Date: 01.09.15 – 01.11.15

Submitted by: Sam Demas

Location: Maine Huts and Trails, Kingfield, Maine

Website: http://www.mainehuts.org

Names of huts visited: Stratton Brook and Poplar

Facilities/Amenities: Both huts have very comfortable, heated (to about 55 F) bunk rooms with 4 – 6 beds in a room. The ambience is warm, friendly and comfortable, just what you want after a day of skiing. The food was excellent at both huts and the selection of wines and beers is super. Stratton Brook is the newest of MHT’s four huts and its architecture is spectacular. The after dinner tours of the “green” features (composting toilets, solar energy) were very informative. Bathrooms very clean and you hot water for showers is available. Stratton Brook offered a drying room for wet clothing. Both huts were well stocked with games, puzzles, and informal libraries

Tips: Electronic devices are discouraged, so go with the flow and unplug for a few days!   Don’t even bring it along! Not many skiers during midweek stays, so if you are looking for the social dimension, try weekends.

Trip description: Skiied to two huts over three days in January 2013. The ski conditions were great and the trails well maintained. From each hut there are trails for visiting local features such as waterfalls and scenic views. Skiing up to both huts, particularly Stratton Brook, requires significant elevation gain, but offers great downhill ski the next morning. The MH&T claim of offering “best of class” amenities is not an exaggeration; this hut system is off to a remarkable start and rivals the best huts I’ve seen in Europe.

The commitment of the staff and management to sustainable practices reflects a larger ethos of “conservation through recreation”. This made for a great feeling of supporting an environmentally aware group.