The Huts > 10th Mountain Division Hut Association > Sangree M. Froelicher Hut

Sangree M. Froelicher Hut

Formerly the privately owned Belvedere Hut, the Sangree M. Froelicher Hut was purchased in 2003 by 10th Mountain, thanks to the generous support of many donors. The hut’s name honors Staff Sergeant Sangree Mitchell Froelicher, 1st Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 86th Mountain Infantry, who was killed in action in Sassomalare, Italy, on March 4, 1945. The hut was built in 1998. 10th Mountain is also pleased to offer the Alpine Resource Center at Sangree’s Hut. The Alpine Resource Center is a unique 600 square foot area with its own heat stove, and a comfortable reading, study, and seminar area on the lower level of the hut. For more information on Sangree M. Froelicher and his heroic story please read the Sangree M. Froelicher Extended History.

Hut Information

Owned By

10th Mountain Division Hut Association

Open

Summer / Winter

Winter Mileage*

3.1

Closest Town

Leadville

Hut Elevation

11,650 '

Cumulative Elevation Gain *

1,477'

Layout

Upstairs: 1 room with 4 single beds, 1 room with 3 single beds, and 10 single beds in a communal sleeping area.

*from Buckeye Gulch Trailhead

Amenities

Heat

Wood

Oven

Wood

Refrigeration

No

Water

Cistern, Stream*, Snow Melt**

Toilet

Outhouse

Ada Accessible

No

Sauna

No

Fire Ring

Yes*

Grill

No

Dogs

No

Charging

None

Gear Cart

No

* Summer only
** Winter only

Details

  • Firewood, starter paper, matches, axes
  • Propane for kitchen burners
  • 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 sink dispenses water from roof-top cistern (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

Book This Hut

Capacity

16

Price

$40/person/night*
*Children 12 & Under 50% Off

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

Location

39.32676, -106.25304

Official 10th Mountain Division Map

CalTopo

Winter Map : Continental Divide E/W + Betty Bear Map

View / Print

National Geographic

Map : Breckenridge/Tennessee Pass

USFS

Map : San Isabel National Forest

Trailheads/Routes

The main winter route into the Sangree M. Froelicher Hut follows a combinations of ski trails and old road cuts. Most of the climbing is in the first 2/3rds of the ski in. The first part of the ski trail crosses private property so please be respectful and stay on the marked trail.

Winter Hut Information PDF

Routes

Sangree M. Froelicher Hut from Buckeye Gulch Trailhead/Standard Winter Route

Total Mileage

3.1

Trailhead Elevation

10,180'

Cumulative Elevation Gain

1,477'

Sangree M. Froelicher Hut from Ski Cooper Trailhead

Total Mileage

5.6

Trailhead Elevation

10,480'

Cumulative Elevation Gain

1,831'

Cumulative Elevation Loss

621'

Hut to Hut/Sangree M. Froelicher Hut to Emmelyn Hut

Total Mileage

2.7

Trailhead Elevation

11,650'

Cumulative Elevation Gain

417'

Cumulative Elevation Loss

936'

The best access into the Sangree Froelicher Hut during the summer is hiking or biking along the marked winter ski trail. The Mt Zion Road does run near the hut but is extremely rough even for 4wd vehicles and is not recommended for summer access. Vehicle access is never guaranteed to any hut at any time.

For day hikes around Sangree Froelicher you drop down into the basin below Buckeye Peak and hike to Buckeye Lake or hike to the top of Buckeye Peak itself for beautiful views of the Sawatch Range.

Summer Water Source Information
Summer Hut Information PDF

Routes

Hike on Trail/Dirt Road Combo Buckeye Gulch Trailhead to Sangree M. Froelicher Hut

Total Mileage

3.1

Trailhead Elevation

10,180'

Extreme 4WD High Clearance to Sangree M. Froelicher Hut via FS Rd 109 (aka Mt. Zion Rd)

Hut-Specific Weather

Overnight : Mostly clear, with a low around 18. North wind around 5 mph.

Sunday : Sunny, with a high near 34. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Sunday Night : Snow showers likely after 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 9. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Monday : Snow showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 12. Wind chill values as low as -11. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of around one inch possible.

Monday Night : Snow showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 0. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Tuesday : A chance of snow showers before 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 9. West northwest wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.

Tuesday Night : Mostly clear, with a low around 4. West northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Wednesday : Mostly sunny, with a high near 26. West northwest wind around 10 mph.

Wednesday Night : Partly cloudy, with a low around 12. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday : A slight chance of snow showers after 5pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 30. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday Night : A slight chance of snow showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 14. West wind around 10 mph.

Friday : A slight chance of snow showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 30. West wind around 10 mph.

Friday Night : A slight chance of snow showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 12. West wind around 10 mph.

Saturday : A slight chance of snow showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 27. West wind around 10 mph.

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.

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