Next Post - Some lessons learned
Beyond describing my hike, I wanted to write a short post about the AMC Huts. They are an amazing deal because you don't have to carry a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, cooking gear, or a lot of food - just enough for some snacks and a trail lunch each day. Plus you have a ready water source - not always easy to find in the mountains - and a dry bunk.
The AMC operates eight high-mountain huts, and we stayed at six of the eight. They all have bunk rooms, separate men's and women's bath rooms, a kitchen for the Croo, and a dining room. They also have separate quarters for the Croo. One of them, Mizpah Springs, has a separate library, but all of them have a well-stocked book shelf and a box of games. Some of them also have great telescopes. The bathrooms have composting toilets and cold-water sinks. They supply toilet paper, soap for the sinks, and antiseptic hand wash, but no paper towels - no napkins at dinner either. Everything in there has to be packed in or out, except for the propane cylinders for cooking. You will often see the Croo members hiking up steep slopes with huge packs. They are all in great shape.
Your stay at a hut includes dinner and breakfast. If you get there early enough around lunch time, you can buy hot soup and various baked goods. You also get a bunk, first come, first served. Some of the bunks are easy to get into, and others, you almost need to be a contortionist. The wool blankets often smell of sweaty hikers, so it is a good idea to bring a sheet of some kind, and a pillow case. There is no heating system in the huts, but there are electric lights for most of the day (not in the bunk rooms, which can be quite dark.) Energy usage is a fraction of a typical home.
When you reach a hut after your hike, you check-in with the Croo, and are given a bunk room. You go to that room - these are co-ed - and claim an unused bunk by putting some gear in it. Each bunk also has a small reading light. You are free to relax until dinner, which is served at 6PM family style. They always have great fresh baked bread and a delicious soup and salad. The main course consists of meat or pasta, and one or two vegetables, and is followed by desert. They can accommodate vegetarians, but need to know in advance. Near the end of dinner, each Croo member tells the group something about themselves, usually in an entertaining way. After dinner, people play games, chat, read, or attend the naturalist program that one of the Croo puts on. At 9:30, the lights are shut off, and it is quiet hour (except for snoring!)
They do a musical wake-up at 6:30, and breakfast is at 7AM. Breakfast always starts with oatmeal, and they usually also have scrambled eggs. Other than that, there is usually pancakes or some other baked goods, and sausage or bacon. Near the end of breakfast, the Croo members put on a skit that is often quite entertaining. They want to get across three points: (1) carry out all your trash, don't leave it for someone else (2) fold your blankets, once lengthwise and twice width-wise and (3) tip the Croo! I am not sure what a good tip is. One of the AMC staff told me a couple of bucks was fair. The Croo is paid, but two bucks seemed cheap. I usually tipped $10, but gave them $15 a couple of times for extra good service, such as when they found me an ice pack for my injured arm or the second day of the hike, or when they allowed us to switch our bunk room at Lakes of the Clouds.
After breakfast, everyone gets packed up and fills their water bladders. Not having to filter water is great! Some people buy things in the amazingly well stocked tiny store that each hut has - all kinds of stuff is for sale, things a hiker may have forgotten to bring. Then, everyone hits the trails for the days, the Croo members have their breakfast, and then the chef starts baking bread for dinner. Some of the others may have some time off and will go for a hike - so much faster than me!!! They are nice young people, are incredibly fit, and work their butts off.
Well, that is life in the AMC huts. I highly recommend them to anyone who likes to hike.
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