Green Mountain Club

Maintaining & Protecting Vermont's Long Trail Since 1910

  • About
    • About The Green Mountain Club
      • Bylaws
      • Annual Reports
      • Strategic Plan
    • Visitor Center
    • Barnes Camp Visitor Center
    • GMC Rental Cabins
    • Board of Directors
    • GMC Staff
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Corporate Sponsors
    • Our Business Partners
    • Contact Us
  • Hiking
    • Trail Updates
    • Hiking 101
    • Trail Systems
      • The Long Trail
      • Appalachian Trail in Vermont
      • Kingdom Heritage Trails in the Northeast Kingdom
    • Hiking Recommendations
    • Accessible Trails around Vermont
    • Thru-Hike the Long Trail
    • Trip Planning
      • Hiking in Groups
      • Guidebooks, Maps & Gear
      • Food Storage Regulations
      • Bear Boxes
    • Wildlife on the Trails
      • Food Storage Regulations
      • Bear Boxes
    • Mud Season
    • Fall Hiking
    • Winter Hiking
    • Long Trail End-to-Ender Certification
  • Conservation
    • Protecting the Long Trail
    • Land Conservation
    • Strategic Conservation Plan
    • Field Programs
    • Burrows Trail Project
    • Regional Partnerships
    • Vermont’s Alpine Zones
  • Education & Events
    • Events & Workshops
    • Service Learning & Group Outings
    • Calendar of Events & Outings
    • Leave No Trace
  • News
    • Trail Updates
    • Blog
    • Long Trail News
    • Press Releases
    • Monthly Newsletter
  • Volunteer
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Volunteer Long Trail Patrol
    • Volunteer Reports
    • Application
    • Volunteer Code of Conduct
  • Donate
    • Ways to Give
    • Donate Now
  • Members
    • Become a Member
    • Your Membership Benefits
    • Join a Section
    • Business Membership
    • Green Mountain Club Annual Meeting
  • Shop

A Wintry Weekend at Hadsel-Mares Camp

January 24, 2019 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

This post was written by Rachel Adams, backcountry skier and mountain enthusiast.

After hearing about Vermont’s backcountry huts, we had to check one out! We’d never been to the Lake Willoughby area in the Northeast Kingdom before so we decided on Hadsel-Mares Camp, a rustic cabin on the shores of Wheeler Pond operated by the Green Mountain Club. The January weekend we booked ended up being very chilly, with lows around -10 F. Thankfully, the cabin was stocked with ample dry wood and the stove kept us comfortable – with sleeping bags, we were very cozy!

That evening, we enjoyed a gorgeous sunset over the frozen pond- and even better, a midnight jaunt outside to see the stars! Even though the moon was less than half full, it was so bright on the snow that we didn’t need to turn on our headlamps – it was so peaceful and quiet.

I was really happy that we packed a couple of bright battery-powered LED lanterns to hang on the hooks available for that purpose in the cabin. They made it easier to see inside while hanging out at night, but headlamps are also definitely recommended for tasks like cooking and trips to the nearby outhouse. Camp slippers or down booties were another great addition – the floor was bit chilly until the stove really got going, and after a day in ski boots it was nice to get comfortable.

During the day, we explored local skiing. The backcountry and cross country ski trails in nearby Willoughby State Forest (a 22-minute drive away) were awesome! They are well maintained by the NorthWoods Stewardship Center and the Northeast Kingdom Backcountry Coalition, signed/mapped, and the views of the Willoughby cliffs are well worth the uphill slog!

I’ve done a few winter camping trips before, in snow caves and tents – Hadsel-Mares cabin was a great alternative, especially in very cold weather. You get all the perks of being out in the winter (serene landscapes and fewer people!) but you have a warm, dry place to sleep – and you can dry out your layers and climbing skins so you’re warmer for the next day’s adventure. We would love to visit again and check out some of the snowshoeing or summer hiking accessible directly from the cabin.

 

Get more information about Hadsel-Mares Camp (and GMC’s other rental cabins) and book your stay today!

 

Filed Under: Camps

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Big News for Strategic Conservation of the Long Trail System

May 1, 2025

This article appears in the 2025 Spring Long Trail News and was written by GMC Director of Conservation Mollie Flanigan. In previous editions I've described the process of developing the Green Mountain Club Strategic Conservation Plan that outlines our road map to permanently protecting the Long … Read more

About Mud Season HikeVT Trail Recommendations Become a Member Trip Planning Trail Maps Volunteer Opportunities

Mission

The Green Mountain Club is the founder and maintainer of the Long Trail - the oldest long distance hiking trail in America. Established in 1910 to build this trail stretching the length of Vermont, the club now also maintains the Appalachian Trail in Vermont and trails in the Northeast Kingdom in its mission to "make the Vermont mountains play a larger part in the life of the people." Read more...

Featured Sponsors

Athletic Brewing Logo
Athletic_Primary_WhiteBG
Outdoor Gear Exchange logo
oge
Darn Tough logo
darn tough
Burlington Beer Company logo
Burlington Beer Company logo
802 Cars logo
802 cars
Lawson's Finest Liquids logo
lawsons-finest-liquids-black
Eastern Mountain Sports logo
EMS
Mountain Goat logo
Mountain Goat logo
Lenny's Shoe & Apparel logo
Lennys-Logo
Concept 2 logo
concept2
Sugarbush Resort logo
sugarbush-logo
The Alchemist Brewery logo
alchemist
Johnson Farm & Garden, Hardware and Rental logo
Johnson Farm & Garden, Hardware and Rental

Connect

4711 Waterbury-Stowe Road
Waterbury Center, Vermont 05677
802.244.7037 | Email GMC

Click here for current hours.
Email us for hiking advice. 

Copyright © 2025 Green Mountain Club · All Rights Reserved. · Site by Earthlogic.