Hut for Vets, a nonprofit organization in Aspen that offers therapeutic wilderness retreats for U.S. military veterans, will host a special fundraising event Friday focused on the legacy of the 10th Mountain Division and its impact on outdoor recreation in America. 

The evening will feature engaging discussions led by Ninety-Pound Rucksack podcast host Christian Beckwith, offering a deep dive into the division’s history and insights into how wilderness therapy is helping veterans heal today. 

The presentation will be a continuation of Beckwith’s discussion from his podcast about how the 10th Mountain Division helped shape outdoor recreation in America and present the science-backed, incredible healing power of wilderness therapy for veterans.

The 10th Mountain Division, a specialized U.S. Army unit trained in mountain warfare, played a pivotal role in the development of Aspen’s ski industry after World War II. 

“I was looking into the mental health benefits of spending time outside,” Beckwith said. “We looked at different organizations, like Huts for Vets, that were treating PTSD through wilderness emersion. Three hundred-plus organizations exist today for wilderness immersion, and they exist for a reason.”

He said he started Ninety-Pound Rucksack to do real-time research for a book that he is working on about John McCown, who lived in Jackson, Wyoming, and served in the 10th Mountain Division during WWII. 

Many soldiers in the 10th Mountain Division were expert skiers and mountaineers, having trained in Colorado’s Camp Hale. After WWII, several veterans from the division, notably Fritz Benedict and Friedl Pfeifer, settled in Aspen and were instrumental in turning the town into a premier ski destination.

These veterans brought their deep knowledge of skiing, mountaineering, and outdoor survival to Aspen, helping establish the ski resort infrastructure. In 1946, Pfeifer co-founded the Aspen Skiing Company, which built the Aspen Mountain ski area, while Benedict contributed to the development of the town’s recreational facilities and mountain trails. 

“The outdoors played a significant role for many reasons. Before the Second World War, the people who were skiing (there were between 1 million-3 million at the time) came from a rather rarified speck,” Beckwith said. “The people during the depression who were skiing, and an even smaller number of people who were climbing, were really a small percentage of the population and came from wealthy backgrounds.” 

He said the 10th, in general, and Camp Hale, in particular, introduced tens of thousands of Americans to the art of self-sufficiency in the backcountry. It democratized the outdoors for the first time in American history.

The 10th Mountain Division had the highest casualty rate of any unit serving in Italy during the Second World War. 

“When they came home, after experiencing the horrors of war, they moved to the mountains with their families,” Beckwith said. “The soldiers were able to buy the Army surplus skiing and climbing gear that they learned on, and in doing so, laid the foundation for what today is a one $1 trillion-a-year industry.

The efforts of these soldiers attracted skiers and climbers from across the country, transforming Aspen and Vail from sleepy mining towns into one of the most iconic ski resorts in the world. 

Beckwith said because of what he and others know now about how spending time outside — and the mental health benefits that come with that — he believes that the reason these soldiers went back to the mountains is it made them feel good.

“Huts for Vets is doing a more scientifically-involved approach to this, to obtain a certain equilibrium for veterans experiencing PTSD,” he said. “Everywhere you look, you’ll find that the fingerprints of the 10th Mountain Division are everywhere in mountain towns like Aspen.”

Huts for Vets focuses on helping veterans overcome trauma and challenges related to their service. 

Huts for Vets Executive Director Erik Villaseñor said Beckwith reached out with a proposal for a fundraiser for the nonprofit.

“We use the 10th Mountain Division Huts, which were built in honor of the soldiers who came to the mountains to train for war,” Villaseñor said. “We are using the mountains as a place for healing, so it is almost like this full-circle cycle.”

Through multi-day programs, Huts for Vets organization provides veterans with a chance to reconnect with nature, share their experiences, and find healing in a supportive environment. 

The retreats take place at various 10th Mountain Huts, offering a serene and remote setting for veterans to engage in hiking and guided discussions to promote mental health and emotional well-being. 

The event is slated for 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m., at the Ute Theater and Events Center in Rifle, 132 E. Fourth St.

This event is not just an educational experience — it’s an important opportunity to raise critical funds and awareness for Huts for Vets’ mission to serve veterans, according to organizers.

You can support this cause by attending the event, donating to Huts for Vets wilderness therapy programs at http://www.hutsforvets.org, and spreading the word within your network. 

All proceeds will go directly to Huts for Vets, helping them continue to provide transformative wilderness experiences for those who have served.

“100% of the ticket sales will go to funding Huts for Vets,” said Villaseñor.

Get your tickets now at https://bit.ly/MntWarriors.