Stone Hut Reservations Are Live
The stone walls have been scrubbed clean of soot and ash from last December’s fire. The walls and floor rebuilt. The wood stove and 8 bunks are back in place. All signs are pointing to Stowe’s famous Stone Hut, the 1936 cabin at the top of the Four Runner Quad, being ready for occupancy (up to 12 people) by the time the snow flies.
That is, if you can get a reservation.
This year, Vermont State Parks, which operates the hut and worked with donors to rebuild the hut after a fire destroyed much of the roof and interior last December, has changed the lottery system. Here’s what you need to know and an application and rules and regulations are below:
- There will be two lotteries: One for those who had reservations last season but were unable to use them due to the fire and a second for everyone else.
- You no longer get preference based on the number of nights you plan to stay. In other words, book a weekend or a week and your chances of getting the hut are the same.
- You need to bring your own sleeping pad as mattresses may not be ready for this year.
- Applications are due by Nov. 14.
The schedule for reservations is below. And, of course, all of this is contingent on the construction crew being able to finish work.
The best news? The Stone Hut is just one of several all-season backcountry huts around the state that are inspiring a growing movement to create a hut-to-hut trail network.
Interior photo by Scott Braaten/Stowe Mountain Resort
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It seems like they are making an effort to show transparency and refute favoritism as they finally made some minor changes to the lottery process. Most likely due to the public backlash from last year’s debacle with the Carpenters. When they burned the place down, it was finally shown how they ‘gamed’ the lottery system and reserved the stone hut more than their fair share. It’s still not a great lottery system, but perhaps better than it was. Now if I could only afford to stay a night and also buy a lift ticket!