T-Day Weekend Hut Safari

Here’s your chance to celebrate the bountiful harvest with something other than the usual of watching football and chatting with annoying relatives. On this adventure we use the glorious hut system in the Colorado backcountry the way it's supposed to be used: hut to hut to hut. Snowshoe or XC ski. Only six miles each day, but 2,100 feet the first day 1,900 the second, and 1,800 the 3rd, before it’s downhill all the way on the 4th day. As always, the degree of difficulty depends on the weather and the snowfall, so participants need to be prepared for a challenging trip. That means being prepared to take turns plowing through snow, because we’ll likely be the first in the huts during the winter campaign. It also means doing what everyone needs to do to stay dry and warm, even in blizzard conditions. Plus, on this year’s trip we climb the Continental Divide, something not done of on trips to any other huts in the 10th Mountain hut system. Unlike trips in prior years when we started on Thanksgiving Day, for this trip we need Wednesday to make it happen. On Wednesday we’ll drop cars in Leadville, and ride a shuttle to Aspen. On Thanksgiving Day, we’ll take a shuttle to the entry TH near Basalt, and start the adventure.

DATES:
Nov. 25-29

ITINERARY:
Wednesday the 25th – Leave Denver in the AM, drive two hours to Leadville, drop cars at exit TH just outside of town, then ride in shuttle to Aspen, stay at the Inn at Aspen, take a bus into Aspen for dinner, and then back to the hotel.
Thursday the 26th – Shuttle one hour to the entry TH for the Betty Bear hut, then climb 2,100 fete over six miles to the hut, and enjoy T-Day dinner with all the trimmings.
Friday the 27th – Climb 1,900 feet up to the Continental Divide, then down to Skinner hut.
Saturday the 28th – Down, and then up over six miles and 1,800 feet to Uncle Bud’s hut.
Sunday the 29th - Down 1,700 feet to the cars at the exit TH near Leadville, then drive to Dillon for celebratory dinner, and then back to Denver.
LIMIT: 12

FEES (@10):
Huts - $150
Wednesday night Hotel - $175
Shuttles - $100 (est)
Total = $425
plus share of gas if you're a passenger from/back to Denver, your dinner in Aspen Wednesday night, and your dinner in Dillon on Sunday.

NOTES:
1). If you have to work Wednesday, you can drive after work to Aspen, but then you would be responsible for getting back to Aspen to retrieve your car.
2). The planning meeting will be in my downtown office at 6 pm on Thursday Nov. 19. Because we’ll discuss safety, attendance is mandatory.
3). There is no privacy in the huts. We’ll be bunking together.

HOW TO JOIN
Send an email to ryan: [email protected].
First come, first serve.