The Tundra Hut provides access to fantastic skiing around the Leavenworth Basin. One of our guests created a great map documenting some of the many winter powder stashes and spring mountaineering lines in the area. We’ve given a quick overview of what you might find skiing around the hut.
The Hut Lap
Finding powder stashes in the open glades above the Tundra Hut.
Farming powder above the hut.
All the best ski huts in Colorado have a ski run just outside the front door for folks looking to stay close to the woodstove, water, and snacks. The Tundra Hut is no different, just above the hut are several gullies that provide fun terrain and moderate slope angles. If you explore this area you will also find open trees and glade runs. Walking this area in the summer, many of the openings are due to logging in the area, probably in the 1906 season when the railway was built to Waldorf.
Powder Stashes
For those willing to venture a bit further from the hut, crossing Leavenworth Creek to the slopes below Otter Mountain and Wilcox provides great glade runs with a more northerly aspect. This terrain protects fresh snow from the sun keeping it soft in case it hasn’t snowed recently. This is a slightly longer approach but worth it to find the goods.
Ski Mountaineering
Looking at our tracks down Mine Shaft Couloir accessed from the Tundra Hut.
Corn skiing down big spring lines nearby the the hut.
Bootpacking it up the slopes to access the goods!
There are countless ski mountaineering runs that can be accessed from the hut. Most notably from Fritz Sperry’s Making Turns in Colorados Front Range Volume 1: South of Interstate 70 guidebook is Mine Shaft above the old Santiago Mine. In many years, it is not possible to drive to Waldorf until the summer, so guests at the hut generally have these types of runs all to themselves as it is a long approach from Guanella Pass Rd.
The hut is accessed via Leavenworth Creek Road. Detailed directions will be emailed to you after signing a liability waiver two days prior to your trip. The road is not plowed and must be approached on skis, snowshoes, or snowmobile in the winter. In many years, the road is passable by an offroad vehicle until November, but storms earlier in the season may require hiking or other methods to approach the hut. The first quarter to half mile is the roughest section. We have seen many Jeeps, Tacomas, and 4Runners on the road.
What is the booking process?
After booking the hut here, you will receive an email to sign a liability waiver. This must be signed by everyone in your party. Seven days prior to your trip you will get an email with more detailed information to access the hut.
What activities are around the hut?
There are plenty of activities around the hut every season of the year. The winter is a fantastic time for backcountry skiing, ski mountaineering, and snowshoeing. When snow does not cover the ground there is hiking, cycling, trail running, and OHV access all around the basin. You can also access Grays and Torreys via McClellan or Argentine Pass.
What is at the hut?
The hut has a kitchen (with dishes, cutlery etc), stove, oven, percolators to make coffee, a wood stove with split wood, and beds.
What is the water situation?
In the summer bring your own water for drinking, cooking, and dishes. There are rain barrels however it is not guaranteed that there will be water.
In the winter, melt snow in the large pots that sit on the woodstove – do not put anything in the pots but snow (no hands, fingers, or water filters). Only melt snow on the wood burning stove, do not use the propane stove. In shoulder season (i.e., when you can’t drive to the hut to bring water, and there isn’t enough snow to melt) there are two springs on the property. The first runs until mid-July and is located about 100 ft up the road from the hut and the other is year-round and about 700 feet down the road from the hut. This water has not been tested. We suggest you bring a filter.
What about beds? How many people does the hut sleep?
The hut comfortably sleeps 8 people but can fit more in emergency situations. There are two bedrooms and additional beds available. The beds have sheets covering the mattresses. Please bring your own bedding or sleeping bags and pillowcases.
