Uncle Bud's Hut – named after 10th Mountain Division veteran Bud Winter – is situated a few miles east of the Continental Divide near the town of Leadville. Uncle Bud's exists as a great base for days of touring, or a stopping point for stronger individuals along a hut-to-hut route over Hagerman Pass and into the Frying Pan drainage.
Uncle Bud's Hut, owned by 10th Mountain, is similar in aspect and construction to the 10th Mountain Division Hut. Views from the south window-wall include a panorama of 14,421-foot Mount Massive and the bare pate of Bald Eagle Mountain. The hut was built as a memorial to 10th Mountain Division veteran Bud Winter (1925-1945), who was killed in action in Italy during World War II, and was one of 33 soldiers who completed the legendary "trooper traverse" winter ski crossing from Leadville to Aspen in February of 1944. Funds for the hut were given by Bud's brother, Dr. Fred Winter. His sister Laura contributed the proceeds from her poetry book Laura's Lines.
Please contribute a trip report to share your experience for those who visit after you! This not only helps fellow riders, but it also helps hutkeepers ensure that the huts remain in good operating condition.
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.
