10th Mountain Division
WE NEED THE MOUNTAINS more than ever— for solace, for space, for inspiration. They are always there, waiting for us to break away from the world of COVID, complications and complexities. Too often they aren’t accessible to those who need them the most. At Alpine Initiatives, we believe that mountains are for everyone; and our programming focuses on connecting people to the mountains. The 10th Mountain Division aligns with our goal to democratize the mountains.
The hut system is for public use; we’d say it’s a bargain and offers the purest mountain experience. Nonetheless, the backcountry can be intimidating, and there are barriers to escaping to the high alpine—whether it be gear, education, experience, time, planning, money or motivation. Our Canary Club tries to break down those barriers and offer the support needed to safely get there and enjoy all that these mountains have to offer.
For the past two years, Alpine Initiatives, Paragon Guides and Red Canyon High School have joined forces to carry out a grassroots youth initiative to connect underprivileged youth in the Vail Valley to the expansive playground right outside their back door. It’s a free outdoor education program that teaches basic backcountry skills and preparedness and culminates in an overnight ski adventure at a 10th Mountain Division Hut.
It’s not an easy undertaking; there is a lot of recruiting, wrangling and the skiers often have no backcountry experience. The day before the hut trip, the groups meet at Meadow Mountain, a hill in Minturn, to practice skinning, learn how to use a beacon, and prep for the real adventure. While the reserved huts are the easier to access, the skin and vertical gain proves difficult for beginner backcountry skiers. “There is tripping, falling, sprinting and crashing, cramping, yelling…and questioning whether the hut exists,” says AI Co-Founder Mikey Hovey. “But I am really impressed with the overall kindness displayed—they are super supportive of each other.”
The moment the groups see the hut, there is cheering, and any defeated demeanor quickly shifts. The groups often seek out small cliffs to jump off and build a kicker. 360s are attempted, front flips are discussed, and memories are made. The participants are introduced to hut life—how to melt snow for water, share cooking chores and clean up. At dinners and in the bunks, there is talk of dating, unpopular teachers, and the trouble they’ve gotten into. Our guides try to listen, set an example, and paint a bigger life picture. The evening and morning schedule is purposefully unstructured to let the kids revel in the freedom found in the mountains.
Pro Freeskier and AI Co-Founder, JP Auclair, was appreciated for saying how he relished his time in high alpine huts—the time to unplug and reset. One of the initial Canary Club participants, Ace Schreiber, unknowingly echoed his thoughts. “It was an escape from daily life,” says Schreiber. “Being in the middle of nowhere and listening to the mountains felt really good.”
Our sincere thanks to the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association for their kindness and support. This year’s Canary Club is scheduled for March 9-11, 2021 and will be venturing to Vance’s Cabin.
