Global Positioning System (GPS) Information

The following GPS coordinates were collected with the best available tools at our disposal. While we strive for accuracy in our data, discrepancies may still exist between our coordinates and coordinates you may take in the field.

10th Mountain advises against relying solely on a GPS for use in accessing the huts because they may not provide the desired accuracy due to weak satellite signals caused by forest cover, inclement weather, topography, less-than-ideal satellite positions, and other factors. If you are going to use GPS we would suggest that your party have more than one unit to double check your coordinates.

GPS and Smart Phones

As smart phones have become more powerful and their GPS capabilities have improved, more and more people are using them as a GPS instead of purchasing a separate, stand-alone device. When paired with a good mapping app, the increased screen size and resolution of most modern smart phones is big improvement over the smaller screens of many stand-alone GPS units. We recommend the Gaia GPS App for mapping on your smart phone, it has a very intuitive interface and powerful trip planning tools. Gaia has provided an instructional hut-trip-planning video below that is packed with useful info. Gaia GPS is also offering hut users a free 3 month trial of Gaia GPS premium so you can safely plan your next hut trip with Gaia GPS. 10th Mountain Division Hut Visitors get access to the full map catalog and the ability download your maps for offline use with 3 months of Gaia GPS Premium. Gaia GPS Premium Free 3 month trial!

A GPS unit can be a good tool for backcountry navigation when used in conjunction with a map, compass, altimeter and appropriate skills. If your GPS fails, you will be very thankful that you wisely brought your map, compass, and altimeter - and know how to use them. If you would like to know more about GPS accuracy and the different variables that can affect it we have included links to some useful info at the bottom of the page.

Trailhead and Hut Locations

NAD-27 Mapping Datum (PDF's)

WGS-84 Mapping Datum (PDF's)

Braun & Friends Hut's and Trailheads (PDF's)

Winter Hut Routes

The following routes were collected and submitted by hut users using the WGS-84 mapping datum. 10th Mountain is not responsible for their accuracy or any potential errors. Use at your own risk.

**Users of Internet Explorer may need to right-click the download links and "save as" and change the file extension to ".gpx" and the file type to "all files". Due to security features in Internet Explorer it won't always automatically download files in the correct format. Or you could always use another browser such as Safari, Chrome, Firefox, etc. Pretty much anything but Internet Explorer will work.

East Side Huts (.gpx files)

West Side Huts (.gpx files)

Hut to Hut Routes (.gpx files)

GPS FAQ's

Should I use my GPS to navigate to the hut?

0th Mountain advises against relying solely on a GPS for use in accessing the huts because they may not provide the desired accuracy due to weak satellite signals caused by forest cover, inclement weather, topography, less-than-ideal satellite positions, and other factors. A GPS unit can be a good tool for backcountry navigation when used in conjunction with a map, compass, altimeter and appropriate skills. If your GPS fails, you will be very thankful that you wisely brought your map, compass, and altimeter - and know how to use them.

What is a mapping datum?

A datum is a mathematical model of the Earth which approximates the shape of the Earth and is used as a reference on maps. It enables calculations such as position and area to be carried out in a consistent and accurate manner even though the earth is not perfectly round, but is spheroid in shape. Every map has a map datum reference that is usually listed in the title block or legend of the map.

Why do I need to know about mapping datums and which one should I use?

When using a map and GPS together for navigation, your GPS must be set to the same datum as the map you are using. Failure to do so could result in errors of 200 meters or more in your displayed position. This is because the same position on earth (a hut or trailhead for example) will have different coordinates depending on the datum used to create the map. Most United States Geological Survey (USGS) topographic maps and ALL 10th Mountain Division Hut Association winter maps are referenced using NAD 27. Some newer USGS maps use NAD 83. If you are using your GPS without a map (shame on you for not having a map!), using WGS84 is generally the best datum to use as it is considered the most accurate datum to use with a GPS alone. Consult your GPS owner's manual to learn how to set the correct datum to match your map's datum.

Why are there two mapping datums?

Over the years, many different datums have been developed and used as references on maps all over the world. NAD27 (1927 North American Datum) and WGS84 (World Geodetic System 1984) are the two most predominantly used in North America today.

REMEMBER! when using a map AND GPS together, BE SURE YOUR GPS IS SET TO THE SAME DATUM AS YOUR TOPO MAP! Failure to do so could result in errors of 200 meters or more in your displayed position. Consult your GPS owners manual to learn how to set the correct datum to match your map's datum. Note that most GPS units come from the factory with WGS84 as the default map datum.

Additional Information and Links

GPS Systems and Accuracy

In the Field