More than 25 years ago, a team of ski legends and backcountry skiers from the mountain communities of Colorado undertook the ceremonial task of bringing a special Alpine Skiing World Championships flag from Aspen to Vail. In a relay format much like the bearing of the Olympic torch, they blazed a roughly 100-mile trail, mostly on skis, from Aspen, where the World Championships had last been held in the United States, to Vail, where the races would return in 1989.
When a group of backcountry skiers made their way along the same route, what has become known as the Benedict 100, that history was an afterthought, however. Instead, they were focused on the fields of white before them, the squeak of skins on the snow, and the crisp, cold mountain air in their lungs. Tradition can wait when there are turns to be made today. This group was not even the first to retrace the route. Since 1989, adventurers have taken on the trek, making it an official route that’s popular enough that select outfitters guide it for skiers from around the globe every year.
Today’s Route
Unlike the original track blazed in 1989, today’s Benedict 100 (named for the father of the 10th Mountain Hut system Fritz Benedict), takes an alternative route that starts in Aspen and loops around to Camp Hale, up Vail Pass and finally drops the legendary Commando Run right into Vail. The six-day experience includes overnight stops at Margy’s Hut, Betty Bear Hut, Uncle Bud’s Hut, Jackal Hut and the downright luxurious Shrine Mountain Inn (here you can relax in a wood sauna and savor the running water).
Typically, the trips draw 10 to 12 hardy souls ready to test their mettle in Colorado’s high altitude. Last winter, Paragon Guides of Edwards led the trip. In 2016, Aspen Alpine Guides will be the guide host, on a trip set for Jan 24 through 29.
In an age when AT touring has become incredibly popular, the Benedict 100 is still a little bit different. The trips run in a style reminiscent of European treks such as the Haute Route between France and Switzerland. Still, the Benedict is not for the faint of heart, requiring long days in cold temperatures, predawn starts, trail breaking and skiing variable snow conditions that demand a high level of fitness and skill.
However, the Benedict is not without its luxuries. The guiding company makes the tough trip more manageable by transporting items such as food and sleeping bags ahead of time, so that guests don’t have to carry heavy packs. Better still, each night, the tired skiers are greeted at their destination hut by “hut hosts,” who serve up appetizers, drinks and a freshly cooked feast.
Buck Elliot, owner of Paragon Guides, has seen the trip grow in recent years.
“As things like ultra marathons have become more popular, a lot of people are drawn to the trek, not as a competition—it’s really not a race in any way—but as a destination experience,” said Elliot.
Aspen Alpine Guides’ Stephen Szoradi agrees, adding that new touring gear has made the trip accessible to more guests. “It’s about getting a bunch of like-minded people on the trail for a period of time doing some pretty hard things, and that really creates a bonding experience,” he said.
Robin Collins, an Australian trekker who has been on wilderness excursions that range from primitive snow camping to more refined hut trips, said he enlisted in the Benedict 100 because he was looking for a challenge.
“The challenge is definitely a part of it. This trip has the altitude, and the prolonged nature of the trip adds another layer to it,” he said, adding that the Colorado backdrop didn’t hurt. “What made this trip stand out was the beautiful scenery as part of an adventurous trip. This mix of nature and the mountain and skiing through the trees is very special for me.”
For others, the Benedict 100 is something of a bucket list item. To complete the trek requires time commitment and a good amount of training, so it’s often a few years before some trekkers actually are able to sign up and complete the trip.
“I’d heard about this route 15 years ago,” said Dave Jones of Monte Vista. “I later learned that it’s not really something you can do by yourself. Doing it as part of the tour seemed like a good way to do the trip — do some skiing and see some huts you haven’t seen.”
The Benedict 100 costs $1,440, which includes guides, hut hosts, USFS permits, insurance, hut fees, group dinners and breakfasts. Skis, skins, boots and safety equipment are available for rental. aspenalpine.com / paragonguides.com
