Winter Information
This is serious backcountry skiing. The average route is 4-7 miles long and climbs 1500-2500+ feet in elevation, from a trailhead that is at 8,000 feet or higher. Ski touring at high altitude is physically demanding, and each person responds differently to high altitude. Be sensitive to any symptoms related to altitude sickness among members of your party.
The US Forest Service recognizes that the public trails that access the huts generally require use of intermediate backcountry skiing skills. However, some trail sections are more difficult and may require advanced skiing skills. You don’t have to be an expert, but you must at least be strong and stable on your skis, and have the right equipment. Skis with metal edges, climbing skins, backcountry poles, and supportive boots (designed for backcountry use) are recommended.
Someone in each group must have leadership, route finding, avalanche awareness, and wilderness first aid skills. Route finding may be the most important skill you need. A detailed topographic map, a compass, and the ability to use them are absolutely essential for a successful trip. Suggested routes are only intermittently marked with blue diamonds — except in National Forest Wilderness Areas, where only tree blazes are allowed. You cannot expect to find a broken trail, and from one trail marker the next one is usually not visible. Even shorter trips with minimal elevation gains can become very challenging in whiteout conditions, or if you have to break trail in deep snow.
The Colorado backcountry is known for widespread and long lasting snowpack instabilities. Avalanche hazard is a real concern for all winter backcountry travelers. 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 hut and 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. Each group must continuously evaluate the danger and practice judicious travel procedures. Routes are not marked or maintained in any way for the Braun or Friends’ huts. These huts are in areas of known avalanche terrain with recurring avalanche cycles. For more information we strongly suggest you visit the Colorado Avalanche Information Center Website. They have the most up-to-date avalanche information, as well as excellent weather and snow science information.
US Forest Service permitted guide services are available if your group lacks the skills necessary to complete a safe trip or is interested in a catered trip. Along with their knowledge of the backcountry, routes, and huts, guides provide transportation, food, gear rentals, and instruction. Please see the Guides section of this site for more information on permitted guide services.
If you would like to improve your skills, 10th Mountain Huts, Grand Huts, and many other organizations sponsor backcountry skills and avalanche awareness workshops each winter. Please see the Courses section of this site for more information on upcoming classes.
Summer Information
Hiking and mountain biking at high elevations are very physically demanding activities. The average suggested summer route to a hut is 8+ miles long and climbs 1500-2500 feet in elevation from a trailhead that is at 8,000 feet or higher. Suggested summer routes are not marked or maintained. A detailed topographic map, a compass, and the ability to use them are absolutely essential for a successful trip. Someone in each group must be proficient in route finding, map/compass reading, and first aid.
Weather in the mountains can change rapidly. A warm summer morning at a trailhead can turn into a cold storm with lightning at 11,000 feet. Snow and hail are not uncommon at high elevations in the summer and temperatures can drop below freezing. Other days can be very hot. Rain and snowstorms can leave backcountry roads in bad condition and make travel difficult or impossible. Hut users need to be adequately prepared and bring extra food and water.
Motor vehicles are strongly discouraged except as group support. Some routes may remain snow covered and impassable by vehicles well into August and sudden thunderstorms can render roads undrivable at any time. All vehicles must park at the closure gate that marks the non-motorized envelope that surrounds each hut (usually 1/8 to 1/2 mile). There is a cart at most road closure gates that can be used to ferry gear from your vehicle to the hut. Motorized or mechanized vehicles (i.e. mountain bikes) are not allowed in Wilderness areas. 10th Mountain does not guarantee vehicle access to any hut at any time. Do not count on a vehicle to execute your chosen itinerary.
Once you’ve decided on an appropriate trip, and are certain you have the skills for backcountry travel to your chosen hut or huts, please check the How to Make a Reservation option on the menu at the top of this page.
Steps for Trip Planning
Step 1: Gather Information and Select Your Hut
Read through the various information sections available on this site carefully, study the overview map, and review specifics about each hut, to help you decide which hut is most suitable for your group. To help narrow down your search, you can visit our Search Huts page, where you can filter by season, capacity, amenities and more. Rates can be found on the individual hut pages, or on our Rates page. We recommend that you also study topographic maps of the areas you are considering. Privately produced guidebooks are also available, which provide route descriptions, estimations of difficulty and travel time, and suggested itineraries. Maps and guidebooks can be purchased through 10th Mountain’s online store, and at many outdoor retailers. Using these resources, calculate route distances and elevation changes to determine which huts best suit your abilities. Keep in mind that you will be carrying a large pack uphill, at altitude in the winter, possibly breaking trail, and potentially in stormy or whiteout conditions. You do not want to overestimate your abilities, since the consequences could mean spending a night out, or worse. Call 10th Mountain at 970-925-5775 if you have questions. We can’t plan your trip for you, since only you can evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your group, but we may be able to provide further details or help compare new routes to trips you’ve done in the past, to help you make a final decision for yourself and you group. It is also helpful to remember these are communal-style huts that you may be sharing with other people. You can review our Hut Etiquette, Hygiene & Upkeep page for some helpful tips on how a little common-sense courtesy can help make everyone’s hut trip a memorable experience.
Step 2: Check Availability
Hut availability is shown on our website in 2 locations, accessible by selecting the Booking menu. On the Browse Availability page you can review your options, and on the Book Online page you can review and then book a reservation. You can also call us to learn more about the different huts and when they are available.
Step 3: Designate a Group Organizer
Decide who will be responsible for making the reservation and distributing all of the information to each member of the group. It is the responsibility of the group organizer to make sure that each person traveling to the hut returns a completed Waiver and Release form to 10th Mountain. Important Note for Group Leaders: Due to an increase in members of groups using and not paying for additional spaces at a hut (beyond what the group has actually reserved), and also not signing releases, additional responsibility and liability is being placed on the group leaders. In the Waiver and Release Agreement, group leaders will agree to indemnify 10th Mountain and other hut owners/operators for any liability for injuries, paralysis or death to any member of his/her group that does not sign a Waiver and Release Agreement. In addition, the group leader will be charged for any extra hut spaces that are utilized and otherwise unpaid for. We trust that this will encourage group leaders to reserve and pay for ALL spaces that will be used by their group, and ensure that all members of the group sign releases. Since the group organizer may not have the most experience in the backcountry, we suggest that your group discuss how decisions will be made in the field and who will be the leader, particularly if problems arise.
Step 4: Reserve Your Trip
Now you are ready to book your trip. See our How to Make a Reservation page, under the Trip Planning header in the main menu, for more details.
Step 5: Purchase Topographic Maps
If you have not already purchased maps when planning your trip, make sure you get the appropriate topographic maps for your specific hut, and study them with your group before you depart. The overview map, brochure map, and example maps included in this website are intended as an aid for trip planning only, and are not to be used for navigation. People who have had to spend an unplanned night out, or who were unable to locate a hut, most often were using an inadequate map, lacked route-finding skills, or got a late start. Though useful in trip planning and narrowing down hut choices, please do not mistake our brochure for a topographic map, or attempt to use it to navigate to a hut.
We also highly recommend carrying a GPS device (and knowing how to use it!), and downloading the .GPX file for your route ahead of time. These are available for download on each respective hut page, under the Trailheads/Routes header. However, while GPS can be a great tool for navigating, it should not be the sole resource you are relying upon to get you to the hut. You must also carry a map for backup, study the route ahead of time, and be comfortable navigating by map and compass, with only occasional trail markings.
Step 6: Prepare
If you are not experienced, take some backcountry ski day trips to get in shape and become familiar with the equipment. The first day of your hut trip is not the right day to try out new equipment! Study the maps. Decide which trailheads and routes you will use. Evaluate car shuttle requirements, if necessary. Discuss what your group will do if there is an emergency at the hut or on the trail. Refer to our What’s Provided & Equipment Lists page, and assemble the gear you will need. Plan the menu and shop for food. Before departing, check weather and avalanche reports. (Weather information is provided on each hut page, and CAIC is the best reference for up-to-date avalanche reports.) You can learn more about avoiding and handling emergencies, as well as Avalanche Hazard Information on our Field Info page.
Step 7: Return one signed waiver per person to 10th Mountain before departure.
Step 8: Bring your your trip confirmation letter showing your door lock combination(s) with you to the hut. This is imperative, as without the code, you will not be able to get into the hut!