This year, we decided to tackle a larger winter challenge: hike 6.2 miles (and 2500 feet) up to Betty Bear hut, then hike 4.1 miles (and 1200 feet of gain) up over Hagerman Pass (and the continental divide) to Skinner Hut...then back to Betty Bear! Our group was made up of 10 people, so we shared each hut with a few others (as opposed to reserving the entire hut for our group). We had snow on our hike in and out of Betty Bear, but our hike over the divide both days was clear and beautiful.
Shaun at the trailhead
Ryan and Ling at the trailhead
Setting off on the trail
Looking down towards the end of the Hunter-Fryingpan river valley
Kevin
Noah having a snack before leaving the road
Lisa
Skinning up through the steep trees
Noah, intensely focused on skinning
Lisa skinning
Brian and Noah reach a flat section
Nearing the hut and the turnoff for Skinner
Brian arrives at Betty Bear
The view from Betty Bear on a clear moonlit night
Betty Bear by night
Kevin experiments with light painting
Relaxing in Betty Bear with a game of Uno
Ling
Shaun and the infamous "Liter of Eggs"
Betty Bear by morning
Sunrise on a nearby ridgeline
Sunrise from the hut
Sunlight filtering through the trees at Betty Bear
Our Betty Bear/Skinner Group (plus one) From left to right: Shaun, Ray, Kevin, Ryan, Ling, Brian, Lisa, Dave, Noah, and Carlos
Carlos and Lisa before setting off to Skinner Hut
Gearing up
Leaving the hut and heading to Skinner
Crossing the meadow towards Hagerman Pass
Noah and Lisa
Climbing up above Hagerman Tunnel
Looking Northwest towards Ivanhoe Lake
Brian
Looking back towards the trail and an unnamed 12,654ft peak
Reaching the summit of Hagerman pass and glimpsing the Mosquito Range
Brian and Lisa on the divide
Members of our group descend the far side of the divide
The Mosquito Range as seen from Hagerman Pass
Lisa descends a narrow stretch of road
Noah descending from Hagerman Pass
Lisa with Hagerman Pass in the background
The view north from Skinner Hut
Sunset on the Mosquito Range at Skinner
Sunset on Mount Sherman, with Leadville below
Skinner Hut
Recovering at Skinner Hut
One of the bedrooms in Skinner
The view out the bedroom window
The communal sleeping area in Skinner
The Skinner Hut common room
Shaun and Carlos relaxing in front of the fire
Kevin. Yeah....that really sums it up
Shaun cuts garlic
Tending to the fire
Lisa
Sunrise over the Mosquito Range
Alpenglow on Mount Massive
Sun peeking just above Mount Sherman and Gemini Peak
Sunrise through the trees at Skinner
Skinner in the morning
Brian
Lisa
Noah grabs some turns above the hut
Noah grabs some turns above the hut
Kevin finishes off his run
Mount Massive in the distance
Lisa
Hagerman Pass and its wonderful view of a power line
The western view from Hagerman Pass
Descending the rocky ridge of Hagerman Pass
Southern view from Hagerman
Lisa's ski discovers an unfortunately hidden rock...which launched her out of her skis
...and dropped her in the snow
Undisturbed snow along the trail
Brian arrives back at Betty Bear hut
Sunset back at Betty Bear
Lisa relaxes at Betty Bear
Noah hides from the camera at Betty Bear
Playing hearts with the Score Log
Noah records our scores on the Score Log
Carlos, victorious, shows off the Score Log
Carlos ready to descend the trail back to the trailhead
Lisa eating breakfast
The kitchen area of Betty Bear
Departing the hut
Skiers gear up
Kevin decides to see how deep the snowpack is
Noah descending through the trees
Brian emerges from the rocky, icy, tree chutes of death
Back on the road
Kevin demonstrates his superior skinning ability
Back near the trailhead
Noah
Lisa
Carlos celebrates at the trailhead
Dave and Shaun spot a brown bear on their way out from the trailhead
