[at-l] Could we lay off the hut-bashing please?

[jon@outland.net (Jonathan Hartford)]

I feel the need to defend the High Mountain Huts of the AMC.  They're
one really welcome respite in an otherwise extremely rugged terrain.
The Krews at the huts work really goddamn hard for crap pay.  They 
entertain, keep the place clean, and give you a nice big hiker sized meal.

I've never seen a screaming child at the huts.   I've heard lots of 
thru-hikers whining like big babies about them though.   Although
you often see yuppies with daypacks, I don't understand what makes
them less worthy to stay at a hut than a thru hiker.  Doesn't the 
wilderness belong to them too?  And I've never seen any of them doing
things that would distract from my experience.  Nobody talking on
cellphones or stomping wildlife.  In fact, I can't recall anybody 
who annoyed me much.  Except for people asking me if I'm a thru hiker,
and my annoyance with myself for not being able to say yes. =)
(soon!)

If you want to be among a more die hard crowd, then watch which hut you
stay at.  Lonesome Lake and Zealand Falls are the easiest huts to get to, 
unless you cheat*.  Mitzpah is definitely tougher than those two, but just 
about as popular.  Lakes is a very busy hut, since it is located smack dab 
in the middle of the most popular part of the whites.  Carter notch is 
probably along the same lines as Mitzpah, but less busy.  Greenleaf is cool, 
but there is a popular loop hike that passes it, so you'll often find 
overnighters there.

That leaves the two bestest huts, in my opinion.  Both of them are tough
to get to, and generally that thins out weekenders a bit.  Galehead is
less crowded, but my favourite hut is Madison.  Killer views, nice Krew
(at least in '01 they were great)  Plus, they usually made good cookies
around lunchtime and gave them away!  My favorite is an extended weekend
loop hike thru the mount washington valley that spends it's last nite
at Madison.  Good memories!

I don't really begrudge them the $50.  It isn't cheap, but that money 
goes towards maintaining what is clearly the most heavily used section
of hiking country you'll come across during your hike.

That said, you don't have to stay at the huts in order to get some of
the benefits.  Feel free to stop in and refill your water bottles, or 
sit on a real bench and relax.  A nice bathroom, with running (tho cold)
water and mirrors to clean yourself up.  Swimming is permitted near 
Lonesome Lake.  You can sometimes buy things at the huts.  (I once tore 
a fleece.  OOPS!)  It is nice to warm up a bit in Carter in the winter!

(*Sometimes yuppies cheat their way into Lakes by going up the Cog or 
Auto Road and just walking down to it.  They deserve to burn in hell ;)

I'm putting on my asbestos undies.  Go for it.
-- 
Jonathan Hartford				jon@outland.net