In early 1946, soon after the Sterling Section of the Green Mountain Club was founded, members turned their attention to replacing the deteriorating Mould Lodge (also known as Shattuck Lodge). Construction began that May, with fifteen volunteers—among them Fred Mould, builder of the original shelter—gathering every warm weekend to raise a new, sturdier log cabin in Beaver Meadow. A horse was used to skid logs to the site, and salvageable lumber from the dismantled Mould Lodge was repurposed for the new structure. By the following year, the new Beaver Meadow Lodge stood completed.
The cabin sits at the end of the Chilcoot Pass Trail, more than half a mile from the Long Trail itself. Because of this distance, most end‑to‑end hikers bypass it. Yet its serene setting—ringed by brooks, wildlife, and diverse plant life—has made it a beloved destination for day hikers, backcountry skiers, and snowshoers for generations.
Work-trip logs from the Sterling Section reveal the affection members hold for the lodge and the ongoing care it requires. One 1971 entry captures both the charm and the challenges of maintaining a remote log structure:
“Snowshoes were left at the door of the lodge. A fire was quickly started. As soon as the lodge began to warm up, three or four spots in the roof near the chimney began to leak, but soon slowed to almost nothing… Before departing ‘the crew’ collected dry dead wood from the ‘ghost forest’ surrounding the pond and piled it in the cabin.” —Brent Teillon, 2/7/71
A more expansive reflection, written by Willard K. Sanders, captures the spirit of the lodge’s creation. He describes how, beginning in the winter of 1946, volunteers cleared the site, cut and peeled logs, and hauled every piece of lumber, roofing paper, chinking, stove, and furnishing the 2.5 miles from the nearest road—often by hand. Their dedication bordered on heroic: cows went unmilked, fishing poles gathered dust, anniversaries were forgotten, and new curse words were invented as fingernails and tempers took a beating. Yet the work continued, driven by pride, camaraderie, and a shared love of the mountains.
Sanders wrote that the finished cabin stands embraced by the slopes of Whiteface, Morse, and Madonna, where morning sunlight pours through the front door and nearby brooks “babble their greetings.” He urged all who visit to appreciate the sacrifice that made the lodge possible and to help preserve it for those who follow.
Today, Beaver Meadow Lodge remains both a testament to postwar volunteer spirit and a cherished retreat in one of the most peaceful corners of the Sterling Range.
Sources
- Long Trail Guide Book. 13th Edition ed. Green Mountain Club, 1947.
- Brent Teillon. February 7, 1971.
- Long Trail Guide Book. 24th Edition ed. Green Mountain Club, 1996.
- Bob Hagerman. Sterling Section Outing Logs. 1971.
- Bob Hagerman. Sterling Section Outing Logs. 1972.
- Bob Hagerman. Sterling Section Outing Logs. 1974.
- Bob Hagerman. Sterling Section Outing Logs. 1975.
- Sanders, Willard K, “A Beaver Meadow Lodge History .” Sterling Stomper.
