Destination Vermont: Merck Forest Cabin Camping
It’s mud season in Vermont. Not a favorite time of year for most of us locals. The grass is still brown, the sky is grey, and outdoor pursuits are often curtailed by an incredible array of black muck that can easily capture hiking boots and vehicles and hold them ransom for days on end. This winter, however, was one of the coldest and longest many people can remember, and the approach of mud season felt more like a cause for celebration than ever before. We decided to observe to occasion with a little trip to Merck Forest and Farmland Center in Rupert, Vermont. Our destination was Ridge Cabin, a secluded little getaway high on a ridge with beautiful winter views of both the sunrise and sunset. It’s certainly not too cold to camp in April, but we wanted the convenience of four walls and a woodstove to keep us toasty and dry out our clothes (all that mud). So, we packed up our gear that’s been sitting idle all winter and backpacked into the woods. 4 adu...