Broome Hut will open door to more backcountry hikers

BERTHOUD PASS — As the whumping helicopter dived into the valley, Roger Hedlund's dream suddenly become palpable.

The heli had just dropped its 25th load — hand-hewed timber beams harvested from the valley floor — and the Broome Hut up the Second Creek drainage of Berthoud Pass was no longer simply a vision.

"After 15 years of planning, we just have to put it together. This is a really incredible feeling," said the president of the Grand Huts Association, who quickly recovered from his revelry to direct a team of 12 hard-hatted volunteers for the next helicopter load.

This winter the 1,800-square-foot, 16-bunk hut 1½ miles from U.S. 40 will begin hosting day-trippers, overnight backcountry travelers, avalanche educators and students.

The Broome Hut is the first of a network of five backcountry huts the association envisions stretching from Berthoud Pass to Grand Lake.

Volunteers will be needed throughout the summer to complete the cabin.

Read about the 15-year effort to replace the rodent-infested Second Creek A-frame that stood on the site.