Colorado’s Red Mountain Alpine Lodge will be completed and open this December.
I want to build something like this myself. Meanwhile I’ll have to make do. Perhaps they’ve got a place for my sleeping bag in the wood shed.
What I like about Red Mountain Alpine Lodge (RMAL) is they’re not dinking around. Come one, come all.
— Huts that require significant hiking or skiing for access are important to backcountry culture. We have plenty of such “human powered” huts in Colorado, but we lack fully catered, easily accessed “backcountry” lodges. Red Mountain Alpine Lodge is near an all-season maintained road. The intention is to provide full-service backcountry ambiance, only without lengthy human powered access. Excellent.
— Open to all backcountry recreators. Summer jeepers and hikers, winter backcountry skis and snowshoes. Probably snowmobilers as well so long as they behave (smile). Multi cultural diversity!
The new lodge is located in an area called “Ironton,” (presumably a former mining townsite) near Red Mountain Pass. Purple arrow and red teardrop icon indicate the location. The land is privatly owned, and like most other parcels in Colorado mining regions it originated as a mining claim. GPS: 37 54’13.56″ -107 42’22.46″ — UTM 13S 262067 mE 4198591 mN
As with most Colorado alpine backcountry accommodations, RMAL’s high elevation (11,018 feet, 3,354 meters!) could be a problem for visitors coming from lower climes (even Denver Colorado is 6,000 vertical feet lower — that’s plenty of difference for triggering altitude symptoms). I’d suggest they provide diamox and oxygen concentrators for guests, as well as limiting alcohol consumption. I’m not joking — the recent altitude seminar we attended told us that about 30% of visitors to one lofty Colorado resort experienced detrimental altitude symptoms, and that location is below 11,000 feet.
GPS for your mapping pleasure:
37 54’13.56″ -107 42’22.46″
UTM 13S 262067 mE 4198591 mN
Press release follows, condensed.
RED MOUNTAIN ALPINE LODGE OPENING DECEMBER 2018
Red Mountain Alpine Lodge is the ultimate year-round backcountry accommodation for discerning clientele seeking the doorstep of Colorado’s outdoor playground. Located just north of the summit of Red Mountain Pass and fifteen minutes from the village of Silverton, the Lodge is 300 yards off Highway 550 (The Million Dollar Highway). See location on Google maps.RMAL will remain open year-round, catering to backcountry skiers, snowboarders and snowshoers in the winter months and hikers, bikers, motorcyclists, and jeep enthusiasts during summer. The lodge is the perfect location for retreats, weddings and corporate events. The fully catered facility sleeps 18-20 people (three private rooms and loft). In addition to gourmet eats, features include a bar, showers, running water, flush toilets, wood-burning sauna, in-floor heat, wifi and a large common area where guests can unwind after a day in the spectacular San Juan Mountains.
Red Mountain Alpine Lodge is the brainchild of San Juan Mountain Guides owner Nate Disser and backcountry enthusiast and business partner Mark Iuppenlatz. In addition to owning and operating SJMG, Nate is an AMGA certified Guide who has AIARE Level 3 Avalanche Certification.
The lodge is a short walk, ski, or snowshoe from the highway, thus providing easy winter access while still feeling remote and off-grid. RMAL sits at the base of a peak known as Red Mountain #3 and serves as a basecamp for backcountry skiing ranging from high alpine basins to powder filled tree lines.
Website: redmountainalpinelodge.com
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.
