Bene 100

The Benedict 100, or Bene 100, is an approximately 100 mile ski tour from Aspen to Vail that traverses the heart of Colorado's central Rockies while climbing close to 20,000 ft vertical.  The tour runs 6 days and connects five of the 10th Mountain Division Huts. The tour honors 10th Mountain Division veteran and hut system founder, Fritz Benedict.  The following is a stylized map, a more detailed map can be found at: http://paragonguides.com/winter-hut-route-map/

General Benedict 100 route and Huts used.

This tour ran from Jan. 22 - 27, 2017.  Snowpack and weather are always major factors for a tour such as this.  The 2016 - 2017 Winter got a late start with lot's of hand wringing. However, things got started with a bang during early December and by the first of 2017, most of Colorado was reporting 150 - 200% of normal snowpack.  Nice recovery!  Approaching the start of the Bene 100, the weather looked to deliver pretty regular doses of snow. Not a snowpocalypse, but one never knows, weather is fickle in CO.

The tour was coordinated by Paragon Guides out of Edwards, CO.  They have a special arrangement with the 10th Mountain Division Huts organization to book the necessary huts across the tour. Without this arrangement, the tour would essentially be impossible as getting the necessary hut reservations through the open market is next to impossible.

The group consisted of nine clients and three guides.  I was joined by longtime friend, Foon Feldman.  The other members included two gents from Baltimore, one gent from Manhattan, a gent from Colorado Springs,  a gent from Arvada and a couple from Evergreen.  As for telling this story, I'm going to simply lay out a chronological story with a mix of my photos and some from the group.

Day 1 Aspen to Margy's Hut, 13 miles / 3600ft

After a restless night's sleep thinking about logistics, weather, packing list, etc., the alarm goes off at 3:30am. Let's get this party started!  The forecast held true, snowing pretty hard.  By the time we reach the trailhead in Aspen, at 7am, there was 1-1.5ft of fresh on the ground.  Looks like we'll be breaking trail. BTY a central theme for the Tour.

Troops gliding through N Hunter Creek upper meadows en route to McNamara Hut lunch stop.  Several Fourteeners peaking out through the thinning clouds in the distance

Ribbon cut through dense snow covered forest near McNamara Hut.

Lunch stop at McNamara Hut, the first 10th Mountain Division Hut built in 1982.

The day was described as the toughest of the Tour.  Hmm, but what about big day 3, Uncle Bud's to Jackal?  In the end, each day was a pretty big day.  After 8hrs of skiing, we reached Margy's Hut.  In a major snowstorm.

A buried Margy's Hut the following morning. Damn fine Winter so far.

Guide Will (L), Hut Hosts Bryan and Sara.  So nice to show up after eight hours of skiing and have someone hand you a hot cup of tea with appetizers and dinner right behind.

Day 2 Margy's Hut to Betty Bear Hut, 18 miles, 2500ft Vertical

As shown in the above picture and below, the day started in a solid snowstorm and, well, that's pretty much how the whole day went.

Troops marching out first thing in the morning after a solid breakfast.

Day 2 was typical of some winter outings, things didn't go as expected, there was some wandering around in the woods, we had to slowly break trail going downhill, it was longer than planned, it ended with headlamps for the last four hours, it broke some people. Since it was a day of focus, there's not a lot of pictures.

Extended break under a fully loaded private cabin's front porch near Nast.  Don't sneeze!

About 2/3 of the way through the day, 3 clients decided they were done and were escorted down valley to another Hut and eventual exit.  Tough decision for clients and guides alike.  How far to push without threatening the whole group?  No judgement, it's a tough call.  One guide down, I was asked to assist with the lead group, route finding and trail breaking to Betty Bear hut.  As darkness fell, the snow knob was turned up. A lot.

The final leg of the route wound up Road 505 to the final 2,000ft climb to Betty Bear.  Spindrift avalanches fell off the road cuts along the way.  Nervous backcountry travel.  Finally at the trailhead, nerves settled down as it was steep trail breaking, blue diamond searches in a safe dense forest. After several false Hut sightings, I was never so glad to to see Hut Hosts starting out from the Hut to search out the long overdue team.  After 12-13 hrs on the trail, all were glad to be "home."

Nick(L) and Alex(R) Hut hosts offering up their culinary expertise.

Day 3 Betty Bear to Uncle Bud's Hut, 11 miles / 3,000 ft vertical

After a night of heavy snowfall, the day started with, guess what, trail breaking.  The route climbed up to the Continental Divide at Hagerman Pass near Skinner Hut and the dropped down to Turquoise Lake then climbs up to the road high point then eventually to Uncle Bud's Hut.

Guide Will in diesel mode, breaking trail up to Hagerman Pass.

Mark traversing Hagerman Pass in fairly good visibility, for now.

Mark standing on top of America.

I made it up there too. Jolly Green whatever.  All that green was just a coincidence.  Really.

Guide Will coming down East side of Pass in worsening conditions.

 Weather in the mountains changes quickly.  In the short time between the first skiers crossed the Pass and the rest of the group came across, things went from pretty good visibility to white-out conditions.  Good to get down in the forest.

The ski down from Hagerman is quite pleasant.  Along the way we met a group of 20 Army soldiers snowshoeing in.  Not sure if this was an official exercise or just a relaxing outing. After a nice slide out, it's a longish three mile, 1000 ft,  climb to the high point on north shore road.

Uncle Bud's reception!

Ted and JT Hut Hosts.  Great food and conversation.

Day 4 Uncle Bud's Hut to Jackal Hut, 18-20 miles / 3500 ft vertical

This was supposed too be the big day.   Longer miles and more vertical climb. Somehow, after the previous days everyone was like, "OK, bring it"

Winter wonderland.

OK give me the phone/camera.

Guide Rochelle cranking up the hill.

Pumpkin patrol.

Leaving the Holy Cross Wilderness.

It's a good Winter when the trailhead signs are below our feet.

Traipsing along.

10th Mountain Division downhill ski training grounds  = B Slope. We had to do this.

South Camp Hale snow machine adventures. Or not.

Guide Will, sporting a beardcicle before the climb to Jackal Hut

Encouragement from Greg (Paragon Guides) en route to Jackal Hut.

Foon enjoying another day in the mountains.

Will, Mark, Mike heading up to Jackal Hut.

Amazing Hut Hosts Lucas (L), Jess (C) and Dave (R). Best meal on the trip!

Oh, yeah, third trip to Jackal this Winter.

 While it was the longest day of the tour and temps stayed sub zero for most of the day, it was relatively uneventful leg.  All were glad to get to the Hut and enjoy an amazing meal.


Day 5 Jackal Hut to Shrine Mountain Inn, 15 miles / 2700ft vertical

There are two options to get between Jackal Hut and Shrine Mountain Inn. The lower route when weather is acting up and the high route (sometimes called Tim's Route) up and over Pearl Peak down through Searle's Pass.  Despite a -10F starting temp, the winds were calm and the day was clear.  Up and over we went.

Cold, crisp morning heading out from Jackal Hut.

Ken popping out above treeline.  His comments "That alpine traverse was one of the coolest things I've done!"

Rochelle keeping things covered up.

Faint Sundog and a trail that needs breaking, again.

Jackal Hut sits at the upper edge of the open area on the peak below.

Partial track up to Pearl Peak.

Foon sporting a beardcicle as well.

When snow patterns match cloud patterns.

The troops making their way up Pearl Peak. Trying to stay warm.

Jackal is just a little farther away.

Looks like some creature from Cirque du Soleil.

Dropping out of Searle's Pass to Janet's Cabin for a little warm-up and nourishment break.

 After a welcome warm-up at Janet's Cabin, the group traversed over to Shrine Mountain Inn.  A longer ski than I expected, but enjoyable trek right at treeline.  Once again, we were greeted by generous hosts and warm drinks.

Frosty troops with smiles after completing another day on the trail.

Will continues to excel at the beardcicle competition.  Mine just looks like more grey.

Hosts Shauna and D-Bone.

Shrine Mountain Hut - Jay's.

Day 6 Shrine Mountain Inn to Vail via Commando Run, 14 miles / 2000ft vertical

This is it.  The last day. Mixed emotions among the group.  Some glad to wrap it up.  Ready for a little down time.  Me, I could do this for a long time.  Love the pattern of rise, eat, ski, stop eat sleep.  Simple life.  Much like backpacking, climbing big peaks.

The day started cold again, -5F, but clear and calm.  Surprising how warm things can "feel" when the sun is out.  Today's route is essentially the Commando Run, a favorite day tour that traverses from Vail Pass to Vail ski area.  The best part of the day is the views from Top of the World.

Will approaching Top of the World.

The crew with the Gore Range as a backdrop.

Gore Range, I-70 is in the valley below.

The final climb, seriously, that's the last climb?  Up Siberia Peak before dropping into Mushroom Bowl and into Vail Resort.

Final meal together.  Goulash and beers at Pepe's.  

Final thoughts?

• I made some good friends.
• This tour ranks up there with some of my best adventures.
• It's not a trivial outing.  Most days were 8-12 hours long. Be prepared to put in your best effort day after day.
• I used SkiMo gear (Atomic Ultimate 65 skis (163cm long, 97 - 65 - 80cm profile, Hagan ZR bindings, Scarpa Alien Boots) and was pretty happy with that choice.  If I had to do it again (which I might) I'd use a little longer fatter ski as some days I was wallowing in powder breaking trail or descending.  A little more floatation would've been nice at times.
• As we had scrumptious dinners and breakfasts at the huts, we were responsible for trail food.  I planned for 2000 kcal on the trail and was religious about using Skratch in my 2 1L water bottles. It seemed to work for me.