For those trampers brave enough to face the cold this winter, there’s comfort in the woodstoves installed in many backcountry huts. 

They may not rival a roaring fireplace, but a stove can easily dry wet clothes for the next day of tramping. It is especially wonderful if you arrive to find a pile of wood stacked neatly next to the fireplace. 

Rule number one of hut firewood etiquette is to leave plenty of wood ready for the next person. Just five minutes of collecting dry, fallen branches from around the hut, bringing in already cut wood if there’s a supply outside, or chopping wood yourself (if there’s an axe or saw) could easily save a life. 

Rule number two: use wood sparingly and only light the fire if you need the warmth. DOC provides wood for serviced huts over winter, but that’s not an invitation to go wild. 

Rule number three: if you’ve used the fire, DOC recommends leaving the ash inside the stove as it may still be warm. Taking it out could create a fire hazard. When you arrive at a hut, deposit cold ash in the metal ash bucket before lighting the fire.