March 2001 

A pair of ski tracks head east from the hut towards Tellurium Park and the surrounding summits, including Avalanche Peak (12,800') at far right.

Looking west from the hut, towards the Frying Pan drainage and the Elk Mountains, barely visible in the distance.

Fetching snow to melt for drinking water is a constant activity at the hut.

We woke the next morning and got an early start on a hike to the top of Burnt Mountain, an 11,000' foot rounded summit with 360 degree views of the Elk and Sawatch mountain ranges and the Aspen/Vail backcountry. 

Steve skins up through the Y-shaped clearing that meanders up towards the summit.  Lime Park is the large clearing area in the background.  The Gates Hut sits in the small clearing visible on the right in between our position and Lime Park

As we climbed the summit ridge of Burnt Mountain, the views to the southwest opened up considerably.  The Elk Mountains come into full view.  The hulking summit at the center of the photo is Mt. Sopris, outside Carbondale, which forms the beginning of the range.  At the left of the photo are Capitol Peak and Mt. Daly.  In the foreground is the beautiful valley carved out by the Frying Pan River.  Notice how the sunny south facing side of the valley is populated with aspen trees, while the colder north facing side is full of pine trees.

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