The Huts > 10th Mountain Division Hut Association > Benedict Huts > Fritz Hut
Benedict Huts Fritz 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*
5.9
Closest Town
Aspen
Hut Elevation
11,370 '
Cumulative Elevation Gain *
2,895'
Layout
3 small bedrooms with double beds, 3 single beds in the main room, and 1 daybed that doubles as a couch.
*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)
- 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
Fritz Hut from Hunter Creek Trailhead/Standard Winter Route
Total Mileage
5.9
Trailhead Elevation
8,380'
Cumulative Elevation Gain
2,895'
Fritz Hut from Upper Hunter Creek Drop-Off Limited Parking
Total Mileage
5.3
Trailhead Elevation
8,691'
Cumulative Elevation Gain
2,507'
Hut to Hut/Fritz 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'
Hut-Specific Weather
Tonight : Partly cloudy, with a low around 18. East southeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday : Sunny, with a high near 43. South southwest wind 0 to 5 mph.
Saturday Night : Mostly clear, with a low around 19. South southeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday : Mostly sunny, with a high near 40. West southwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night : A chance of snow showers after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21. West southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Monday : A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.
Monday Night : A chance of snow showers before 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.
Tuesday : Mostly sunny, with a high near 37.
Tuesday Night : A chance of snow showers after 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.
Christmas Day : Snow showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 33. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.
Wednesday Night : A chance of snow showers before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.
Thursday : A slight chance of snow showers after 5pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 34.
Thursday Night : A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.
Friday : A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 30. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.
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 and the Friends’ Hut, 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 not closed for avalanche hazard reasons.