The Friends' Hut is one of the more challenging huts to access in the Elk Range, situated amongst an old growth forest beneath Star Peak on the Crested Butte side of 12,700-foot Pearl Pass.
Friends Hut was built in memory of 10 people from Aspen and Crested Butte, CO, who perished when two small planes collided in 1980 near East Maroon Pass. Because passengers of the planes were from both towns, the hut was designed as a link between the communities of Aspen and Crested Butte. Permitted by the U.S. Forest Service under the Gunnison National Forest, The Friends Hut, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing a unique and truly remote backcountry experience to backcountry skiers. You can find a wealth of information on the Friends Hut at Lou Dawson's website, Wild Snow.
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Hut Tripper aims to be the go-to hub for backcountry hut exploration, crowd-sourced beta, and trip planning resources geared toward winter backcountry travelers. We're backcountry enthusiasts, ourselves, combining our love for alpine skiing, the wilderness, and adventure.
We exist to empower new & existing backcountry travelers to explore the mountains in a responsible and informed way, consolidating winter backcountry accommodations as far east as the Rockies and detailing each with an ever-evolving list of hut details and beta.
