The Grand Huts Association (GHA), a non-profit group that seeks to link the Grand County backcountry with a system of huts that can be used year-round for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, biking, hiking and other non-motorized outdoor activities, just opened its first hut at Berthoud Pass, GHA announced today.
The Broome Hut, located in the Second Creek basin on Berthoud Pass, hosted GHA’s first paying guests over the New Year’s holiday.
The new 1,800 square foot energy-efficient structure offers skiers and hikers a comfortable base for year-round adventures in the Colorado backcountry. It is located on a sunny slope at an elevation of 11,350 feet and offers panoramic views of the Continental Divide and the striking Second Creek headwall.
The main room boasts a dramatic timber frame, built with local beetle kill timbers and includes the kitchen, dining and lounging areas; it is suitable for special events, classes or just relaxing. Outside, a large deck offers a fantastic view. There are sleeping quarters for 16. Solar power, composting toilets and wood pellet stoves keep this off-the-grid facility cozy and green, according to GHA.
Broome Hut reservations are booked through the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association (www.huts.org). Rentals are $35 /night per person. Children age 12 and under are half price.
There is also a day-use area on the east side of the building that is open to the public from 9 a.m. until one hour before sunset. A restroom and a picnic area make this a comfortable refuge for day hikers or skiers.
The Broome Hut is the culmination of many years of planning, fundraising and collaboration with the US Forest Service. GHA recognizes all of its generous donors, especially Paul and Joan Broome, the Grand Foundation and the dedicated volunteers who donated more than 6,000 hours of labor to make this vision a reality. The Broome Hut operates under a Special Use Permit from the US Forest Service.
To learn more, go to www.grandhuts.org , or hike up the Second Creek Trail at mile marker 240, US Highway 40 on Berthoud Pass. The Hut is approximately one mile from Highway 40 with an elevation gain of 900 feet.
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