Work finishes for the 2011 Construction Season

9/17  - Jon, Adam and Ginny working in a snow storm

We have finished work on the hut for this season and it went extremely well.

As the weather holds we will keep going with re-veg and trail work. 

Over the next 6 months we will focus on raising money.  We need to raise $120,000.

Katie Soles

9/22 - Able to fit into WP Resort's helicopter schedule

9/25 -  Ready for winter, construction will resume in the spring

Building a Place for Humanity to Learn, Laugh and Grow by Volunteer Andy Roth

Progress on Hut - September 10th

As summer turns to fall and rain showers turn to snow flurries the first phase of construction nears completion. Our muscles are sore and our minds are exhausted from all of the coordination and planning that is required of this project. In our minds

Erik Boege and Trent Williamson 9-2

and our hearts we know that the opportunity for public service, the impact on people, and personal pride is well worth the effort.

Lunch break

Volunteer Adam Roth

The construction of the hut that lies just below tree‐line on the northern slope of Berthoud Pass is a project that provides a place for people that are suffering from this recession to keep their skills sharp and their backs strong. The need for carpenters, ecologists, and construction managers is great and the people of this nation are in need of such projects. Along with all the building being done there is a unique social atmosphere created among volunteers where past experience is shared along with tips and tricks of the trades. The social diffusion that precipitates is a valuable resource to the younger volunteers that are trying to find their way in these uncertain times. Also, this project is a salute to legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930’s and 1940’s where young men were

Mother & Son volunteers

Volunteers making it happen

Graham Powers helping out

offered an opportunity to work on America’s most precious gem of her public lands. This project provided strength, skills, and proving grounds to a generation that produced notable names as Chuck Yeager and Aldo Leopold.

Andy Miller - Project Manager

Kids love the hut!

Andy's safety talk

Outdoor Ed - that's cool

David Maddox- hauling out the old A-frame reminants

This summer I was honored with a position with the JCC Ranch Camp based out of Elbert Colorado where I served as one of the trip leaders for the Teen Adventure Service Corps. This program takes young adults out into the wonders of the Colorado Mountains to teach them proficiency in wilderness travel, how to manage personal conflicts in a stressful situation, and the importance of community service. Climbing the trail and offering their energy to the Grand Huts project was their mission. This project provided these young people with the opportunity to learn about the world upon which they exist and gave them an opportunity to shape the future. These young people were exposed to the folks that have had the drive and commitment to pursue this project for over seventeen years to see it come to fruition. Working on this project that started well before these young people were

Adam Roth - Ace Volunteer 

View from the deck

alive gives them an excellent demonstration of commitment and determination, qualities that the next generation is in desperate need of. I could tell that this experience will forever shape the futures of the twenty‐four young adults of this trip.

Tundra Plants grubbed from job site

Mark Twain once said that “Travel is lethal to racism, bigotry, and intolerance.” I have found this to be true in my own travels that have taken me to the highest point in Africa, the western‐most point in Australia and the Southern‐most point in the world. In my gathering of global knowledge I have had the opportunity to wander the amazing wild country of New Zealand. A nation who’s economy is very dependent upon tourism, and tourism that is interested in visiting this very pristine and very fragile ecosystem. In order to create an economical engine without creating an ecological disaster the people of New Zealand along with the Department of Conservation have created many amazing backcountry trail systems incorporating huts to help mitigate the impact of the boisterous tourism traffic. With a centralized point of impact the rest of the area is free of tent sites and cat holes. I feel that Colorado’s tourism and wilderness areas could benefit greatly from such a hut system. These are only a few reasons why I am donating my time and effort to this cause.

With an amazing social atmosphere for people to serve, a place to demonstrate skills of the past generation, and a learning center for the future generation this project is truly unique. In my short experience with The Grand Huts Association I have only seen opportunities, learning, and positive change. It is my hope that this trend will continue well beyond the projected life of the hut and well into the next century.

Sincerely,
Adam L. Roth

Mountain Gentian - you know summers over when you see them.

Progress on Building

On Sunday, Aug. 21  Broome Hut volunteer Toni Leuthold took these pictures of progress to date on framing the treated wood foundation.

The large plastic pipe was "planted" that day to provide one more way to move water away from the foundation. It may have been the largest load hauled so far by the Broome Hut "Trucking" Company - approximately 120 pounds.

Helicopter Transports Concrete & Building Materials

Tuesday, Aug 9, 2011 was our big day for flying in and pouring concrete for the Broome Hut foundation, also materials to build up to our subfloor.

After months (actually years) of preparation, final coordination with USFS and CDOT, and obligatory safety meetings, dawn broke cool and clear and we began hauling concrete with a Vietnam-era 1967 Bell 205 helicopter, as strong as ever, flying out of the Corona Parking Lot (thank you Winter Park Resort)… and up to the hut site.

Safety is king in these operations so we had well organized teams top and bottom keeping an eye on operations.

With the chopper flying in 10-minute loops, a small revegetation team led by Reveg Boss Paisley were able to continue work on the south face of our absorption field.

Many thanks to USFS Zach Humbles and Rampart Helicopter Services for the excellent coordination.

Except for the helicopter haul, the concrete process is similar to any foundation with the “mud” poured into forms (rebar in place – thank you Grand County Building Department) then worked and smoothed by a team. Slow but sure is what it takes for any strong foundation.

After flying 45 loads of concrete, we switched to hauling wood, insulation, and the critical toilet tanks (blue boxes) for a total of 77 helicopter loads.  

From here, our construction team will build up and insulate our foundation up to the subfloor. Excellent day, great job Andy and the Team!

Foundation Forms are Going In

Geoff Elliott visited the site on Tuesday, August 2.  The excavator and loader are gone.  Excavation is complete and foundation forms are going in (Trent and Kip in photo).  Adjustments have been made to grade to improve drainage - had one good thundershower and the drain wes working well.  Concrete work starts this next Tuesday.  Concrete and materials will be hauled from Winter Park Resort, Corona Lot (note change of loading location).

Geoff helped organize revegetation work with Paisley and was told that went well.  We are aiming for rock-veg mix with 75% coverage to mimic adjacent areas.  Best Management Practices (BMPs) are in place and need some maintenance which will be added to the to-do list for volunteers. 

Old A-Frame is now demolished and ready for hauling out by chopper, sad to see it go but so pleased with our upcoming replacement hut!

Visitors and crew should be aware of several moose in the area.  Take photos from a respectful distance and keep a close eye on kids and animals!

Broome Hut Construction Begins

 
We have officially started our replacement of the aging Second Creek Hut with the new state-of-the-art backcountry Broome Hut!  Project Manager Andy Miller picked up our Building Permit from Grand County Building Department, then our approved Special Use Permit from US Forest Service, and promptly mobilized our excavation team to “walk” the track-mounted mini-excavator and skidsteer up to site.  Well planned and nice job minimizing impacts to trail and vegetation, will be easy to primp the trail and replace a few steps after the equipment returns to the trailhead in early August. 

Team broke ground on 20July11 in coordination with USFS Recreation/Special Uses Manager Mike Rickets, Botanist Steven Popovitch, and Civil Engineer Zach Humbles.  By the time I came on site the next day 21July we were down to a rough excavation depth, now approximately 2 feet lower than original planning grade in order to reduce profile and properly balance fill needs.  (Photos) Backfill will be done completely by hand, shovel, and wheelbarrow so we must get this right the first time!  Excavated material is sandier than surface clay loam, which is great, with outcrops of highly fractured granitic bedrock, and now utilized for grey water adsorption field.  Geologic Engineer Jed Dindinger joined the team Saturday 23July11 to confirm excavation conditions and plumb absorption field. 

Lower project perimeter secure with sediment fence and wattles, then willow slash and willow clumps then topsoil grading up to cabin infrastructure.  Fingers crossed for good survival there.  Reveg nursery growing significantly and looking great in the shade with plenty of rain.  Good high diversity grass clumps (photos). 

Will need lots of help in early August filling, shaping, and revegetating Hut area.

Cheers Team!  Good to be digging.

…geoff