BRANDON — A public hearing on the construction of a hut near Silver Lake in the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area is set for next Wednesday, June 8 at 6 p.m. in the downstairs area of Cafe Provence. The meeting is being hosted by the Moosalamoo Association and the Vermont Hut Association, the two nonprofit organizations proposing the year-around hut.
The hut will sleep up to 10 people and be available for year-around use via bookings through the Vermont Hut Association. It will include a modest propane heating stove to make winter camping more feasible.
The hut would complement VHA’s other huts as part of its statewide hut-to-hut system similar to those in Maine and New Hampshire. Its location within the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area is near a similar hut constructed at Chittenden Brook Campground two years ago, and others being built along the spine of the Green Mountains.
According to the Forest Service information on the project, “the hut would provide a unique four season camping and recreation opportunity that is not otherwise available in the (MNRA). The provision of an indoor, heated, facility with sleeping and cooking amenities provided would enable segments of the population currently unable to enjoy an overnight experience at Silver Lake the opportunity to do so. A similar backcountry hut design was recently approved for construction and operations at Grout Pond located on the GMNF on the Manchester Ranger District.”
According to the VHA, its mission is “to provide an enriching and immersive outdoor experience for everyone. By collaborating with our partners in recreation, we are creating a four-season hut network across the Green Mountain State to strengthen local communities and foster a deeper appreciation of our natural environment.” The VHA mission aligns in support of the GMNF Plan’s recreational goals, desired future conditions, and the Moosalamoo area’s purposes and values. The new hut being proposed would be owned and operated by the VHA in a partnership with the Moosalamoo Association.
The public is invited to learn more about the project and to offer public comment at this hearing during a 45-day public comment period. According to Sue Hoxie, executive director of the Moosalamoo Association, a Zoom meeting, for those who can’t attend the in-person June 8 meeting, will be held in the near future.
