The Pack Mule

The 10th Mountain Division Hut Association system offers outstanding winter and summer recreation opportunities throughout the Colorado Rockies. Here are 3 of my summertime fastpacking trips to huts in the system. Plus images from my trip to one of the Tennessee Pass Yurts, part of Ski Cooper's Nordic system, outside of Leadville, Colorado.

  Destination Lake George and the Gobblers Knob fire lookout in the far southwest corner of Mount Rainier National Park Difficulty Rating Easy: 3.8 mile road run on a gravel road to .9 mile of uphill but smooth trail to Lake George. Medium: Gobblers Knob fire lookout as a side trip since although it's a short 1.6 miles one-way to the fire lookout, it gains nearly 1200 feet. Footing generally good on this trail too and you can run downhill.  Noteworthy $26/backcountry permit if booked online in advance during the peak season of June 1-September 30. Walk-up permits might be available at no cost. Outside of the peak season, you can only get a walk-up permit-- no online reservations. The nearest ranger station is at Longmire - it's conveniently located to pick up your permit before you get started. National park pass or fee required to enter the park at the Nisqually entrance. National park-provided campsite on a wooded knoll, outhouse, bear pole to hang up food. About 5 sites avai

Destination Grand Valley accessed via Deer Park, along the ridge to Obstruction Point; then Lillian Ridge trail to Grand Pass Trail Gladys Lake - for camping; scenic excursion to Grand Pass summit Difficulty Rating Medium: trails generally smooth and very runnable. Long climb up out of Grand Valley is mostly at a reasonable grade. The climb up to Grand Pass is about 1.3 miles and approx. 1000 feet from Gladys Lake but it isn't ever that steep and the footing is mostly quite good. Noteworthy Gladys Lake has multiple designated campsites and a bear wire to hang food. No toilet at Gladys Lake. About 4 sites available, some more private than others. Good water sources nearby - streams flowing out of or into the lake. Right now (summer 2021) Olympic National Park has an easy fully online reservation process for the required backcountry permit with no in-person check-in at a ranger station required due to COVID-19.  Reservations for backcountry permits in the park are open year-round up

Destination Northwest side of Mount Rainier National Park: Carbon Glacier and Ipsut Pass Ipsut Creek campground Difficulty Rating Easy to Ipsut Creek campground (former road) Medium/hard: setting aside the former road to Ipsut Creek campground, the trails were more technical and the climb up to Ipsut Pass is long and unrelenting. However, the tread on the trails was overall quite good, making much of this trip runnable. Noteworthy Former car camping campground at Ipsut Creek had numerous campsites with tent pads, picnic tables, and bear lockers. Ground was very hard - difficult to stake my tent. There was an outhouse that seemed to be maintained. Good water source of Ipsut Falls- the Carbon River is rather murky and full of sediment. Ipsut Falls is a short hike past the kiosk and the outhouse. $26/backcountry permit if booked online in advance during the peak season of June 1-September 30. Walk-up permits might be available at no cost. Outside of the peak season, you can only get a wa