Uncle Bud’s Hut

Route Description

Begin at the Turquoise Lake Trailhead. Ski west up a main snow-covered road. At about 3 1/2 miles from the trailhead (exact distance depending on where you parked) leave the main road by turning right (N) onto a well-defined road-cut. There is a stake here with the road number 107, but this may be covered by snow. All the following mileages are measured from this turn.

Put your skins on and follow Road 107 as it climbs N through conifer. If you notice, just 1/4 mile after turning from the main road you’ll pass an intersection at 10,570 feet. Be sure to stay north on Road 107 here. It can be all too easy, especially on an overcast day, to lose your bearings. At 1/2 mile from the main road you’ll pass under a power line at 10,730 feet. This is a good landmark and altimeter calibration point. After the power line the road climbs N a short distance, swings W for about 1/3 mile, then makes a short steep climb N several hundred feet to a mining area in some flats (11,000 feet). Stay on the road in this area, as several dangerous open shafts may be hidden by snow. Though most mine evidence will be obscured by snow, you’ll see lots of unnatural looking mounds and some wood ruins.

Ski W on Road 107 through the mining area, then begin a climb NW for 1/2 mile (still on the road) to a clearing at 11,280 feet. The road to this point follows the ridge between St. Kevin Creek and Turquoise Lake, so as long as you’re climbing you’re on the route. At the 11,280-foot clearing the 10th Mountain suggested route leaves Road 107 and takes a climbing traverse another 1/4 mile NW to Uncle Bud’s Hut (11,380 feet) at the top end of the clearing. The hut is visible from several hundred yards below. The possible mistake here would be to stay on Road 107 and traverse below the hut. You can see the hut from Road 107, so keep looking uphill for it. If in doubt use your GPS as you get close.

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.

Ski SW and W from Uncle Bud’s Hut a short distance down into the clearing in the drainage (Bud’s Gulch) west of the hut. Cross to the west side of the clearing and locate the obvious Forest Service “double post” trailhead sign (11,240 feet); this marks the Main Range/Colorado Trail. Ski W out of Bud’s Gulch on the Main Range/Colorado Trail. It takes a short climb up over a timbered rib, then traverses 1/4 mile to the top of a clearing at 11,240 feet. Ski downhill a short distance, then ski between north and south Galena Lakes. Continue W then SW to pass the south edge of a small lake and climb via several switchbacks to timberline (11,400 feet) on the south ridge of Galena Mountain.
From timberline descend an open slope W and SW and take care to find the trail as it enters the trees. Descend this trail 2 miles through forest to 10,040 feet in the Lake Fork drainage. Here you join the Glacier Creek trail that climbs to the Skinner Hut from the Turquoise Lake Road. It’s very important to find this trail, since it follows the only feasible route to the hut.

For positive identification of the Glacier Creek trail, remember that the trail leaves the road at the upper north end of a curve that turns from west to south. The Glacier Creek trail is marked with blue diamonds. You’ll see a Forest Service trailhead marker after you start up the trail that indicates Timberline Lake Trail, but the marker can’t be seen from the road.

After leaving the Turquoise Lake Road, follow the Glacier Creek route as it stays in the valley for a short distance, then bears left and follows a distinct cut through the forest. Soon you’ll be on a steep climb through small clearings and timber, then break into a large clearing at 10,760 feet. This is called the Lunch Spot. Take a rest so you’re ready for the next section of trail— steep climbing ahead! Continue upvalley from the Lunch Spot across open flats. Enter the woods again at the upper end of the last clearing. From here the trail climbs steeply up the apex of the drainage, eventually reaching a small clearing at 11,400 feet. This is where the real challenge begins.

Cross the bottom end of the clearing (one at a time for possible avalanche danger), then follow a series of steep sidehill switchbacks that climb through forest to the Hagerman Pass Road at 11,600 feet. Turn left (E), ski the road a short distance, then follow a well-marked blue diamond trail a short distance to the hut. If you miss the blue diamonds the road-cut is obvious, but skiing the road will take you past the hut if you’re not careful. The Skinner Hut is located a few hundred feet north of Hagerman Pass Road at 11,620 feet. You can not see the hut from the road.

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.

Even though this suggested route is the most frequently traveled route between Uncle Bud’s Hut and the 10th Mountain Division Hut, it is long and difficult. Unlike unlike most “valley” and “road” 10th Mountain routes, this trail cuts through many drainages. You’ll enjoy plenty of good views on this route. The 14,000-foot peaks of the Mosquito Range loom to the east and the majestic Continental Divide rises to the west and south. The route uses sections of the Colorado Trail. The suggested route deviates in places from this trail for more efficient skiing and to avoid avalanche slopes.

You can begin this route by skiing westerly from Uncle Bud’s Hut down into Bud’s Gulch then swinging north, or else take a more direct northerly route from the hut (after figuring things out using a map.) Either way, climb northeast to a sparsely timbered saddle at 11,680 feet. From the saddle climb west for 1/4 mile up the ridge to 11,800 feet. This is the high point of the route and a good place for a long session with map and compass. Remember these wilderness trails are marked with tree blazes. Having a GPS set up for the route is a good idea as well.

Strip your skins on the ridge, then take a dropping traverse northwest into Porcupine Gulch. To avoid avalanche terrain, this traverse starts above the marked route of the Colorado Trail, then drops down short switchbacks through a strip of timber into Porcupine Gulch. Sticking to this timber helps avoid avalanche terrain to either side. You may find some options for downhill turns in this area, but pay attention to avalanche safety. Cross Porcupine Creek at 11,240 feet. Next, climb up the north side of Porcupine Creek to a broad flat saddle at 11,480 feet (with several small lakes). This short climb is hardly worth re-skinning for; try a bit of cross country wax under the middle of your ski, or just herringbone.

From the broad saddle, drop north via two switchbacks into Longs Gulch. Cross Longs Creek at 10,900 feet, then follow the Main Range/Colorado Trail down through intermittent clearings on the north side of Longs Creek to 10,740 feet. At this point your route (still on the Main Range/Colorado Trail) climbs northeast out of Longs Gulch, then around the shoulder that separates Longs Gulch from the West Tennessee Creek drainages. The Colorado Trail continues east here but your route travels north, so leave the Main Range/Colorado Trail when it starts to drop east (10,880 feet), and take a climbing traverse north to cross the south fork of West Tennessee Creek at 10,990 feet.

Climb up another shoulder north out of the south fork of West Tennessee Creek, then descend north past a small lake (11,140 feet). After the lake continue north a few hundred yards, then traverse west through dark timber and across a marshy clearing. Swing northeast and drop 1/4 mile into the clearings of the main West Tennessee Creek drainage. From 10,980 feet in West Tennessee Creek climb northeast then north over a small shoulder into the North Fork of West Tennessee Creek (11,100 feet), then north onto a sparsely treed hillside. Climb the west side of this clear area to a small lake at 11,340 feet.

You will now be in another relatively flat area. From the east side of the lake, ski east several hundred yards through timber, then swing northeast and ski through 1/4 mile of intermittent clearings to a large flat clearing just south of the hut. You can see the hut from here; the trail crosses the clearing.

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. Learn more about avalanche hazards here.

• Approx. 2 3/4 miles before Uncle Bud’s Hut, as the trail climbs out of Long’s Gulch, gully on skier’s left (11,200′). D2.
• Approx. 1.5 miles before Uncle Bud’s Hut, as the trail begins to climb out of Porcupine Gulch, slope on skier’s right (11,600′). D2.

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

Transportation