(10th Mountain Division)

February 2005 and March 2002

We have visited Uncle Bud's Hut at 11,380 feet twice in recent years.  Both of these exquisite trips were carefully and completely orchestrated by Dick and Judy Opsahl.  Uncle Bud's is owned and rented by the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association.  The ski in requires a six mile backpack from the outskirts of Leadville, Colorado.  The hut is very deluxe, accommodates 20 skiers, has two gas stoves for food preparation, a wood stove for heat, two great out-houses, mattresses for sleeping, and views that are inspiring.

Uncle Bud's 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.

Everyone was amazed that Cosima could snow shoe in with a recently broken tibia on the 2005 trip.  She broke it in a skiing accident on Christmas at Colorado's Wolf Creek Ski Area.  Cosima wisely skied in the area around the hut, and stayed off the higher peaks for safety.

Our photo galleries attempt to illustrate the amenities of the hut, most of the trips participants, and several high mountain ski trips that the boldest of us accomplished.