First 10th Mtn Hut Trip Of The Year 07JJan19

A hearty band set out of Crane Pk parking for the 10th Mtn Div Hut. It was gonna be a 4.4mi and 1400ft skin and shoe into the hut in cold and snowy weather. Assembled for the effort were Mitch Yohanan, Jim Yohanan, Tom Wilke, Craig Vosburgh and me. The first mile was up a road which we later learned could have mostly been avoided by driving up further (and not heeding the National Forest sign which said "Skiers Park Here"). Spirits were strong at the turnoff onto single track and jeep trails.

Right after that we lost the ~300 feet we'd gained on the road and understood the 1450 elevation gain needed for the hike - as the starting and ending elevations were only ~1200 feet different. The weather turned from cool & overcast with light snow to very cold with heavy snow, high winds and minimal visibility over the skin in...

We were fortunate to have mighty Jim at the helm as we drew near the hut but could see little from the blaze-marked trail. We were all tired and cold and Jim rocketed ahead with vigor and passion and led us right to the hut despite our having wavered a bit from rational trail choices. It was brutally cold to even verify GPS location on the last pitches. Ultimately we scored >10" on that day and evening... and slept comfortably through howling winds after chowing down and actually streaming the thumping of Alabama by Clemson.

What a difference a day makes. We awoke to a gorgeous sunrise and completely still, bluebird skies. The views of Homestake Pk and the Continental Divide were great and the snow was expected to be so as well... we planned and prepared for our morning of skiing as sun landed on the hut. We did a brief refresher training on avy beacons and finding down mates before setting out for some earned turns in the serious freshies.

We made a first lap through the trees and a second one down a cliffed area. It was a blast as Wilke went on up above Slide Lk. Real entertainment was provided by the "down to clown" youngster Mitch as he face-planted when hucking his second boulder pillow on his cliff run.

Ultimately it was time to head home and we were thankful for a beauteous day on which to descend. See ya' at the bottom.

The "descent" was more rolling than thought and I needed five changeovers to get out, along with a 45 minute crawl out of a deep creek powder stash after a bad decision. We got there and enjoyed some cold brews before hitting the nearby breweries on the way home... Periodic Brewery in Leadville and Outer Range Brewing in Frisco.

GR8 fun with great friends - thanks for coming out boys!