Cabin Camp out - Northern Vermont

Thank you Steve for hosting an incredible weekend – All of us agreed, the cabin was just what we needed to pull away from the daily grind.

We were all to meet at the cabin late afternoon before sunset.  Steve, Rich and “Pablo” arrived first – and got the wood stove going – shortly thereafter arrived Jim and then Rob.  After helping Rob unload his gear with the help of Steve, Rich and Jim – he set back to the parking to situate the car.  Parking was tight and it had recently snowed making the endeavor a bit more fun by slipping and sliding.  And this is where the weekend starts…  while attempting to park, he bumped what clearly was a rock or two, perhaps a little too hard, denting his CRV…  No harm done, this wasn’t going to get in the way of a good time had by all.  This would become the weekend we would all remember, it just kept getting better. 

We set about settling into our bunks, unpacking and as the cabin warmed, changing into more comfortable clothing.  Steve, as promised, had put upon the stove a beef stew – roasting – while we cheered the start of a brilliant weekend.  Rich forgot his sleeping bag, no fear, many of us had extra blankets and saw fit he wouldn’t freeze.  Pablo, perched on his bunk amid sleeping bags, was comfortably settled in himself. 

Steve not only prepped the meal, he came fully stocked with neat gadgets that really made our cabin experience most excellent.  A little music, discreet LED lighting, stoves, cooking wear, you name it, Steve had it.  We shared stories, laughter and got to know each other a bit more over dinner, a few drinks and desert, homemade Cannolis.  Truly, a great way to end the week and a great way to begin the weekend.  The evening marched on; we played cards, enjoyed the ambience, viewed the moon lit frozen lake from the porch and finally settled in for the night, lights out! 

Ahhh, morning comes early.  Jim and Rob were the early risers… Steve and Rich slept in a little longer on this fine Saturday morning.  Temps fell to zero during the night, but the stove was in full heat mode at lights out and kept the cabin reasonably warm.  The morning was chilly but we all slept well even while Rich enjoyed a conversation in his sleep – the details are top secret!!  Jim fired up the stove and we set about getting ready for breakfast.  Thanks to Mother Nature – the cabin kitchen was plenty cold to keep our goods fresh.  We all brought our breakfast, we had apple sauce, coffee, tea, eggs, bacon, muffins, yogurt, fresh fruit, toast, cheese, croissants, biscuits – we had more than we could eat.  No routine was complete without a trip to the outhouse on a fine zero degree morning!  Refreshing!

Over breakfast Steve, Rich and Pablo decided they wanted a quieter weekend and were staying close to the cabin.  Jim and I reviewed the map and decided to reach for two summits.  As we geared up, Jim wanted to get some things from his car and Rob asked him if he could bring back the two gallons of water he left in his car the night before.  When Jim got back there was no water – and – to Jim’s dismay, no key to Rob’s vehicle – he’d dropped it on the way to the cars.  Fear not – Jim set out to find the key – certain it was sitting on the hard packed trail from the cabin to the cars, not, in the dusty five inches of snow.  After a brief search – they key was lost.  Rob paused, reflected, and indeed acknowledged a dilemma of sorts was present, but the day was not to be lost.  It was decided Jim and Rob would hike and enjoy the blue sky and sun, the key, would have to wait.  Jim and Rob set afoot and began their hike and Steve, Rich and Pablo settled in for a relaxing day.

En route, so engrossed in their conversation, they inadvertently passed the trail head.  Upon coming to an active logging road, they realized their mistake and turned around – chatting less – and being far more attentive to the Moose Mountain trail head.  Success!  This was a nice trail – clearly marked in blue blazes that stood out against the white landscape.  There had been recent snows and Jim and Rob found themselves breaking trail while they made their way to a lookout where they captured views of the lake and cabin.  All was well as they continued their ascent but the snow fall was no longer a 5 inch dusting, rather, it became knee deep.  They proceeded to summit at 2,339’.  While the summit offered modest filtered views through the trees, the snowscape was amazing, dense and the exercise was great.  On the way down, they skipped the road and looped backed to the cabin via the Wheeler Pond Trail.  This hike was a modest 3.4 miles round trip from the cabin starting at 1,400’ of elevation. 

Back at the cabin for lunch the “key” was weighing on Jim’s mind and maybe Rob’s too.  Jim fueled up on leftover stew then he and Rob set out to find they key.  While Rob and Jim were methodically scooping snow along the path… Rich and Pablo set out to help with their keen vision, Steve, was soundly napping.  Like finding a needle in a haystack, Jim and Rob were gifted by the hiking gods; Rich found the key – a bit of black showing above the snow in the area of the parked cars.  Bolstered by their good fortune, the key swiftly found a safe home and Rob and Jim set out for Wheeler Mountain.

They set to travel up the Red Trail which was the most direct and steepest.  A little ice, a lot of snow and a bit of bush whacking on the trails edge to safely climb and they summited at 2,371’.  They got great views, snapped some photos and recognizing the day was turning to dusk, began their descent down the white trail – a slightly longer – but much more gradual decline.  They arrived at the cabin happily reflecting on their day’s journey ready to settle in for a minus 5 degree night and a brilliant dinner of spaghetti & meatballs graciously prepped by Rich.  Apple Pie was desert.

What a brilliant weekend, thank you to our kind host, Steve.  We made new friends this weekend, and it was brilliant.  We were completely detached from contemporary life and all the trappings of our modern world.  It was spiritual in nature to feed our soul by enjoying a more primitive existence of a different time.  A two room cabin, woodstove, great company and conversation, and more food than we could consume – what more can you want, it’s Vermont, naturally.  We are ready for more.

Trip Report:  Rob as edited by others

Trip Photos:  Rob as supplemented by others

Other Recreational Opportunities: 
Ice climbing, fishing, hunting, paddling, swimming, biking (road/mountain), XC ski touring, and lift-service downhill skiing. 

Heat:
Wood stoves in both cabins. Wood is provided. 

Lights: 
Guest provided – bring your own headlamps, flashlights and/or enclosed gas or candle lanterns. No open flames please and please be extremely careful. 

Cooking:
Guest provided – bring your own portable camp stove. For safety please use stoves outdoors whenever possible. 

Water: 
No potable supply. In winter: melt snow. In summer: haul in water or treat pond water. 

Toilet:
Outhouse. 

Phone: 
None; cell coverage spotty. 

Access:
Driving directions are supplied when you make your reservation. If you do not have a reservation, please respect the privacy of guests and do not go to the camps. There is a small parking area for two vehicles per cabin at the trail that leads one tenth of a mile in to the camps. The parking area is plowed in winter. The camps parking area is for overnight guests with reservations only. A public parking lot for day-use is located 0.5 miles north of the camps on the right at the Moose Mountain and Wheeler Pond Trailhead. 

Elevation:
Approx. 1500'

Date Built: 
Early 1970’s 
 

Total cost for both nights is $90 split by how many of us go, plus food.

I recomend car pooling as parking is limited.

Link to site:
http://www.greenmountainclub.org/page.php?id=7