There are days when you can't just take anymore of chairlifts. And there are days when the powder-day crowds are just more annoying than usual. So you look the other way and you scan the horizon for much better ways to enjoy high-altitude Aspen Colorado. Well now, look this way then because we have found the best way for you to enjoy the serenity offered to you by the high-altitude Mountains of Aspen Colorado while you shed a few pounds at the same time.

Of Traditions and Dreams

For years, mountain huts in high-altitude locations in Aspen Colorado have sheltered the world's skiers and climbers. In the Alps, hundreds of structures cling to cliffs and sit in alpine meadows, giving mountain enthusiasts access to remote, high-altitude precipices or mountain escapes from the daily bustle.

Aspen Colorado saw its first set of settlers in the 1940s. But it wasn't until the early 1980s that the first high-altitude mountain huts appeared.

The 10th Mountain Hut System was first a dream before it was made into reality nearly 15 years ago when a group of Aspen Colorado locals led by the late Fritz Benedict, a prolific Aspen architect and town patriarch started construction for these high-altitude lodges. The System got its name from the US Army's 10th Mountain Division, which trained for mountain fighting more than 50 years ago.

Popular Hut Systems

Today, there are more than ten 10th Mountain huts standing in Aspen Colorado's high-altitude spots. What's more, the non-profit organization running it also manages two other Aspen Colorado clusters of cabins.

There is nothing like venturing into the backcountry. The air of camaraderie the quiet atmosphere in high-altitude Aspen Colorado instills is long lasting and even refreshing after the isolation that you sometimes feel when you're in a big city. But if you do decide to pack your bags and skis and journey into the high-altitude Mountains of Aspen Colorado, which 10th Mountain hut experience do you pick?

Each 10th Mountain hut costs about $24 a night per person. Each hut also includes a wood-burning stove for heat, propane burners for cooking, and photo-voltaic lighting and handicap accessibility. Yet, for all the similarities in the amenities offered, each hut is distinct from the other.

Why so?

The 10th Mountain huts are located in several different places. They scattered all across Aspen Colorado in places with high altitudes. The surrounding landscape and architecture of each hut is distinct from each other. Some offer steep, high-altitude skiing and grandiose views while others boast cozy quarters and pristine mountain meadow touring. So choose your hut well and get ready for the ultimate Aspen Colorado adventure.