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