betty bear hut from turquoise lake

[hungryhead]

Seeing if anyone has accessed betty bear hut from turquoise lake in one day - i'm sure its doable but the gfriend is coming along and want to make sure that she won't want to kill me b4 we reach the hut. It looks like around 15 miles...but I've never been up there so any thoughts would be appreciated.

thanks.

[tommyvee]

Just skiing from Turquoise Lake to Skinner Hut (top of Hagerman pass which is closer than Betty Bear)is a massive haul. I did it a few years ago with my wife and we burnt up lots of time breaking trail up the steep gullies. 11 miles uphill in untracked snow with route-finding and weather and a heavy pack took almost the whole day from a 6 AM start.
The hut log at Skinner is full of stories about people that did not make it to the hut and spent the night out, with results ranging up to frostbite and helicopter evac.
Pushing it thru the exposed terrain of Hagerman at the end of an exhausting day would make your girlfriend want to kill you.

[JoeStrummer]

Not sure what sort of capacity your girlfriend has for suffering but unless she is uberfit I am quite sure she will murder you before you make Hagerman Pass. You will be playing beat the clock - it's not 15 miles of groomed trail.

Usually I encourage such bold plans but if value your relationship I would go to Skinner and then Betty Bear the next day, if you are intent on this itinerary.

[hungryhead]

thanks - looks like we make the LONG drive for basalt.