The Mountain Room is a cabin within a room, a replicated Mountain-Top fire tower. From the king-size bed, a mural depicts a 360-degree view of the Green Mountains. "Outside" of the cabin, a deep leather armchair and a playful fleece-covered armchair face the large fireplace, which is paved with smooth black stones found only on the shores of Lake Champlain. This alpine camp, made of local stone and wide pine planks, also has a commemorative shelf to the 10th Mountain Division, and a collection of antique skis, snowshoes and boots. There's a wet bar, and best of all, an extremely luxurious bathroom with a black slate steam shower, double sinks, and deep Jacuzzi. The Boy Scouts never had it so good.

Rate: $625.00 • Click here to see a room comparison chart

Why do we go to the mountains? What is the allure of the woodlands? What exactly does this wilderness offer that can not be had "downtown?"

The Green Mountains are among the oldest geological formations in North America. By comparison, the Sierras, the Cascades and even the Rockies are mere teenagers. The Northern Forest, stretching from Maine to the Great Lakes and as far south as Vermont, is a vast and complex ecology. The health of our water and air is irrevocably tied to this giant forest and at some level we must all realize it.

Long before we came to vacation and recreate in these mountains, people lived their normal everyday lives here. There was nothing romantic or easy about this lifestyle - it was physically hard and often life threatening. But the surrounding resources were fantastic and almost unlimited. Four-footed food in every size and shape, streams and rivers with fish swimming in both directions, wild berries, warm pelts, sweet sap and above all - wood. Miles and miles of virgin forest with massive tress that had never seen an ax or saw. Moreover, part of the rewards for coming to the mountains has always been a staggering, incomprehensible beauty that helped sustain the body and soul in the face of grueling work.

Now today, one rarely experiences anything like the satisfying labor of logging with horses or the quiet strain of trapping on snow shoes. These days, it seems the snow just doesn't get as deep, the ice as hard, or the weather as cold as it used to. The threat of forest fires is no longer controlled by vigilant rangers stationed in lonely fire towers; today's outing in the mountains is a vacation, not a lifestyle. We stay in condos rather than camps. Horses and sleds have been replaced by snowmobiles. Logging has become a gasoline-fueled industry and the animal populations have dwindled until they are almost all endangered. We fish and hunt by permit and when we ski... we buy a ticket!

As an antidote for today's commercial vacation, a short stay in the Mountain Room will rekindle memories of an earlier wilderness experience. Sleeping in a replicated fire-tower allows you to awaken to an accurate 360 degree diorama of the Green Mountains, lit with special fixtures that allow you to decide whether it's sunrise, high noon or sunset.

In the main camp sitting area, the ceiling is adorned with a comprehensive collection of snowshoes a forthcoming poster will give the history and explanation of each one). The walls are clad in local Vermont stone (some pieces over 8 feet across) and the floorboards are salvaged old growth wood up to 20" wide! This room has a rough-hewn aesthetic. The ample fireplace features a mantle made from a huge stone retrieved from the original Pitcher Inn site. The hearth is paved in the smooth black stones found only along the shores of Lake Champlain. Indeed, to the degree possible, most of the materials in this room were gathered locally.

Authentic mountain climbing equipment from the early half of this century is displayed along with skis and boots from the same era. Remember your first leather ski boots with inner boots and two sets of laces? How about when cable bindings were considered "modern"? And who can forget the first Head brand metal ski? These and other historic mountain artifacts are all woven into the camp decor of the Mountain Room suite.

The Mountain Room also boasts a small commemorative to the famous 10th Mountain Division, complete with names, photos, and articles used in their daring escapades during World War II. Established by the famous Mint Dole (who also founded the National Ski Patrol), this unique group of mountain sportsmen was established to fight effectively in the Alps. After the war, these veterans were largely responsible for bringing the best of early mountaineering into the present. Great athletes and lovers of the outdoors, they were responsible for starting several of today's most popular ski areas including our own Mad River Glen, Vail, Aspen, Alta, Waterville Valley and Pico Peak. They also helped give birth to our country's environmental movement. David Brower, founder of the Sierra Club, was a member of the 10th. But this is just the very smallest tip of the iceberg. For more information on this colorful piece of mountain history, please enjoy the historic literature or view the special videos provided in the room.

The Mountain Room is a bit of a misnomer. It's actually several rooms, including a commodious sleeping area, large bathroom, a wet bar, and a private work desk, complete with phone and modem/WiFi hookup. The fire tower bedroom allows guests to pull the blinds and sleep while others in their party may be using the camp sitting area or the desk. A specially designed television, if you must, can be viewed either from the bed or the camp. More than just a place to retreat after a day in the mountains, this attic suite is meant to replicate the conviviality of wilderness social occasions. Yes, time is always a one-way street, but a few days in the Mountain Room will temporarily revive the lives and lifestyles of those who inhabited this forest. It will also introduce you to the 10th Mountain Division who set the stage for our current enjoyment of the mountain woodlands of the Northeast.

The Team
Creating a room like this requires a special coordination of archivists, artists and craftspeople. Those that accepted the challenge must be applauded. Sarah-Lee Woodard of Yelo Dog Design produced the mural of the Green Mountains. She so impressed everyone who watched her that she was asked to help with just about every other room in the Inn. Carl Bates, the collaborating mason/artist, supplied and helped install the stone finishes. Having two artists and an architect on the crew complicated the whole assembly process. Nevertheless, Brian the tile guru and Andrew the woodworker never missed a beat. When the going got tough, David Seller's constant support kept everything moving.

Sewall Williams' encyclopedic knowledge of the 10th Mountain Division was invaluable. Sewall provided facts, artifacts and contact. These allowed me to breathe life into an otherwise contrived stage set. Special thanks should also go to all the folks who helped out from the School for Winter Warfare.

Jared Polesky was my right hand helper in all things. David Weiner was invaluable in finding antique wood. Arthur Bennett and Brooke Cunningham are to be thanked for their help in locating weird and wonderful materials as well as Brooke's willingness to have it all stored in her garage until it was time to install. Jeff Burnett of Parade Gallery should be ashamed of giving Jim Sanford's art (he is the designer of the Mallard Room) precedence over mine (see Mallard Room write up for any further explanation on that last note).
- John Connell