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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2020
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DENVERPOST.COM
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THE DENVER POST
Snowshoe to a cozy rest at these backcountry huts By Ryan Wichelns Special to The Denver Post
Skiers get all the love with hut trips. Users are quick to share which shelters have the best access to crazy lines and the best backcountry terrain. Or which huts you can link together into a long ski tour. But Colorado has a lot of huts and shelters reachable by incredible — and safe — snowshoe hikes, with adjacent trails for shoeing, nearby slopes for world-class sledding, or even a sauna to relax in without being bombarded with a crowd of boozed-up, smelly ski bums (if that’s not your vibe). So whether you’re a non-skier looking for your first experience sleeping in snow-covered mountains, a shredder looking to bring nonskier family along, or a die-hard snowshoer on the hunt for a peak-bagging base camp, these are the huts sure to keep you comfortable. Staying safe on your winter hut trip Even if you fancy yourself a little less hard core than the backcountry skiers who make use of these huts, or tent-bound winter campers, huts in Colorado are still islands in a sea of serious winter terrain. They don’t all require major hikes or approaches to reach, but don’t plan on driving your car up to the front door. Basic backpacking skills — knowing what to bring, having supplies you can carry and knowing how to pack a backpack — are important. Know how to navigate if a storm rolls in and be prepared for bad weather during your hike. Similarly, wood stoves and other heat sources keep the huts comfortable for most of the day, but expect temperatures to drop overnight and in the morning, until you get the wood stove burning again. Warm sleeping bags and layers are important. Finally, the approaches to most Colorado huts are reasonably safe from avalanche terrain, but you probably don’t need to get far off-track or venture too far away from the hut to be in a danger zone. Taking some level of an avalanche course isn’t a bad idea and it’s critical if you have any expectation that you might — intentionally or unintentionally — end up in avalanche terrain. Like all trips this winter and through next summer, keep the pandemic and related restrictions in mind as you plan your trip.
Uncle Bud’s Hut
Worried about bad weather? Post up in a mountain castle. The grand wood and stone exterior is
Opus Hut, near Silverton, is the closest you’re going to get in Colorado to a full-service refuge in the Pyrenees. Brett Schrenkengost, provided by Opus Hut reminiscent of a shelter in the Alps, and the luxurious inside isn’t far off. Owned by the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association, Uncle Bud’s Hut sleeps 16 (limited to 12 people of one group this season), all upstairs, saving the downstairs for the kitchen, dining room, and communal space with views of 14,421-foot Mount Massive. Easy route-finding along forest roads around the north side of Turquoise Lake (near Leadville) make the 5.9-mile hike to the hut simple, and just 25 minutes above the hut is a meadow that’s perfect for beginning skiers or sledders. (huts.org)
Opus Hut
If your winter trip experience consists more of luxurious ski lodges, restaurants and grand hotels, Opus Hut is the closest you’re going to get in Colorado to a full-service refuge in the Pyrenees. At 11,600 feet above Silverton, guests are treated to home-cooked meals. Electrical outlets (powered by solar panels), bedding, filtered drinking water, a-la-carte alcohol and snacks, and space for 16 make it comfortable enough that you’ll be perfectly happy not even leaving the hut. But located right at treeline, the hiking is world class from there into the mighty San Juans surrounding Ophir Pass with destinations like Crystal Lake and Paradise Basin ideal for both backcountry skiers and snowshoers. Best of all? After a long day exploring, you’ll have a hot dinner to come back to, without lifting a finger. (opushut.com)
Seedhouse Guard Station
A relaxing walk along a mostly flat road leads to the quaint Seedhouse Guard Station. Just four bunks, a simply equipped kitchen and gas fireplace make this one-room shelter outside Steamboat Springs the perfect spot for small groups or couples looking for someplace to enjoy peace and quiet amid rolling hills blanketed in snow. The nearby Mount Zirkel Wilderness is a haven for winter hiking, but you don’t need to go far to explore the maze of forest roads leading up the west side of Little Agnes Peak, plus you’ll have the hut to yourself when it’s time to head back for dinner. (fs.usda.gov/recarea/mbr/recarea/?recid=28007)
Shrine Mountain Inn
Comprised of three huts — Jay’s, Chuck’s and Walter’s cabins — the Shrine Mountain Inn’s easy 2.7-mile approach and ample room to spread out (the cabins can host up to 36 guests) make this location between Copper Mountain and Vail ideal for families and those looking for a little shoulder room to relax. Indoor plumbing includes showers, there’s a grill on each deck, and there’s a sauna between two of the huts, making them plenty comfortable for inexperienced backcountry visitors. Gentle, open hillsides below the huts make great short ski laps or safe places to sled or just play in the snow. (huts.org)
