Our annual hut trip this year was to Sangree M. Froelicher hut, located about 10 minutes outside of Leadville. This was a relatively easy hike compared to the previous two years (Margy's and Eiseman - two of the toughest slogs in the 10th Mountain Division hut network), only requiring a 3 mile hike with 1,477 feet of elevation gain ending at 11,650 ft, just at tree line.
The snow (or lack thereof) made the bottom part of the trail…interesting. The trail was a mixture of dirt, snow, and ice - with some patches extremely slippery (especially if hiking in ski boots). After about a mile, the trail transitioned to a decent (but thin) layer of snow), making the climb more consistent at least. Once at the hut, everyone relaxed in the glorious sun on the deck while the puzzle was started inside.
On our “off” day, we all opted to hike Buckeye Peak (12,871ft), climbing another 1,300 ft above the hut and about another 4 miles round trip. The snow was thin and rotten, unable to support our weight even on snowshoes, but the view from the peak was absolutely breathtaking: we could see all of the Sawatch range, some of the Elk range, the Tenmile/Mosquito range, and most of the Gore range as well. It was like we were in the center of the Colorado high country! That night, we dined on Indian Saag, naan, and brownies while playing “Communist Euchre” and resting by the fire.
Our hike out was quick and uneventful, arriving back at the trailhead by about 10:30am (only to be greeted by the trailhead dog, Doc, which we assume lived in one of the adjacent properties).
