Fowler-Hilliard Hut

Route Description

Begin at the Pando Trailhead. Ski east to the Eagle River and find a snow bridge to cross. Depending on snow levels you may have to ski north a bit to find a solid snow bridge. Then ski 1/4 mile east and northeast across Camp Hale. You’ll intersect a snow-covered north/south road at the base of the mountain. Turn left (N) and ski 1/2 mile to a right turn (NE) onto the McAllister Gulch jeep trail. This is where you leave the valley. Follow the road as it makes a climbing traverse N, then swings NE into McAllister Gulch. At about 9,400 feet you’ll encounter private property signs. These designate property on the northwest side of the road—skiers should stay on the road.

Put your head down and work a long 2 mile climb to the head of McAllister Gulch. At 10,440 feet take a right turn SE and continue slugging it out to 11,300 feet on the southwest ridge of Resolution Mountain (intersection with the route coming up from Resolution). Climb the ridge crest for a short distance to 11,400 feet. Next, take a 3/4-mile climbing traverse NE then N across the west face of Resolution Mountain, ending at the 11,700-foot saddle (Resolution Saddle) on the northwest ridge. On a clear day you can see the hut from here—a welcome sight after all the work. Ski down E from the saddle and cut a short traverse that leads you to a distinct east/west cleft called the Resolution Narrows. Take care to not ski N downhill from the saddle. Continue E down Resolution Narrows to the Fowler/Hilliard Hut in a clearing at 11,500 feet. For “bonus turns,” experts should consider ascending Resolution Mountain from the southwest ridge, then cutting turns down to the hut.

Locations of Observed or Reported Avalanche Activity: No avalanche activity has been reported along this suggested route.

Trailhead Directions

Transportation

Route Description

Start at the Main Camp Hale Trailhead and ski East across a vehicle bridge over the Eagle River for approximately .5 miles until you hit FSR 714. Turn left and ski North approximately .6 miles until you hit Resolution Creek Road, FSR 702. Take a right and ski 2 1/2 miles up the Resolution Road to 9,960 feet.

Leave the Resolution Road here and take a left (NW) onto a marked 10th Mountain trail. The blue diamonds take you up 980 vertical feet to a 10,940-foot saddle on the southwest ridge of Resolution Mountain. Most of this trail follows a distinct trail-cut through forest. In the occasional clearing take the time to zero in on the route with your map. Climb the southwest ridge of Resolution Mountain 3/4 mile to 11,400 feet (you’ll pass the intersection of route 9.1 at 11,300 feet). Next, take a 3/4-mile climbing traverse NE then N across the west face of Resolution Mountain, ending at 11,700-foot Resolution Saddle on the northwest ridge of Resolution Mountain. Ski down E from the saddle and cut a short traverse that leads you to a distinct east/west cleft called Resolution Narrows. Continue E down Resolution Narrows to the Fowler/Hilliard Hut in a clearing at 11,500 feet. In clear weather the hut is visible from Resolution Saddle. For “bonus turns” consider ascending Resolution Mountain, then cutting turns down to the hut.

Locations of Observed or Reported Avalanche Activity: No avalanche activity has been reported along this suggested route.

Trailhead Directions

Transportation

Route Description

Begin at the Red Cliff Trailhead. Ski up the distinct snow-covered Shrine Pass Road about 1.4 miles to 9,000 feet. You can use Nordic kick wax to here if you have it and know how to use it, or use narrow/short skins. Whatever you choose, put on your wider and longer skins here for the climb ahead. Leave the Shrine Pass Road and turn right (S) on the well-marked and heavily traveled Wearyman Creek Road. Ski up the Wearyman Creek Road 3/4 mile to 9,280 feet. Leave the Wearyman Creek drainage here and take a hard right on a westerly climbing traverse on the Hornsilver Mountain jeep trail. This turn is fairly obvious, but take care with your map reading.

Now the real push begins. Stay on the marked 10th Mountain suggested route as it winds through timber, climbing 2 1/2 miles SW to where you intersect the west ridge of Hornsilver Mountain at 11,200 feet near timberline. From here climb the ridge E to the summit of Hornsilver Mountain, then stick to the crest of Hornsilver Ridge as you ski 1 mile SE over one small bump to a major saddle at 11,450 feet. Stay on the ridge and continue climbing SE towards the summit of Resolution Mountain. After 1/2 mile and 242 feet of climbing, you’ll reach another smaller saddle at 11,700 feet (Resolution Saddle), a short distance below the summit of Resolution Mountain.

Leave the ridge here by skiing from the north side of the saddle on a short traverse E that leads you to a distinct east/west cleft (Resolution Narrows) that leads downhill E to the hut. Take care to not ski N downhill from the saddle—if you do this you’ll miss Resolution Narrows and have to camp in Wearyman Creek. Ski E down Resolution Narrows to the Fowler/Hilliard Hut in a clearing at 11,500 feet. The hut is visible from Resolution Saddle and from the east slopes of Resolution Mountain. To get some “bonus turns” experts should consider ascending Resolution Mountain from the southwest ridge, then cutting turns down to the hut.

Locations of Observed or Reported Avalanche Activity: No avalanche activity has been reported along this suggested route.

Trailhead Directions

Parking

Once you find the Shrine Pass Road, the best place to park is in Red Cliff on any side street or in the lot by the Marshal’s office. You can also drive just over a mile up the Shrine Pass Road to the water tank.

Transportation

Route Description

HUT TO HUT distances are usually longer than from trailhead to hut. Use winter specific topographic maps. Routes between huts are not often used so may not be tracked; navigation and breaking trail may be particularly challenging.

This is the shortest route from the Fowler/Hilliard Hut to the Shrine Mountain Inn. It’s a scenic challenge for those who have just reached “intermediate status” with wilderness skiing.

From the front steps of the Fowler/Hilliard Hut ski several hundred feet northeast through sparse timber, then drop a short distance to a timbered saddle at 11,480 feet. From here follow a distinct snow-covered logging road down into the Wearyman Creek drainage. Novice downhillers can relax on the low-angled switchbacks of this road. Experts can ski the glades between the switchbacks. In either case, be sure you are on the road when it makes a last switchback at 11,240 feet, then heads east and northeast on a low-angled traverse 1 1/2 miles to road’s end at 10,880 feet. Leave the road here and continue northeast on a marked 10th Mountain trail that descends through dense timber to a small clearing in the creek bottom at 10,830 feet. Continue northeast through the clearing, then climb a steep 150 vertical foot hill up into the elongated park at 11,000 feet.

Cross to the north side of the park, put your skins on, and climb east then northwest to 11,700 feet (timberline) on the west face of Shrine Mountain Ridge. Next, take a strict traverse 1 1/2 miles across the west face to Shrine Mountain Saddle (11,740 feet, the saddle just southeast of Shrine Mountain). This traverse passes through sparse timber and clearings at timberline. At the north end of Shrine Mountain Saddle, use your map and compass to get your exact travel direction. Next, you should look at the cornices and develop a safe strategy for egress from the saddle. Drop down the northeast side of the saddle, and immediately you’ll find an obvious trough. On the east side of this trough you’ll find the marked 10th Mountain suggested route. The blue diamonds take you along the east side of the trough for several hundred yards, then 1 mile northeast to the Shrine Mountain Inn.

This route includes almost 2 miles of timberline travel, where wind chill can make you wish for the sauna at the Inn, and poor visibility can break the best navigator. On the northeast side of Shrine Mountain Saddle take care to avoid any threatening wind-loaded slopes under the cornices. This is done by remaining on the small ridge east of the aforementioned trough.

Locations of Observed or Reported Avalanche Activity: No avalanche activity has been reported along this suggested route.

Transportation

Route Description

HUT TO HUT distances are usually longer than from trailhead to hut. Use winter specific topographic maps. Routes between huts are not often used so may not be tracked; navigation and breaking trail may be particularly challenging.

Before you leave the hut, identify the distinct east/west cleft of Resolution Narrows climbing up the north side of Resolution Mountain. Put on your skins. Ski the Resolution Narrows to 11,700-foot Resolution Saddle. Remove your skins at the saddle. Take a left (S) here and glide across the west face of Resolution Mountain to 11,400 feet on the southwest ridge. Drop down the southwest ridge 560 vertical feet (at 11,300 feet you’ll pass the right turn onto route 9.1) to a saddle at 10,950 feet. Turn left (SE) and drop down switchbacks 980 vertical feet to the distinct Resolution Road. Ski down the road to it intersection with Pearl Creek Road at 9,680ft.

Turn left (SE) off the Resolution Road onto another distinct road-cut that crosses a bridge over Resolution Creek. Once on the south side of the creek, look for a 10th Mountain marked trail that leaves the road-cut and heads directly into the Pearl Creek drainage. Follow this trail for 1 3/4 miles on the southwest side of the creek to 10,320 feet where you cross to the northeast side of the drainage and climb another 1/2 mile to 10,560 feet. Make a 90-degree turn and climb through willows and clearings to 11,000 feet, then out of Pearl Creek to an 11,420-foot saddle on the ridge between Pearl Creek and the East Fork of the Eagle River.

From the saddle, stick to the ridge and ski 3/4 mile to the open clearing at the highest point on the ridge (11,716 feet), then drop 56 vertical feet SW to the Jackal Hut (11,660 feet) which sits just below and to the south of the highest part of the ridge. The building is visible from several hundred feet away, but you can miss it if you are skiing on the north side of the wide ridge crest, especially in a whiteout. If you know how long it takes you to ski 3/4 mile and you use your altimeter, you’ll be sure to find it.

Locations of Observed or Reported Avalanche Activity: No avalanche activity has been reported along this suggested route.

Transportation

Route Description

CAMP HALE FROM MINTURN: Drive I-70 5 miles W from Vail Resort or 55 miles E from Glenwood Springs and turn off at the Minturn Exit (Exit 171) onto Highway 24. Travel S on Highway 24 approximately 16.5 miles to mile marker 160 and turn left into Camp Hale.

CAMP HALE FROM LEADVILLE: From the intersection of Highways 91 and 24 located N of Leadville, turn onto Highway 24 and drive approximately 14.5 miles and turn right into Camp Hale.

4WD High Clearance Access/FOWLER-HILLIARD FROM CAMP HALE: Once you have turned off of paved Highway 24 at the main Camp Hale location, continue for .5 miles on the now dirt road, crossing the Eagle River on the vehicle bridge. After the bridge you will arrive at a T-intersection. Turn left onto the Eagle River Road (FS Road 714) and drive .7 miles where you will veer right onto Resolution Creek Road (FS Road 702) and continue for about 5.0 miles. Next, make a hard left onto FS Road 751 and continue for about 2.1 miles where you will take a left onto the Fowler-Hilliard access road. This spur road leads to the designated hut parking area and closure gate. Gear carts are provided and the walk to the hut from the parking is 1/3 mile. Return the carts after use unless you have reserved the whole hut.

Transportation