Winter in the Backcountry - Broome Hut

Winter brings new kinds of backcountry adventures.   While we do spend more time indoors with the change of season, we still enjoy carrying our belongs on our backs and heading into the mountains.  The huts of Colorado provide us with this outlet, and give us a cozy place to lay our heads at night.

Our latest winter hut trip was to the Broome Hut, part of the Grand Huts Association.  Located near Berthoud Pass, Colorado, it is easily accessible but still a getaway.  The route in from the trailhead is about one mile, but steep at 800 feet of elevation gain.  The hut sits at 11,350 feet, just above treeline.  It is the perfect perch from which to peer over the surrounding peaks.


The weather for our overnight trip this balmy January was sunny, with a low of about 21 degrees Fahrenheit and a high of 48.  The snow was very packed down, raising the question of the most appropriate way to transport ourselves up the mountain.  On a past trip, we snowshoed.  But we bought new gear at the end of last winter including Altai Skis for Matt and the boys.  I used my backcountry cross country skis... Fischer S Bound 98's.  (Check out our video reviews below for more information).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_66oqYqkTZg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=domBHNY-rok

With skins positioned under our skis to improve traction up the mountain, we were on our way.  Well, sort of.  The pitch of the path rapidly increased.  And with the tightly packed snow underneath, we slipped a few inches back with every step forward.  Fortunately our trek was relatively short and we still arrived to the hut soon after the 1 p.m. check-in time.

Broome Hut offers an area for day hikers to rest and warm up after snowshoeing or skiing in.  It is a great launch for backcountry skiers to head further into the steeps before dropping into their descents.  On a powder day, this can be an easily approachable backcountry ski site for those with  avalanche gear.

When one has an overnight reservation, the living area of the hut has large windows from which to see the surrounding peaks, watch the weather roll in, and enjoy the clear night sky.  The large cooking area is adequately supplied.  A nice luxury to this hut is an indoor composting toilet... no midnight snowy ventures to the outhouse here.

When on a hut trip, most people take advantage of the snow and pull heavy supplies on a sled.  This allows us to plan fun meals and to take whatever adult beverage we prefer.  Mulled wine was on the menu.  We shared with some of the other folks at the hut.  In turn, they shared a local brew from Guanella Pass Brewing Company in Georgetown, Colorado.... Excellent!   We will definitely need to stop our next time through.

After a great night's sleep in our bunk room, we used the morning to practice our turns...  This is about the time we realized our return trip could be a little treacherous.  Telemark turns with my gear were suboptimal, to say the least.  We were glad the return trip would be short.

Indeed, the descent to the trailhead was clumsy and slow going.  I actually longed for my snowshoes.  We all made it back to packed snow where we happily strapped our various skis to our sled, then walked down the mountain.  Still, with each step, I was planning my mastery of the telemark turn.  We will be back!

-Mama Bear