Jackal Hut

Route Description

From the South Camp Hale Trailhead, ski NE across the flats of Camp Hale, look for a snow bridge that might exist to cross the Eagle River, and intersect the road at the base of the mountain. Turn right (SE) and ski the snow-covered road 1/4 mile to the well-signed intersection with the Ranch Creek Road. If you haven’t put on skins yet, put them on here. Take a left (N) on the Ranch Creek Road and follow a distinct road-cut that climbs Ranch Creek 2 miles to 10,700 feet. Here you’ll break into a clearing with several beautiful old cabins. Climb NE through the clearing and re-enter the timber at about 10,900 feet. Follow the trail up several switchbacks. Strong skiers will certainly want to cut some of these switchbacks. If you do so, take care to relocate the suggested route.

At 11,220 feet the trail takes an important right turn (E), then climbs 1/4 mile (around 2 more switchbacks) to a large open area on the ridge. Follow the ridge E for 1/2 mile to the ridge top at 11,716 feet. As you are skiing along the flat, sparsely timbered ridge top, you’ll see the stove pipes of the hut and a tall lightning mast down to your right. In poor visibility take care not to overshoot the hut. Your altimeter can help prevent this, since the main goal is the high point of the ridge. Ski a few hundred feet E along the ridge top, then double back W 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

This 10th Mountain suggested route is the longest trail to the Jackal Hut. Most often, the Pearl Creek section is used as part of the ski-through between the Jackal and Fowler/Hilliard huts.

From the Camp Hale Trailhead ski northeast 1/2 mile across a bridge over the Eagle River to intersect a snow-covered road running north/south at the base of the mountain. Turn left and ski north 3/4 mile, then turn right on the distinct Resolution Road. Ski 1 1/2 miles  up the Resolution Road to 9,678 feet.

Turn right (SE) off the Resolution Road onto another distinct road-cut that crosses a bridge over Resolution Creek. The route to this point is groomed for snowmobiles and heavily used by snowmobiles. Expect and respect all users. 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 which is not permitted for snowmobiles. 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.

REVERSE ROUTE: From the front steps of Jackal Hut, traverse NE several hundred feet to the ridge crest. Descend the ridge E for 3/4 mile to the distinct 11,420-foot saddle. Drop down the north side of the saddle into Pearl Creek. You can make turns for a few hundred vertical feet, but make sure you’re on the 10th Mountain marked trail when the willows begin at 11,000 feet, otherwise you’ll “wander in the willows.” Intersect Pearl Creek at 10,560 feet and cross to the north side of the creek. Descend the Pearl Creek drainage to Resolution Road in the Resolution Creek drainage. Ski Resolution Road SW 2 miles downvalley to Camp Hale. If visibility is poor in Camp Hale you might have trouble finding the trailhead and bridge. In this case you can strike cross country to Highway 24, your only obstacles being the Eagle River and up to a mile of trail breaking. In midwinter you can usually find a snow bridge over the Eagle River.

SAFETY NOTES: Use your survival ski skills on the descent from the 11,420-foot saddle.

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

Trailhead Directions

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.

From the front steps of Jackal Hut, traverse NE several hundred feet to the ridge crest. Descend the ridge E for 3/4 mile to the distinct 11,420-foot saddle. Drop down the north side of the saddle into Pearl Creek. You can make turns for a few hundred vertical feet, but make sure you’re on the 10th Mountain marked trail when the willows begin at 11,000 feet, otherwise you’ll “wander in the willows.” Intersect Pearl Creek at 10,560 feet and cross to the north side of the creek. Descend the Pearl Creek drainage to Resolution Road in the Resolution Creek drainage. Take a right and head up Resolution Creek 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.

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 10th Mountain suggested route is the standard ski-through route from the Jackal Hut to Vance’s Cabin.

From the front steps of the Jackal Hut traverse NE several hundred feet to the ridge crest. Descend the ridge E for 3/4 mile to the distinct 11,420-foot saddle dividing the Cataract Creek and Pearl Creek drainages. Continue SE from the saddle over point 11,475 to another 11,420-foot saddle. Drop S from here into the Cataract Creek drainage and intersect the Cataract Creek jeep trail at 10,720 feet. Descend the jeep trail to the valley floor of the Eagle River drainage.

Follow a snow-covered main road for 1/4 mile upvalley. Just after the snow-covered road crosses the East Fork of the Eagle River (no bridge), leave the main road and ski right (S) several hundred feet across a flat area. Swing SW and begin a climbing traverse that leads up a marked trail-cut for 2 miles through timber to Jones Gulch. Stay on the northeast side of Jones Creek and parallel the creek to a marshy clearing at the 10,400-foot level.

Follow the marked trail W along the north side of the clearing, then continue on a climbing traverse NW (on sections of road and trail) to 10,600 feet on a shoulder. Swing S and climb the shoulder to 11,033 feet. From here the trail leaves the crest of the shoulder and follows a long 1 1/2-mile climbing traverse through medium density timber to the lower edge of a burn area at 11,000 feet on the west shoulder of Taylor Hill.

The hut sits at the lower southwest end of the burn on the side of a rise and is hard to see when you enter the burn. However, there are structures near the hut that you can see from a little farther away.

SAFETY NOTES:
For the most part, the Cataract Creek jeep trail keeps you out of a steep-sided gulch. One section of the road, however, from 10,360 feet down to the creek crossing at 10,160 feet, would take you under a dangerous steep bank. You bypass this to the east on a short route with standard 10th Mountain markings.

Locations of Observed or Reported Avalanche Activity: Avalanche activity has been reported along this suggested route at locations indicated below. Elevations indicate approximate elevation where the slides crossed the trail, not the starting zones.

• Approx. 1 3/4 mile up Cataract Creek on the Colorado Trail, small bank on skier’s left (10,240′). D1-2.

Avalanche size/destructive force is scaled according to the American Avalanche Association as follows:

• D1 – Relatively harmless to people
• 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

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.

It is possible to connect these two terrific huts but much of the terrain is prone to avalanche hazards. You should carry avalanche rescue equipment and be expert with hazard avoidance. Ski this route during a period of stable snow, such as a cold day during the spring corn-snow season. Plan wisely, consult maps and other sources for additional information, and travel wisely.

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.

Extreme 4WD High Clearance Access/JACKAL HUT 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 right onto the Eagle River Road (FS Road 714) and drive 1 mile, where you will make a hard left turn onto Ranch Creek Road (FS Road 755) and continue for about 3.2 miles. Parking for the Jackal Hut is located just off of FS Road 755 and it’s a short walk down the access road to the hut.

Transportation