Shrine Mountain Inn Walter’s Downstairs

Route Description

From the Vail Pass Trailhead ski up the snow-covered Shrine Pass Road a few hundred feet to the first switchback. A signboard here indicates the non-motorized trail you’ll follow up West Tenmile Creek to Shrine Mountain Inn. Follow the route, marked intermittently with blue plastic diamonds, 2.5 miles to a flat nondescript area known as Shrine Pass. The pass looks more like a large park than the classic “pass summit” you get used to seeing in the Rocky Mountains. Nevertheless, it is the divide between the Turkey Creek and West Tenmile Creek drainages. Once you’re at Shrine Pass be very careful to turn southwest and find the marked trail that continues to Shrine Mountain Inn via a snow-covered road and gate. The obvious road-cut leads through the forest .2 mile south to Shrine Mountain Inn (Walter’s Cabin is visible from several hundred feet down the road).

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

Trailhead Directions

Route Description

This route follows the well-used, snow-covered Shrine Pass Road. It is a long trip with comparatively easy navigation. Thus, this is a good “classroom tour” for the freshman backcountry skier. Note you’ll share the road with snowmobiles.

In the town of Red Cliff find the Shrine Pass Road and reconnoiter your parking (see Red Cliff Trailhead). In general, remember that you will follow the distinct, snow-covered Shrine Pass Road up the Turkey Creek drainage to Shrine Pass. At Shrine Pass you leave the main road and take a dedicated 10th Mountain suggested route to the Shrine Mountain Inn.

Start with shorter, skinnier skins or Nordic kick wax as you’ll be following a fairly low angled snow-covered road. At 2 1/2 miles (9,000 feet) on the Shrine Pass Road you’ll pass an obvious intersection at Wearyman Creek, where a lesser used route goes to the Fowler/Hilliard hut. Take care to stay on the Shrine Pass Road and continue 4 miles up Turkey Creek to the only switchback on the road in a large clearing at 10,360 feet. In poor weather it is possible to lose track of the road here, especially with high winds. Just remember that the road leaves the gut of the drainage and climbs east through the clearing (staying on the north side of the drainage). The important thing is to find the road as it re-enters timber at the east end of the clearing.

Just 1/4 mile into the timber (10,660 feet) you’ll pass the left (north) turnoff of the Lime Creek Road. Stay on the Shrine Pass Road and continue east then southeast through light timber to Shrine Pass, a nondescript, flat clearing that forms the divide between Turkey Creek and West Tenmile Creek. Ski to the east end of the Shrine Pass clearing. Look for a White River National Forest sign facing east. Ski west from this sign several hundred yards across a clear area and enter a conifer forest at a gate. Follow an obvious road-cut through the forest 1/4 mile south to the Shrine Mountain Inn. Use your map, compass, altimeter and GPS for insurance. Walter’s Cabin is visible from several hundred feet down the road.

Be sure to stay on the Shrine Pass Road, as there are several tempting turnoffs along the way. Don’t let the ease of following this road lull you into complacent route-finding—use your skills. The Shrine Pass Road is heavily used by snowmobiles, so keep your eyes and ears open, and be courteous.

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

This is a popular, traditional tour. It is named for the commandos of the 10th Mountain Division who used the route for informal training during the Camp Hale training days in the 1940s. For the first 8 miles the Commando Run follows a superb timbered ridge with several summits that poke just above timberline, offering great views. This route is higher and longer than most 10th Mountain suggested routes and has more downhill skiing. Thus, you’ll find it a nice alternative if you have the skills to enjoy it.

Note the Commando Run is a section of the Colorado Trail, a “trans-state” route that connects Durango and Denver. The Colorado Trail is marked with small white triangles that say Colorado Trail. While these markers may be buried in the snowpack, you may see a few and should know what they signify. The traditional Commando Run starts at Vail Pass, but this description starts at the Shrine Mountain Inn.

From the Shrine Mountain Inn ski to Shrine Pass. Ski the snow-covered Shrine Pass Road 1 1/4 miles down Turkey Creek (good downhill cruising) to 10,660 feet. Leave the Shrine Pass Road here (time for skins) and take a right (north) turn onto the Lime Creek Road. A sign here says Lime Creek Road No. 728, but the sign may be covered by snow.

Ski up the Lime Creek Road 1/2 mile to a low-angled area (10,990 feet). The road forks here, with a sign indicating Timber Creek to the right and Lime Creek to the left. Take a left (west) and ski several hundred feet up the Lime Creek Road to a lightly timbered area. This is where the real backcountry skiing begins. Watch carefully for an indistinct signpost on the right that says Colorado Trail. Turn right (north) off the Lime Creek Road and follow the Colorado Trail to the upper left (west) of the light timber, then contour around the left (west) side of point 11,611 at about the 11,400- foot level.

From the west side of point 11,611 follow the ridge to the summits of points 11,710 and 11,696. Enjoy terrific views that include famous 14er Mount of the Holy Cross. Strip your climbing skins, then descend north to a heavily timbered saddle. Stay on the ridge from the saddle, climb a bit, then contour around the left (west) side of point 11,618. Take care with your route-finding here, as you can get too far west and end up in Two Elk Creek. Descend the ridge to Two Elk Pass and enjoy the open views. Dig out your map, spot the back bowls of Vail Ski Area (all the south-facing terrain west of Siberia Peak is part of the ski area), and identify your next goal, Siberia Peak, the highest point on the Commando Run. Put on your skins and sweat it out.

At the summit of Siberia Peak head west along a narrow ridge crest until you are following the ski area boundary, which takes you to a catwalk on the ridge. Follow the catwalk to the restaurant/lift terminus, pick up a trail map, then ski north down the ski area to Vail. Take care not to ski down into the Vail bowls, as you need a lift ticket to get back up!

REVERSE ROUTE: The best way to begin is to ride Vail ski lifts 21 and 22, and ski to the summit of Siberia Peak. Drop to Two Elk Pass (if the skiing is good strip your skins, then re-skin at the pass) and stay on the ridge south of Two Elk Pass for 1 3/4 miles to points 11,696 and 11,710. Take care in the timber past Two Elk Pass, it is all too easy to drop into Two Elk Creek.

Still sticking to the ridge, swing east at point 11,710 and ridge run to point 11,611. Drop down the southeast side of point 11,611 to intersect the Lime Creek Road in a sparsely timbered area at 10,840 feet. Ski the Lime Creek Road downhill east to a low-angled area and continue downhill east to the Shrine Pass Road. Climb the Shrine Pass Road to Shrine Pass, then follow routes described on this webpage to the Shrine Mountain Inn or Vail Pass.

The east side of Siberia Peak is steep and often capped by a dangerous cornice. Other slopes on the peak are usually wind scoured into stability, but should be carefully examined for avalanche hazard. Good emergency egress can be made down Two Elk Creek to the bottom of the Vail Bowl ski lifts. Remember that the lifts may be closed, and that Two Elk Creek has some narrow sections with possible bank sluff hazard and danger from avalanche control in the Vail bowls. You can get good weather and avalanche information by dialing 4652 on the red phones within the Vail Ski Area.

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

Trailhead Directions

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 Shrine Mountain Inn climb SW 1 mile and 531 vertical feet to Shrine Mountain Saddle (11,740 feet). This is the first saddle southeast of Shrine Mountain. Enjoy the awesome view of the Holy Cross Mountains and take the time to evaluate your position. For the next 1 1/4 miles the trail stays above timberline, skirting and gradually dropping around the west side of Shrine Mountain Ridge. In poor or deteriorating weather you should consider turning back.

Continuing from Shrine Mountain Saddle, use your compass, map, and altimeter to make an accurate dropping traverse to timberline on the southwest face of the ridge, on the north side of the Wearyman Creek drainage. From here you can ski directly down to the apex of the drainage at 11,000 feet or take a more gradual dropping traverse SE into the drainage. With good snow you can make some fine turns with the former option. Novice downhillers should stick to the latter.

At 11,040 feet in the Wearyman Creek drainage you’ll be in an elongated park. Near the lower (west) end of the park find the channel where Wearyman Creek leaves the park. Here you’ll find the marked 10th Mountain suggested route. It crosses to the west side of Wearyman Creek for a short distance, enters the trees on a trail that may be packed by snowcat, and drops down a steep hill to a small clearing. From the clearing stay on the 10th Mountain suggested route as it climbs SW through forest for a short distance to a distinct logging road (10,880 feet). Follow this road SW 1 3/4 miles to about 11,200 feet, where it begins to climb SE via a series of low-angled, inefficient switchbacks. If you’re using wax you might like these switchbacks. Many skiers, however, put their skins on and cut directly up the hill, use the switchbacks for reference, and regain the 10th Mountain suggested route at the last switchback.

Whatever your choice in routes, once you gain the ridge at the 11,460-foot level (Ptarmigan Ridge), follow it W then SW 1/3 mile to the Fowler/Hilliard Hut. You can not see the hut until you reach the small knob several hundred yards southeast of the site.

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

There is a good variation for this route that gives you a lot more high altitude ridge-running and alpine feeling. Simply stay on Shrine Mountain Ridge all the way to the saddle that divides the Wearyman and Wilder drainages. From the saddle climb S to Ptarmigan Pass, then ascend the ridge W to the summit of Ptarmigan Hill. Drop down the west side of Ptarmigan Hill to a distinct road-cut. Ski the road W as it skirts the south side of Ptarmigan Ridge and then intersects the 10th Mountain marked route leading W along the ridge to the Fowler/Hilliard Hut. Only use this route with excellent weather.

Transportation

Route Description

Summer Driving Directions: 4-Wheel Drive/High Clearance Recommended

Drive 1-70 14.3 miles east from Vail or 5.4 miles west from Copper Mountain Resort. Take Exit 190. From the rest area side of the highway, continue straight through the 4-way intersection and get on to FS Road 709 (Shrine Pass Road), drive for approximately 2.5 miles. You will arrive at the top of the pass where there is an outhouse and the Shrine Ridge Trailhead parking area on the left. Just before the entrance to the trailhead parking, turn left on to the Shrine Mountain Inn “driveway” and past the property’s gate (if closed it will not be locked, just enter and close the gate behind you). Continue on the driveway for approximately 1/3 mile. Jay’s Cabin is the first cabin on the right, followed by Chuck’s, and to get to Walter’s keep going – the road veers slightly left and dead-ends at the parking spots for Walter’s Cabin.

Parking

There are signs marking where guests should park for each cabin. From the parking at Walter’s it is a very short walk to the cabin, a gear cart is provided (please return after use unless your group has booked Walter’s Up and Down exclusively). There are no gear carts at Jay’s or Chuck’s.

Transportation

Route Description

Summer Driving Directions: 4-Wheel Drive/High Clearance Recommended

Drive I-70 5 miles west from Vail or 55 miles east from Glenwood Springs to the Minturn exit (Exit 171). Travel south on Highway 24 approximately 10 miles to a left turn-off that leads a short distance down into a canyon and into Red Cliff.

FS Road 709 leaves from the northeast corner of Red Cliff. It starts out as Turkey Creek Road, which you will follow for the first 2.5 miles. Turkey Creek Road will then slightly turn left and become Shrine Pass Road. Continue on Shrine Pass Road for about 4.1 miles. Next, turn left to stay on Shrine Pass Road and continue for about 2.3 miles. You will arrive at the top of Shrine Pass where there is an outhouse and the Shrine Mountain Trailhead parking area on the right. Just after the entrance to the trailhead parking, turn right on to the Shrine Mountain Inn “driveway” and past the property’s gate (if closed it will not be locked, just enter and close the gate behind you). Continue on the driveway for approximately 1/3 mile. Jay’s Cabin is the first cabin on the right, followed by Chuck’s, and to get to Walter’s keep going – the road veers slightly left and dead-ends at the parking spots for Walter’s Cabin.

Parking

There are signs marking where guests should park for each cabin. From the parking at Walter’s it is a very short walk to the cabin, a gear cart is provided (please return after use unless your group has booked Walter’s Up and Down exclusively). There are no gear carts at Jay’s or Chuck’s.

Transportation