Santa leads the charge across Warren Lakes.
We’ve been running a little behind here, but I wanted to share a few photos from an awesome little hut trip we made on Christmas Eve. It’s been an annual ritual to book a nearby 10th Mtn or Braun Hut the night before Christmas, and escape the Aspen holiday madness (if only for 24 hours). This year we found ourselves up at the Fabi Hut, one of the two Benedict Huts, far up Smuggler Mountain by Warren Lakes. Along with Christy, our friends Tim, Ross, and Joey joined in the one day getaway.
An eager hut tripper at the TMTA Bridge.
Lower Hunter Creek.
Atop Smuggler, just after sunset.
We arrived after dark. The norm for this Xmas Eve ritual.
The pair of huts were built in honor of Fritz and Fabi Benedict. Fritz was a WWII 10th Mountain Division veteran, and is credited with conceiving the idea of the 10th Mtn Hut system. Good idea, Fritz.
Fabi was his wife, and though it’s actually been said that she wasn’t as enthused about the hut system as was Fritz, this pair of huts were some of the last additions to the system (built in 1997), and rightfully bear their names.
We carted in the little tree and the lights, as well as the candy cane cocktail.
The greater Benedict Hut complex. Fritz on the left, Fabi right of center, and the little outhouse.
The door to the room with the view.
The outhouse was designed with two floor-to-ceiling windows.
The view (Pyramid Peak).
The Fritz Hut sleeps ten, Fabi six. Everyone’s favorite hut architect, Al Beyer, penned the design here, and it shows. There’s a lot of thought put in the layout, a large shared deck between the two cabins, carefully carved log benches and chairs, sunny breakfast nooks, and one of the most expansive views of any outhouse in the state.
The front door.
The interior of Fritz.
Fritz Benedict’s original architectural plans for the first hut in the system, McNamara, built back in 1982 or so, hangs on the wall in one of the bedrooms of the Fritz Hut.
Fabi Hut is a bit smaller. Just right for a group of our size.
Despite the lack of steep skiing in the area, we did a manage to do a fun Christmas Day tour east from the hut and across Warren Lakes to a high point near No Name Creek. We imagined it was much in the style of Fritz and Fabi.
Backcountry intersection
Somewhere in the woods.
Joey and Christy at the high point of the tour.
Happy New Year!
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