With the high pressure still gracing us with beautiful weather it seemed a great time to get out for a hut trip. The original plan was to do winter camp but after Greg Dumas talked to a buddy in Aspen and they came across a 10th Mountain hut that was open for the night, it seemed logical to go for the hut trip!
Plan was to meet Greg's friend Riley in Aspen and head for a night to the Benedict hut on the east side of the Roaring Fork Valley, located on Smuggler Mountain. Riley had 3 other buddies meeting us up there making for a complete guys' night out in the Benedict hut. It was a beautiful day as we skinned the 6 miles and 2800ft vert in about 3.5 hours. What an awesome setup the Benedict Huts are. Fritz, Fabi, and a most spectacular outhouse all connected by wooden decking. A perfect getaway for large groups. This was my first time spent at a 10th mountain hut, and let me tell you; POSH! There was even a basket with slippers for everybody, haha. This only furthers my will to do more 10th mountain hut trips. Friends and Taggert and definitely on the list. The skiing from these huts wasn't the best but we did enjoy some nice tree skiing off the west face of the hut for a good 500ft vert. All in all, a great quick trip to enjoy and experience one of the 10th mountain huts, which are sure to please. Although the next time i'm back in this valley it will be on the other side!!
Plan was to meet Greg's friend Riley in Aspen and head for a night to the Benedict hut on the east side of the Roaring Fork Valley, located on Smuggler Mountain. Riley had 3 other buddies meeting us up there making for a complete guys' night out in the Benedict hut. It was a beautiful day as we skinned the 6 miles and 2800ft vert in about 3.5 hours. What an awesome setup the Benedict Huts are. Fritz, Fabi, and a most spectacular outhouse all connected by wooden decking. A perfect getaway for large groups. This was my first time spent at a 10th mountain hut, and let me tell you; POSH! There was even a basket with slippers for everybody, haha. This only furthers my will to do more 10th mountain hut trips. Friends and Taggert and definitely on the list. The skiing from these huts wasn't the best but we did enjoy some nice tree skiing off the west face of the hut for a good 500ft vert. All in all, a great quick trip to enjoy and experience one of the 10th mountain huts, which are sure to please. Although the next time i'm back in this valley it will be on the other side!!
And I will leave you with a pic of the highlight of the trip..the shitter