Our House is Your House
Thanks so much for renting the Loft Unit at Crossett Hill Lodge. This Guide tells you how to get in to the Loft unit, how to find what you need, and how to enjoy the area.
You should feel free to use the grill, fire pit, wood stove (after consulting with Jim), and shared laundry. We trust you will leave the unit and its contents as you found them. Please do not hesitate to contact us during your stay with any questions or comments. We would love your feedback to help us make future rentals successful.
The Loft unit is where we live for most of the year. We rent it only when we are traveling. You will find our personal photos, books, kitchen staples, and other items around the house. Feel free to use what you need; replace anything that you consume.
We hope you will come back again!
Arriving at the Loft Unit
The Loft Unit is located on the main level of 746 Crossett Hill Road, Duxbury, Vermont.
Take the southern-most entrance to Crossett Hill Road from Route 100. It’s a horseshoe-shaped road; the north entrance to Crossett Hill takes you several extra miles around the horseshoe. The south entrance takes you up a hill and is much shorter on the gravel road. Our house is on the right, where you’ll see the number 746 on crossed skis mounted to a poplar tree. Drive down the driveway and park on the gravel. Please do not block the garage doors.
The entrance to both units is on the south side. We will provide you with the visitor code for the keypad lock before your arrival. You’ll proceed to the right to enter the Loft unit.
In the event that guests are staying in the Terraces Unit downstairs, please honor quiet hours in the evening after 10 PM.
Coats, Hats, and Footwear
You may hang coats and hats and boots in the entryway on the south side, or in the back hall between the kitchen and the library. No shoes that were worn outdoors should be worn in the house. You will find black and red slippers in the entryway cubbies, for wearing inside the house.
Putting your stuff away
In each room and bathroom you’ll find storage for your personal items. You’ll find room in the refrigerator and cupboard space for your food in the kitchen.
Linens and such
You will find fresh sheets and towels in the bedrooms and baths. Extra sheets for the library pullout beds are located in its closet. Please leave all used towels hanging to dry. All bed linens may be left on beds for the housekeeper.
Extra toilet paper and paper towels are located in the bathrooms and kitchen, respectively.
Throwing stuff away
You’ll find two covered bins under the kitchen sink, one for trash and one for recyclables, with a roll of spare bags is in the same drawer. Don’t overfill the containers. Full bags may be put in the containers in the garage. The blue container is for recyclables, the brown for trash, and the white for returnable bottles and cans.
When you Leave
If you’re leaving for several hours and it looks like rain, please close all sliding doors. The awning windows may be left open several inches (summer only).
When you’re vacating the unit, please:
- Leave all towels hanging to dry.
- Leave linens on beds for the housekeeper.
- Close all windows.
- Remove all trash and recycling.
- Remove all food that you brought in.
- Turn off all electric heaters.
- Make sure the fireplace doors are closed.
- Make sure the exterior door is locked.
Pets
Unfortunately, we have family members with severe pet allergies so no pets are allowed in the house at any time.
Smoking
Do not smoke inside the house at any time. If you smoke inside, we charge $175 extra for de-fumigating.
Heating
The Loft unit at Crossett Hill Lodge uses four heat sources: a combination heat-pump and air-conditioning system; a Vermont Castings Defiant wood-burning stove; a stone fireplace; and supplemental electric heaters in the cold corners.
The mini-split heat-pump and air conditioner system is automatic, responding to the remote control on the wall behind the circular staircase. This is set normally at 68º in winter and 74º in summer.
The electric heaters can be adjusted as needed with the remote controls located on the windowsills near each one.
Wood Stove
Talk to Jim (508 904 0749) before using the wood stove . Here are the directions:
- Turn the lever on the left side of the stove to the updraft position, pointing toward the east.
- Turn the lever on the right side of the stove to the fully open air-supply position, pointing to the west.
- Don’t open the front doors. Load wood and light the fire through the top griddle.
- Lay a small fire in the stove: crumpled newspaper at the bottom (found in woodbox under the spiral stairs), then small kindling, then large kindling (both next to fireplace), then one piece of hardwood. Don’t open the front doors.
- Light the fire.
- Once the fire is going well, add more hardwood a piece at a time.
- Once the temperature gauge has reached 450º F, you may turn the lever on the left side of the stove to the downdraft position, pointing toward the west.
- To slow down the fire, restrict the air supply by turning the lever on the right side of the stove to the closed air-supply position, pointing to the east.
- You’ll find more kindling in the garage and hardwood just outside the entry door.
Fireplace
Please enjoy the stone fireplace, at any time of the year, except when it’s below zero. At that temperature, the large fireplace opening will suck the warm air up the chimney and out of the house and you will not be warm or happy. Here’s how to use the fireplace.
- Open the glass doors. Carefully, by pulling the handles at the top toward you, and folding them back slowly.
- Open the northwest awning window 2”.
- Leave the flue alone. It’s always open. Don’t touch the handle or the chain.
- Leave the ashes right where they are. They insulate the back and the bottom surfaces of the fireplace from the heat of the coals. Build the fire on top of the ashes.
- Lay the fire with a big log at the back, right up against the back wall. This is called the back log. Place a big front log four inches in front of the back log. You will build the rest of the fire in this space.
- Start with crumpled newspaper, enough to fill the space between the logs. On top of that place some kindling from the copper bucket, starting small and ending large.
- On top of the kindling, place one or two small hardwood logs from the woodpile.
- Light the newspaper.
- Close the glass doors to keep the sparks from flying into the room.
- Keep an eye on the logs. Fireplace tools and a fireproof glove may be found behind the cast iron stove.
- One the fire is burning smoothly, without sparks, you may open the glass doors.
- Close the glass doors before you go to sleep.
Cooling
In the summer, please open the doors and windows to cool the Lodge. Just remember to close the doors and sliding windows when you leave, including the doors to the deck and patio. The awning windows may remain open. On very hot, humid days, if you need to use the air conditioning, please shut all the windows, and use the remote or the thermostat on the wall to turn on the air conditioner and set it no lower than 74º.
Electronics
Wifi
Our wireless access point is called “CHYC.” Its WAP password is “wirelesspassword.” It’s connected through the broadband cable.
TV
It’s a vast wasteland. Don’t watch it. Read a book instead. Or take a walk on the trails.. If you must watch the television, follow these steps:
- Use the Samsung remote control to turn the power on to the television.
- Change inputs to select the AppleTV (HDMI1) or the cable box (HDMI2).
- Using the Apple TV: If you know how to use AppleTV, you’ll see that there’s one attached to the television. If you want to use the AppleTV, first turn it on by pressing the Menu button on the shiny black remote control. Then use the Samsung remote control to set the television to the HDMI1 input. You will see the AppleTV menu on the television. No password is set on the AppleTV.
- Using the cable box: The cable box is in the northernmost cabinet. It’s always on. Use the black Samsung remote control to set the television to the HDMI2 input. Then use the gray Xfinity remote to change channels on the cable box.
The Deck and Grill
In the event that others are using the Terraces unit, please note that the outdoor spaces are for sharing. Feel free to move furniture and use the small fire pit, the grill, etc.
Grill
Summer only. Pretty standard. Feel free to use it. Turn off the gas valve on the cylinder when done. The grill lives in the woodshed in winter.
Visiting Duxbury, Waterbury and Central Vermont
What’s nearby
Do take time to explore our property. In season, feel free to pick and eat the blueberries and raspberries in the front yard. Enjoy the hiking and ski trails. In season, blackberries are ready for the picking along the forest road. Please do not venture onto the private property on either side of the forest road.
Once winter sets in, feel free to borrow snow shoes, cross-country skis, sleds, and the toboggan. Make a snowman to greet the next guests!
Distances
746 Crossett Hill to:
- Waterbury: 4 miles
- Waitsfield: 12 miles
- Stowe: 14 miles
- Montpelier: 14 miles
- Burlington: 31 miles
Where we buy:
Groceries:
- Village market, 80 South Main Street, Waterbury, open daily 7 AM to 8 PM
- Shaw’s, 820 Waterbury-Stow Road, Waterbury, open Monday through Saturday 6 AM to 11 PM, Sunday 7 AM – 9 PM
VT State Liquor store
Crossroads Beverage Center, 52 North Main Street, Waterbury, open Monday through Friday 5:30 AM to 10 PM; Saturday and Sunday, 7 AM to 10 PM. Crossroads also sells some grocery and deli items. If there’s a sale on Lagavulin, consider buying a bottle as a gift to the owners.
Coffee
We sometimes buy our freshly-roasted beans at Vermont Artisan Coffee and Tea Company, 11 Cabin Lane off Route 100, Waterbury Center, Vermont 05677.
Farmers’ Markets (Summer and Fall Only)
- Waterbury – Thursdays, 3 – 7 PM at the Rusty Parker Park on South Main Street.
- Waitsfield – Saturdays, 9 – 1 PM at the Mad River Green, from mid-May to mid-October
Waterbury restaurants and brew pubs
So many to choose from:
- Blackback Pub – Creative menu, plenty of beers on tap.
- Prohibition Pig – classic cocktails, huge selection of brews on tap, great BBQ
- The Reservoir – great burgers, amazing beer menu, local foods.
- McGillicuddy’s – Irish menu, many beers on tap
- Hen of the Wood – Highly acclaimed, fabulous food (pricey) – make a reservation for this one.
- Maxi’s – great spot for lunch
- Zachary’s pizza – great for takeout, or for an informal meal.
Beer and Wine
Both are available in grocery stores in Vermont.
Thanks very much for renting the Loft Unit. Do not hesitate to call us with any questions!
Jim and Kathi Lengel
508.904.0749