Sustainability: The Benedict Hut

The Tenth Mountain Division Hut Association is keenly guided by principles of sustainability.  All of the electricity at the huts is produced using photovoltaic panels with battery storage and all heat and some cooking is through burning wood.  The sustainability theme was also put into practice during the construction of the Benedict Huts.

Constructed in 1997, the Benedict Huts are the newest Huts in the Tenth Mountain Hut system.  These huts straddle a rocky knoll near Warren Lakes outside of Aspen.  Warren Lakes has an interesting history.  In the 1940’s the spring creeks in this area were dammed to create Warren Lakes.  Trout were raised here to supply food for the railroad passengers.  Later the dams were breached and rich, high –altitude peat was harvested.  A large “peat barn” building was constructed to store and process the peat for sale.

Prior to construction of the Benedict Huts, the peat barn was systematically dismantled and sorted for usable building materials.  The result of this process was piles of corrugated tin metal panels, 3×8 beams and 6” wood columns.  All of these materials were used on the exterior of the Benedict Huts.  The corrugated metal panels were used for roofing and siding.  The 3×8 beams were used for decking, siding and trim and the 6” columns were used for the deck support posts.

Other sustainable items utilized at the Benedict Huts included reclaimed wood flooring from a 100 year–old barn from Gypsum, Colorado.  Additionally, Aspen wood wall and ceiling paneling which was harvested and milled in Montrose, Colorado.