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Re: [at-l] Issue in the Whites

Ted Kell wrote:

> What does it currently cost to traverse this area?  Is it possible to
> not
> use the hut system?

A longish post.  Sorry about that.

The main issue, as I see it, is not cost or alternatives, but the very
heavy use of the area.  The large-capacity huts (counting the Dungeon &
cru, Lake of the Clouds holds over 100), are both prompted by and
contribute to the crowds.

I hiked thru in late August/early September of '96.  Peak season.
Here's how I did it:

Eliza Brook Shelter - no fee, great view.

Lonesome Lake Hut - work/stay.  Swept the cabins.  Cru was cool except
the supervisor, who was a prick.  No cost & AYCE.

Liberty Springs Tentsite - $4 tenting fee.  Full of college orientation
students.

Zealand Falls Hut - work/stay.  Sifted compost.  Slept on the porch (I
was the third thruer that night - official limit is 2).  Great night
sky.

Nauman Tentsite - $4 tenting fee.  In overflow area #1 (much better than
overflow area #2, which is over the septic leach bed).

Madison Springs Hut - work/stay.  Mopped floors.  Slept in the attic.
Busy place.

Pinkham Notch Camp - ~$40 w/ ACYE dinner & breakfast.  Laundry
facilities, showers, stove, scale.  Accepted my UPS maildrop.

If I'd continued, my final night would have been at Carter Notch Hut,
which had just gone self-service following Labor Day - the fee was
something like $8.

The only time it would have been inconvenient to tent or shelter was the
night on Madison - alternatives are a mile or more down steep side
trails & I was too pooped to stagger 3 miles steep down to Osgood
Tentsite ($4 fee).

You can do the Whites cheap, and if you're willing to work at it, free.
Plus, you can go light, taking advantage of the cheap leftovers at the
huts.

The big issue for me was the crowds - literal traffic jams on the trails
as you'd encounter a group of 12 that didn't have the sense to move off
the trail when they stopped.  A bus-terminal atmosphere at the top of
Washington.  Noisy, crowded huts.

I really don't think it would easily improve without the huts, but I
think the AMC could ratchet the level of service at the huts down a
little.  Look for alternatives to the huts in their marketing strategy.
They could cut capacity some, and increase expectations of the regular
guests, such as helping w/ the chores.  I expect that cuts thruhikers
out of a job, but I'd give that up.

That's what I think.

- Priest

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