A holly, jolly night at the Markley Hut.
Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year as they say, is officially here. As the holiday crowds descend from all over the world upon Colorado’s mountain towns, Anna-Lisa and I have made it a tradition to escape the madness and head up to a 10th Mountain or Braun hut for a night or two on or around Christmas.
This year we decided to book out the Markley Hut, which features one of the shortest approaches of any hut in the system. With the dry start to the winter season we were a tad worried about snow coverage along the route to the hut, but there turned out to be just enough of a base to skin in and ski out from Ashcroft.
On the approach. Such a dry start to winter we’ve had.
Hayden Peak across the way.
The 2.3 mile, 1,100 foot skin took us 90 minutes, and we arrived at the Markley Hut just after check-in time at 2pm. One benefit to the short approach was having all afternoon to hang out. In the past we’ve typically arrived at these things after nightfall.
Arrived!
The Markley Hut is part of the Alfred Braun Hut System, and was originally built in 1964 by local skiers and mountaineers who frequented the Castle Creek Valley. It was originally designed as an A-frame similar to the Tagert Hut, but was renovated in 2003 by architect Al Beyer who added two “wings” to either side of the A-frame. This resulted in a larger hut that sleeps eight people, and as with most Braun huts, must be booked out by a single party.
The original A-frame design of the hut was clearly given a nod in the new design.
Not many better places to get cozy and read a book than this.
Photograph on the wall of the original Markley Hut prior to the 2003 renovation.
As the sun set behind the ridgeline, out came the Christmas lights, tunes, stockings, and whiskey snow cocktails. Every year we try to up our game in some way. This year it was bringing two strands of battery operated lights instead of one, and downloading even more music 🙂
The chef hard at work.
Another aspect of the tradition is the evening meal. Huts are fun to cook in, as they usually feature most of the functionality of a modern day kitchen. We’ve gone with fondue, surf n’ turf, a full chicken roast, stir fry, and steak/potatoes, among other recipes. This year it was chicken pesto spaghetti with Anna-Lisa’s homemade pesto sauce, topped with parmesan.
The hut features a loft sleeping area which overlooks the kitchen and dining room down below.
After fiddling around outside with the camera for a bit as the tunes played into the night, we threw another log on the fire and hit the sack. Mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap.
The stockings, hung by the chimney with care, of course.
The next morning it was coffee with bacon egg breakfast sandwiches. And after completing the departure checklist and buttoning everything up, we skied back down to Ashcroft, another successful holiday hut trip in the books.
Morning views over the woodpile.
And a parting shot.
Merry Christmas and a happy new year!