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Author: garthfasano
How to Approach the Tundra Hut
In summer you can drive directly to the hut with high clearance 4×4 and in the winter it is a 5-mile approach that climbs 2,000 ft.
Winter Approach (Skiing/Hiking)
The winter approach (alternate approach) follows the orange line on the maps below. Start up Leavenworth Creek Road, after the road crosses the stream, it takes a hard right, don’t take this hard right. Instead continue up the right side of the stream on a smaller trail. This trail eventually merges with another road and eventually the main Leavenworth Creek Road.
Summer Approach (Car/Truck)
The summer approach follows the red line on the maps below. This route follows Leavenworth Creek road, there are some other roads that come off of the main road that look just as well traveled, so make sure you are paying attention to the map on your way up. The first 1.5 miles has quite a few switchbacks with other roads coming off the main road.
First Portion of Approach
The winter and summer approaches diverge and converge during this first portion.
Second and Remaning Portion of Approach
Both approaches continue up the valley on Leavenworth Creek Road, once you see the alpine tundra sign, you are 1 mile from the hut.
How to Hack the 10th Mountain Division Hut Lottery
We’ve been winning big in the 10th Mountain Division lottery with back-to-back winter Eisman Hut and Fowler-Hilliard Hut trips. In fact, our submissions have scored prime weekends every time. These are the proven strategies we use to hack the system and score a top hut in Colorado’s 10th Mountain Division hut system.
You need a crew
Find ten to sixteen people to join your group and submit the exact same thing in the lottery. Your lottery form is due in early February each year for the following season. Yes, we understand it is crazy to plan these trips over twelve months in advance, but that is just how the system works.
Pick a lot of huts, or just pick all the huts
Have a broad range of huts that you are interested in visiting. When I ask local legends about the best hut, they just laugh at me. In their mind, every hut is great. While some huts are known for the best skiing in the world, there is something special about every place built so carefully in the mountains.
Pick a lot of dates
Typically we include every weekend between mid-January and mid-April in our submission. February and March are trips that we hope will line up perfectly with a big powder day. For April and May trips, we use the hut as a launching point for ski mountaineering objectives. We normally do not put late May or June dates into the lottery because those can often be booked outside of the lottery system.
Make it easy for the group
Organizers and trip leaders should send everyone in the group the lottery link and exactly what to copy and paste into the lottery form. At the bottom of this post, I’ve included examples of our winning 10th Mountain Division Lottery submissions.
Final Tricks to Booking an Amazing Hut
If the lottery doesn’t work out for your group it is OK! Remember there are a bunch of other ways to book an amazing trip in the Rocky Mountains. First, there are a bunch of private huts that typically start accepting bookings in the summer such as our very own Tundra Hut, the Lost Wonder Hut, and the Opus Hut. Second, you can always check hut availability after the lottery and often snag some spring dates for corn skiing!
Example 2023 Hut Lottery Submission
LINK HERE – Follow the directions below. Use this group name and lottery choices.
Group Name: I can’t believe I’m organizing this again
Lottery Choices (Cut and paste this section below)
Any of the following days of the week between Jan 15 and April 10 in this order of preference:
- Friday Check in -> Monday Checkout
- Friday Check in -> Monday Checkout
- Sat check in -> Tue checkout
- Fri check in -> Sunday checkout
Hut Preferences in this order:
- Fowlard Hillard
- 10th mt division Hut
- Uncle Bud’s
- Jackal
- Janet’s Cabin
- Francie’s
- Sisters
Eample 2022 Hut Lottery Submission
You know the drill. Submit the details below.
Benedict 100 Group Name: Go Big or Go Benedict
Regular Hut Lotto Group Name: Searching for POWDER
Any of the following huts and dates. Preference is for hut first then date:
Huts:
- Eisman (entire hut)
- Fowler Hilliard (entire hut)
- 10th mountain division hut (entire hut)
- Jackal (entire hut)
- Sister’s (entire hut)
- Opa’s (entire hut)
- Hary Gates (entire hut)
- Margy (entire hut)
- McNamara (entire hut)
- Francies (entire hut)
- Janets (entire hut)
- Section House (entire hut)
- The Broome Hut (entire hut)
- Any other hut except Vance’s Cabin, Uncle Buds, and Shrine Huts (entire hut)
Dates:
- Feb 18-21
- Feb 12-14
- Feb 18-20
- Feb 19-21
- Feb 25-27
- Feb 26-28
- Feb 11-13
- March 4-6
- Feb 4-5
- Feb 5-6
- March 5-7
- Jan 28-29
- Jan 29-31
- March 11-13
- March 12-14
Proven Hut Trip Packing List from a Caretaker
Going on a hut trip can be a daunting task. Many visitors and friends often ask what to pack on their trip. We will cover a list of the things we bring and also call out a few differences between huts around Colorado, like the 10th Mountain Division Huts and the Opus Hut.
Equipment
- Avalanche transceiver, probe pole, and shovel
- Skis, splitboard, or snowshoes (designed for backcountry), for skis and splitboard ensure bring the following:
- Climbing skins fitted to your equipment
- Skin Wax to prevent clumping in warm conditions
- Ski wax – we consider this to be a long lost art that can be an amazing way to travel quickly in and out of huts in the right conditions
- Boots – Always remember to check that they fit your feet and your equipment if you haven’t used them in a while
- Poles – We typically use adjustable poles which can be helpful to change lengths if there are different snow conditions
- Backpack – We typically bring a 50-65L pack when we are carrying food and a sleeping bag, but will bring a 40L pack for full service huts like the Opus Hut
- Water bottle(s) – I typically bring a 1L wide mouth Nalgene, but most people want more than this
- Sunglasses – Make sure you have a pair of sunglasses or goggles that work well in low lighting
- Goggles
- Sunscreen and lip balm with SPF
- Headlamp with spare batters (we also carry a spare mini headlamp)
- Cell phone – coverage is not guaranteed anywhere in the battery
- Water Filter – I don’t actually bring a water filter. We are very carefully collecting snow and do not filter or boil water
Clothing
- Base Layer
- Long underwear top and bottom – the bottom layer is a great double for pajamas and relaxing around the hut, out of respect for your friends we recommended something that is not see through
- Socks plus extra pair(s) – I like having one pair of socks per day, there isn’t much worse than stepping into yesterdays crusty socks
- Warm/Insulating layer
- Fleece – Typically this is a lightweight active layer like a Patagonia R1 Hoody
- Down/synthetic puff jacket
- Weather/Waterproof Outer Layer
- Jacket – I bring a robust GOR-TEX jacket but also like a lightweight windshirt. They often provide just the right protection from the wind during active tours
- Pants
- Other
- Gloves/Mittens – I bring three pairs, a lightweight pair while I’m touring in warm conditions, a midweight pair, and a heavyweight emergency pair
- Warm hat – I have a lot of hoods in my layering kit but this can be helpful when it gets really cold. I also like a hat that fits well under my helmet
- Baseball hat
- Neck gaiter/ balaclava – Lightweight buffs are often the best they double as a hat and are breathable enough they don’t get super wet from sweat and condensation from your breath
- Hut slippers
Food
This may really be depending on how your group is coordinated. Check out our Tips & Tricks post for details on that. Don’t forget to take all your food with you when you leave. We will be posting more about that in blog about Hut Etiquette.
- Trail snacks
- Personal lunch food
- Group meals – don’t forget butter and oil! I always forget that. Huts typically have salt and pepper. We also keep a few extra spices at the Tundra Hut.
Sleep Gear
- Sleeping bag – I typically carry a 20 degree bag, but occasionally you can get away with a summer weight bag; However, the few times I’ve tried that I’ve frozen when it has been a cold hut. In particular, I remember that at the Sangre de Frolich hut that took forever to warm up. I had a 50 degree bag and slept by the stove all night
- Pillow – These are provided at the Tundra Hut and Opus, but you need to bring them for 10th Mountain Huts. At the Tundra Hut, bring a pillow case to throw over the pillows there. I also just put my clothes in a stuff sack and use that as a pillow.
Toiletries and Personal Items
- Toothbrush & toothpaste
- Medication
- Earplugs – These can be super handy to get a full nights sleep
Emergency Gear
- Emergency shelter (bivy sack) – This is a good item to have a across the group but not needed for everyone
- First-aid kit
- Blister kit
- Lighter
- Foam pad – I use a zlite pad cut down to three sections. It is super handy in the winter to sit on and keep dry or to keep a foot out of the snow if you need to put on blister tape or moleskin
- Emergency communication device – Spot, inReach, PLB (Personal Locator Beacon)
Repair Kit
- Duct tape
- Zip tie / Cable ties
- Baling wire
- Ski straps – I carry four long ones that fit around my ski boot
- Multi-tool – Many people carry a something like a leatherman, but I prefer a ski specific tool like the BD Buddy
- Spare binding and parts – I don’t actually carry a spare binding around, but a lot of people consider it a good idea. It just seems too complicated because it will also require epoxy and potentially a drill
- Extra basket – Have you ever tried skiing without a pole basket? It is comically impossible and causes falls on every other turn. Once you’ve done it once, you’ll never go into the backcountry without an extra
- Extra skin tail strap
Bonus Items
These are optional but can also turn a normal hut trip into something great.
- Bluetooth speaker
- USB charging device
- Hot coco, powdered hot cider, tea
- Fancy bar of hot chocolate
- Games – Recently we’ve really enjoyed exploding kittens and unstable unicorns. Most huts have a deck of cards and some other games. The only time we haven’t found any was at the Last Dollar Hut in the San Juan Hut System
How to Plan a Great Hut Trip in the Mountains
Getting Started
Planning an excellent hut trip can be complicated. Trip leaders are organizing 6 to 16 people with various skills across technical terrain. We’ve been coordinating hut trips for years, and these are a few tips to make it easier.
Be Flexiable with Trip Dates
Communicate with the group early about potential dates and locations. There are a few ways that Huts and Yurts are managed, including a lottery system and open bookings. Hut systems like the 10th Mountain Division use a lottery system. You need everyone to participate for the best results. In comparison, many private huts have open bookings, like the Tundra Hut, that start accepting bookings in the summer. Popular dates book within minutes of availability posted online. Share a list of potential dates with your group so people aren’t surprised.
Plan Fantastic Meals
I assign a provisioning officer to identify teams to plan group meals for breakfast and dinner. People bring their own food for lunch and snacks. I also encourage people to be fancy (and light). There isn’t anything better than a mouthwatering hot meal after a long day of adventuring. It is also really important to remember things take longer to cook (and clean) at altitude. As a result, we often precook many ingredients such as bacon and use items with lower cook time, like angel hair pasta.
Coordinate the Approach and Trailhead
There are a few key details to organize for the first day of the trip. For instance, ensure communication about the trailhead (we have a detailed map on our main page), trailhead arrival times, route plans, radio channels (if used), and ETA to the hut. Often being the trip leader is the responsibility of the group organizer. Still, it can also be helpful to assign a different trip leader to manage this part of the adventure. If the group size is six or more, it can also be beneficial to be in two groups to simplify backcountry travel. Typically we have an early group (“First Chair”) and a late group, so everyone can travel with a partner.
Bring Critical Gear and Know Who is Carrying It
Make sure you know who is carrying what type of supplies in addition to basic requirements like a beacon, shovel, and probe for winter travel. Critical items to consider are a medkit, satellite communicator like a spot, inReach, or PLB, anticipated cell phone service zones, space blanket, and relevant training like CPR and Wilderness First Responder. We hope these are never needed, but it is best to be prepared and make sure the group you are traveling with has the fundamental essentials.
Leave Tasty Snacks in the Car
Leave some refreshments in the car like water, sports drinks, hop sodas, and tasty snacks. There is nothing worse than getting back to the car and being hangry! Some of our favorites include Gatorade and salt and vinegar chips. Don’t forget to put the beverages in a location where they can freeze (although that would be sad).
Have a Great Time!
Hut trips are a fantastic adventure for everyone involved. Congratulations on thinking about organizing one for a lucky group of people. If you are reading this because you are participating in an upcoming trip, remember to go easy on the organizer, they probably have a lot of details to manage, so offer to take a load off and help them out!
Seasonal information for visiting the hut
Winter:
– You will be melting snow for water; use the wood stove and giant melting pots (do not use the propane stovetop). Do not put anything in the pots including fingers and water filters
– Turn on the fan in the bathroom when you arrive. Dump a half-cup of sawdust after each use. DO NOT PUT ANYTHING IN THE TOILET OTHER THAN SAWDUST AND TP. CLOROX WIPES DO NOT BIODEGRADE
– Please shovel off the entrance and wipe off solar panels with a broom.
– The power outlets are only for charging phones
– Do not leave any food items, they encourage mice
Summer:
– Bring your own water for drinking and dishes
– Turn on the fan in the bathroom when you arrive. Dump a half-cup of sawdust after each use. DO NOT PUT ANYTHING IN THE TOILET OTHER THAN SAWDUST AND TP. CLOROX WIPES DO NOT BIODEGRADE
– The power outlets are only for charging phones
– Do not leave any food items, they encourage mice
How to stay at the Tundra Hut
Select your dates
Go to our homepage and use the date selector to find available dates. Select your arrival and departure dates and complete your reservation
Sign our waiver
Your booking email address will automatically receive an email with a link to our liability waiver. It must be signed by all guests
Get ready!
Two days prior to your trip you will get an email with all the details to access the hut. Now it’s time to get ready for your trip
All guests must sign a liability waiver to visit the hut.
How to Find Pow Stashes and Steeps at the Tundra Hut
The Tundra Hut provides access to fantastic skiing around the Leavenworth Basin. One of our guests created a great map documenting some of the many winter powder stashes and spring mountaineering lines in the area. We’ve given a quick overview of what you might find skiing around the hut.
The Hut Lap
All the best ski huts in Colorado have a ski run just outside the front door for folks looking to stay close to the woodstove, water, and snacks. The Tundra Hut is no different, just above the hut are several gullies that provide fun terrain and moderate slope angles. If you explore this area you will also find open trees and glade runs. Walking this area in the summer, many of the openings are due to logging in the area, probably in the 1906 season when the railway was built to Waldorf.
Powder Stashes
For those willing to venture a bit further from the hut, crossing Leavenworth Creek to the slopes below Otter Mountain and Wilcox provides great glade runs with a more northerly aspect. This terrain protects fresh snow from the sun keeping it soft in case it hasn’t snowed recently. This is a slightly longer approach but worth it to find the goods.
Ski Mountaineering
There are countless ski mountaineering runs that can be accessed from the hut. Most notably from Fritz Sperry’s Making Turns in Colorados Front Range Volume 1: South of Interstate 70 guidebook is Mine Shaft above the old Santiago Mine. In many years, it is not possible to drive to Waldorf until the summer, so guests at the hut generally have these types of runs all to themselves as it is a long approach from Guanella Pass Rd.