Dear Hut Friends,
Like many small businesses and nonprofits, Vermont Huts has been monitoring the rapid evolution of COVID-19. We care deeply about the rural communities in which our huts are located, and the health and safety of our guests is our top priority. We also understand and fully support the need to “flatten the curve” in an effort to give our health care providers the best chance to serve those in need.
That is why we have decided to close our huts through April 30, 2020. This closure is effective today, March 17, 2020. Any guests who have made reservations at Chittenden Brook Hut, Crow’s Nest Yurt, or the Nulhegan Hut between now and April 30 will be issued a full refund. The same policy applies to the Green Mountain Club’s Bryant Camp, Bolton Lodge, and Hadsel-Mares camps, though GMC will be processing those refunds. For information about an existing reservation at Merck Forest and Farmland Center, please contact them directly.
We will not be accepting any new reservations on the Vermont Huts website until further notice. Reservations beginning May 1 or after will remain on the books, but this is subject to change based on future recommendations from the CDC.
You may be wondering, “Wouldn’t a backcountry hut be the best place to quarantine during a pandemic?” Well, not really. Many of our guests travel from all over New England and beyond (thank you!). The virus can live on surfaces for several days, meaning one person in an infected party could quite possibly pass it on to the next guests arriving a day or two later. We do not want our huts to become breeding grounds for this contagious virus.
We also do not want to promote travel during a time when we are being told to stay home as much as possible. Considering all the bathroom breaks and snack stops between your house and some of our huts, staying open would be a disservice to those on the frontlines of the pandemic.
Please stay tuned for future updates, but most importantly, stay healthy, and take care of your local community members in need.
In solidarity,
RJ Thompson
Executive Director
Vermont Huts Association
