Date: 2012-08-14
From: Garfield Pond

To: Zealand Hut
Miles today: 10.5

Woke up this morning after a good nights sleep.  It was cool last night which made perfect sleeping weather.  Right from the start we had a steep climb up Garfield.  No views at the top due to fog.  I decided i was going to stop at the Galehead Hut for some leftovers from breakfast.  I got there and they offered me some cream of wheat with maple syrup. Good enough for me.  The girl offered some chicken but the cook said it was for the soup. I finished eating, filled my water bottles and moved on to my next climb, South Twin Mountain.  This is where I stopped at 1130 to wait for F100 and Steady.  The showed up about 1 oclock.  Seems they stopped at Galehead Hut and got to eat CHICKEN!!! Come on man!!!  They had soup also!!  It wasnt my day for the huts.  Explanation in a bit.    After we all laughed about the diferent breakfast we had, we all hiked oneard toward Zealand Falls Hut.  I wanted to get there around 5 and ask for work for stay.  As I got. closer, BAM!!!  Fall # 12 on the A.T. A good one.  Tripped over a rock and went down.  Got lucky, landed between to large rocks.  I lay there for a second and realize, ok, only minor pain.  No bones sticking out, only a few scratches on my leg and arm.  I pulled myself up and hiked on another few 10 ths of a mile before # 13 ocurred.  This one was minor and I went down easy on my butt.  Wasnt really a fall but our rules state that if your butt touches the ground it's considered a fall.  That makes two in one day!!  A new record.      Now, remember earlier I said I would explain the work for stay at Zealand Falls Hut.  I was the first one there to come thru and ask.  The cook said sure and said after I cleaned up he had something for me to do.  Great, I thought.  When I returned they said the would like me to count a few things.  I'm thinking this is easy enough.  Everybody I have met that did a work for stay said they had some task like sweeping, talking about their thruhike, setting the table, etc.... Get the picture.  OH But No!! Not me,  i get brought upstairs and shown a 4 ft X 8 ft locker, in the attic where it was at least 90* and was asked to inventory their supplies.  Now, no big deal.  However, stuff is in disaray, things on the sheet are not listed the same as they are boxed and the hand drawing of the closet that shows the layout is only somewhat accurate.  There are cases of Nestles chocolate but their not listed as Nestles on the sheet.  This was somebody's lack of accountability that someone wanted fixed before they left tomorrow and the winter crew came in.  Oh, and it had to be done by headlamp.  After about 25 minutes of trying to sort out the mess I decided I would hike on.  I brought the sheets (4 full pages) back to the young man , thanked him for the offer but I would be moving on.  He asked why.  Sure wish he had just left it at that!!  He asked so I told him whoever was responsible for that mess up there, I would have to fire!!  Sorry, he asked.  Anyway I left without even getting water.  Oh, and from the looks of the inventory sheet, someone had started it at least once before and apparently did just what I did.  So, that is how my first hut experiences went.  I have to say that all parties I met were friendly and nice.  The Galehead Hut was immaculate when I was there before lunch.  The kitchen area was spotless.      I hiked about half a mile farther and found a nice campsite.  I left a note on the trail for F100 and Steady and they showed up about half an hour later.  That's about it.  I am not done with the huts though.  I will get a common work for stay before I get out of these White Mountains.  Later, I think I will lick my wounds and go to bed!! Swamprat