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

Capacity

6

Price

$222/night*
*Children 12 & Under 50% Off

Visit our Online Booking Platform to search for availability and book this hut.

Location

39.179047, -106.755524

Official 10th Mountain Division Map

CalTopo

Winter Map : Mt. Yeckel N/S Map

View / Print

National 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
55˚ F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

15 to 25 mph
Winds

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
27˚ F

Chance T-storms

5 to 10 mph
Winds

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
46˚ F

Slight Chance Snow Showers

5 to 10 mph
Winds

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
26˚ F

Mostly Cloudy

0 to 10 mph
Winds

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. West southwest wind 0 to 10 mph.

Wednesday

Mostly Sunny
49˚ F

Mostly Sunny

0 to 10 mph
Winds

Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. West wind 0 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night

Mostly Clear
26˚ F

Mostly Clear

5 to 10 mph
Winds

Mostly clear, with a low around 26.

Thursday

Sunny
56˚ F

Sunny

5 to 10 mph
Winds

Sunny, with a high near 56.

Thursday Night

Clear
30˚ F

Clear

5 to 10 mph
Winds

Clear, with a low around 30.

Friday

Sunny
58˚ F

Sunny

5 to 10 mph
Winds

Sunny, with a high near 58.

Friday Night

Mostly Clear
32˚ F

Mostly Clear

5 to 10 mph
Winds

Mostly clear, with a low around 32.

Saturday

Sunny
59˚ F

Sunny

5 to 10 mph
Winds

Sunny, with a high near 59.

Saturday Night

Mostly Clear
33˚ F

Mostly Clear

5 to 10 mph
Winds

Mostly clear, with a low around 33.

Sunday

Sunny
59˚ F

Sunny

5 to 10 mph
Winds

Sunny, with a high near 59.

Sunday Night

Mostly Clear
32˚ F

Mostly Clear

5 to 10 mph
Winds

Mostly clear, with a low around 32.

Raw Data

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.

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