McNamara is one of the orignal huts, and quickly became one of my favorites. To start, you can't beat the hike starting and ending in Aspen, Colorado. The ascent is six miles long, and gains about 2,000 vertical feet, so, I'd rank it as a medium difficulty. There are no areas where the climb is excessively steep, it seems to maintain a nice grade, with some resting areas through the meadows. The trail is well marked out and well hiked, as many local Aspen residents use it for snowshoing, and backcountry skiing.
Probably one of the best parts of the hike are the views behind you. At every resting point, you get a sense of your climb by looking behind and watching the aspen Ski Resort fall behind, and the majestic Maroon Bells begin to appear.
Probably the best view I have ever seen on any hut trip would be this panormaic shot from on top of Bald Knob. Blad Knob has some great skiing on it, and I couldn't think of a better place to have a lunch:
Hut Elevation: 10,360'
Dates Open: Thanksgiving through 30 April.
Probably one of the best parts of the hike are the views behind you. At every resting point, you get a sense of your climb by looking behind and watching the aspen Ski Resort fall behind, and the majestic Maroon Bells begin to appear.
Probably the best view I have ever seen on any hut trip would be this panormaic shot from on top of Bald Knob. Blad Knob has some great skiing on it, and I couldn't think of a better place to have a lunch:
Hut Elevation: 10,360'
Layout and capacity: Bunk room that sleeps 4 downstairs, 1 private room with a double bed plus 10 single beds in a communal sleeping room upstairs. Capacity 16.
Hut Location: Located in Burnt Hole deep in the forest on the north side of Bald KnobDates Open: Thanksgiving through 30 April.
Owned By: 10th Mountain Division Hut Association
Oven: Woodburning
Sauna: No
Winter Trail Access
Trailhead: Upper Hunter Creek, elevation 8,380' Route: Via Van Horn Park, Total Mileage 5.7
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