These photos are from my lab groups 2nd annual trek to one of the 10th Mountain Division backcountry huts. In January 2015 we went to Janet's Hut. The trip started in Leadville, CO, the closest town to to the trailhead and a nice place to do a little acclimating before we began a 2 night, 3 day trip at 11,610 feet above sea level. We arrived in Leadville in the late afternoon, had dinner at a taco truck in the supermarket parking lot, and began a walk around town. I managed to snap a nice sunset photo and then a few other photos later into twilight of local businesses.
The hike to this hut actually starts inside Copper Mountain ski resort. If you are cross country skiing to the hut, Copper will allow one ride on their lifts so you can ski down the mountain to the trailhead on the west side of the resort mountain. If you are snowshoeing, you have to hike uphill on the side of the resort while avoiding skiers until you reach the trailhead. After the initial climb, the hike mellows out and the hut approach is through a beautiful valley.
Sunset at Janet's Hut. Below the trees you can see the sauna outbuilding in a small clearing.
Amazing clarity on our first night allowed for some astrophotography.
Some shots around the cabin on our second day.
Given another night of amazing clarity and a full moon, we decided to go on a midnight hike to the continental divide. In the first photo you can just barely see the hut down in the valley below.
The brightness of the moon allowed me to take some portraits with a shutter speed of about 4 seconds.
Gear: Nikon D610 with 14mm and 28mm lenses.
© 2010 - Andrew Reineberg