilliard
No avalanche activity observed.
No avalanche activity observed.
Camp Hale (Pearl Creek) to Jackal
No avalanche activity observed.
South Camp Hale (Ranch Creek) to Jackal
No avalanche activity observed.
South Camp Hale (Cataract Creek) to Jackal
-Approx. 1 3/4 mile up Cataract Creek on the Colorado Trail, small bank on skier's left (10,240'). D1-2.
No avalanche activity observed.
No avalanche activity observed.
Tennessee Pass to 10th Mountain
No avalanche activity observed.
No avalanche activity observed.
- Approx. 2 3/4 miles before Uncle Bud's Hut, as the trail climbs out of Long's Gulch, gully on skier's left (11,200'). D2.
- Approx. 1.5 miles before Uncle Bud's Hut, as the trail begins to climb out of Porcupine Gulch, slope on skier's right (11,600'). D2.
No avalanche activity observed.
No avalanche activity observed.
No avalanche activity observed.
No avalanche activity observed.
No avalanche activity observed.
No avalanche activity observed.
No avalanche activity observed.
No avalanche activity observed.
No avalanche activity observed.
No avalanche activity observed.
- Approx. 1/2 mile up from the trailhead, steep hillside on skier's right (9,000'). D2-3.
- The trail leaves the road approx. 1 mile up from the trailhead. Just beyond this point, large gully on skier's left (9,080'). D3.
- Approx. 1/4 mile beyond where the trail leaves the road, short path on skier's right (9,100'). D2.
- Approx. 1/2 mile beyond where the trail leaves the road, 2 large gullies (100 yards apart) on skier's left (9,200'). D3.
- Approx. 1/2 mile up from where the trail crosses Silver Creek, small slope on skier's left (8,760'). D1.
-Approx. 1.5 miles from Norrie along the road to Twin Meadows, steep hillside on skier's right (8,760'). D2-3.
-Approx. 2.5 miles up from the trailhead along the Chapman Road, gully on skier's left, (9,360'). D2-3.
No avalanche activity observed.
-At the junction of the Eagle-Thomasville and Burnt Mountain Roads (5.6 miles from trailhead), small bank on skier's left (9,320'). D1.
-At Crooked Creek Reservoir, small bank on skier's right (9,400'). D1-2.
No avalanche activity observed.
Yeoman Park (Ironedge) to Estin
- Approx. 1/2 mile beyond the Fulford Cave Campground, just beyond the creek crossing, two slopes on skier's left (9,520'). D2.
- Approx. 3/4 mile beyond the Fulford Cave Campground, large slope on skier's right (9,600'). D3.
Yeoman Park (Hat Creek) to Estin
No avalanche activity observed.
No avalanche activity observed.
No avalanche activity observed.
No avalanche activity observed.
-Approximately 1/2 mile from the trailhead on skier's right at approximately 8400'. D2
No avalanche activity observed.
No avalanche activity observed.
Buckeye Gulch to Sangree M. Froelicher
No avalanche activity observed.
East Tennessee Creek to Emmelyn Hut
No avalanche activity observed.
Emmelyn Hut to Sangree M. Froelicher
No avalanche activity observed.
Meadow Creek to High Lonesome Hut
No avalanche activity observed.
Avalanche Observation Dates
Observations have been made since the first season each hut was open for reservations:
- Francie's Cabin 1994-95
- Janet's Cabin 1991-92
- Section House 1997-98
- Shrine Mountain Inn 1988-89
- Fowler-Hilliard Hut 1988-89
- Jackal Hut 1988-89
- Vance's Cabin 1988-89
- 10th Mountain Div. Hut 1989-90
- Uncle Bud's Hut 1989-90
- Skinner Hut 1990-91
- Betty Bear Hut 1991-92
- Benedict Huts 1997-98
- McNamara Hut 1982-83
- Margy's Hut 1982-82
- Harry Gates Hut 1986-87
- Peter Estin Hut 1985-86
- Polar Star Inn 1987-88
- Eiseman Hut 1996-97
- Sangree M. Froelicher Hut 1998-99
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