The Huts > 10th Mountain Division Hut Association > Benedict Huts > Fabi Hut
Benedict Huts Fabi Hut
Tucked away at the edge of the Hunter-Frying Pan Wilderness, high above Aspen, the Benedict Huts are beautifully crafted cabins built in 1997 to honor the late Fritz Benedict and his wife, Fabi, the spiritual parents of the 10th Mountain Division Hut System. Fritz and a small group of Aspenites first conceived of the hut system in the early 1980s, modeled on European mountain refuges Fritz had seen as a Tenth Mountain Division trooper during World War II. The 10th Mountain Hut System started as a trail network and has matured into the premier hut system of the Colorado Rockies.
The Benedict Huts are adjoined by boardwalks on a remote, wooded hilltop surrounded by a vast and virtually untouched winter wilderness. For outhouse aficionados, there is no finer facility than the shared commode at Benedict Huts, with its glassed-in wall fronting the dense forest wilderness.
Hut Information
Owned By
10th Mountain Division Hut Association
Open
Winter
Winter Mileage*
6.1
Closest Town
Aspen
Hut Elevation
10,970'
Cumulative Elevation Gain*
2,895'
Layout
2 single daybeds that double as couches, a double bed in the main room, and 1 bedroom with a double bed.
*from Hunter Creek Trailhead
Amenities
Heat
Wood
Oven
Propane
Refrigeration
No
Water
Cistern, Snow Melt**
Toilet
Outhouse
Ada Accessible
Yes†
Sauna
No
Fire Ring
No
Grill
No
Dogs
No
Charging
None
Gear Cart
No
** Winter only
† Applies to the hut structure, not to route considerations
Details
- Firewood, starter paper, matches, axes
- Propane for kitchen burners and oven
- Cupboard or closet for cold food storage
- Snow collection buckets and large pot for melting snow on wood-burning heat stove (suggested use of snowmelt water is for drinking and cooking)
- Hand pump in kitchen dispenses water from cistern filled with roof-catchment system (suggested use of cistern water is for cleaning only)
- Pots, pans, potholders, dishware, cooking and eating utensils, percolator, salt & pepper
- Paper towels, dish soap, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, trash bags, toilet paper
- Solar powered lights
- Mattresses, pillows
- Slippers
Book This Hut
Visit our Online Booking Platform to search for availability and book this hut.
Location
Official 10th Mountain Division Map
CalTopo
Winter Map : Mt. Yeckel N/S Map
View / PrintNational Geographic
Map : Aspen, Independence Pass
USFS
Map : White River National Forest
Trailheads/Routes
Hut access is via Hunter Creek or Smuggler Mountain, where one may ski right from Aspen. For advanced ski tourers who enjoy a route-finding challenge, the Benedict Huts offer a rarely traveled link to the McNamara Hut via Hunter Creek and Bald Knob.
Routes
Fabi Hut from Hunter Creek Trailhead/Standard Winter Route
Total Mileage
6.1
Trailhead Elevation
8,380'
Cumulative Elevation Gain
2,895'
Fabi Hut from Upper Hunter Creek Drop-Off Limited Parking/Standard Winter Route
Total Mileage
5.3
Trailhead Elevation
8,691'
Cumulative Elevation Gain
2,507'
Hut to Hut/Fabi Hut to McNamara Hut via No Name Creek
Total Mileage
7.5
Trailhead Elevation
8,691'
Cumulative Elevation Gain
1,520'
Cumulative Elevation Loss
2,120'
Weather
Current Condition
Today
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
A slight chance of rain showers before noon, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 55. South southwest wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tonight
Chance T-storms
Showers and thunderstorms likely before 7pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 7pm and 9pm, then a chance of thunderstorms and a chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Tuesday
Slight Chance Snow Showers
A slight chance of snow showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 46. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tuesday Night
Mostly Cloudy
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. West southwest wind 0 to 10 mph.
Wednesday
Mostly Sunny
Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. West wind 0 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night
Mostly Clear
Mostly clear, with a low around 26.
Thursday
Sunny
Sunny, with a high near 56.
Thursday Night
Clear
Clear, with a low around 30.
Friday
Sunny
Sunny, with a high near 58.
Friday Night
Mostly Clear
Mostly clear, with a low around 32.
Saturday
Sunny
Sunny, with a high near 59.
Saturday Night
Mostly Clear
Mostly clear, with a low around 33.
Sunday
Sunny
Sunny, with a high near 59.
Sunday Night
Mostly Clear
Mostly clear, with a low around 32.
Contents
Notices
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.
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.