Date: 2015-09-15
From: Greenleaf Hut

To: Camping on the side of the trail.
Miles today: 15.6

We were up early and were told that we had to wait until after breakfast when we were to clean up the hut. We had hot breakfast and coffee from a frosty cru and after most people had left we started sweeping up the bunkroom. It was 9:30 before we finished and were able to get started on the trail. The wind was crazy at the top of the mountain and many times I was actually blown over by the wind. With 70mph winds with stronger gusts it was hard just to stay upright on the wet, slippery rocks. It was extra hard trying not to use my left arm whenever I fell which made falling even more difficult. I wasn't at my top speed but we made decent progress in spite of the wind. I slipped and fell multiple times on the descent to Garfield Pond due to the slippery rocks and mud. We stopped in at the Galehead Hut which had awesome views and an icy reception when we stopped in to get some Coffee, some cookies and to buy some hot soup. They acted like we were freeloaders for wanting to buy some soup. What is the deal with these people? Then it was up the South Twin Mountain where the clear sky meant amazing views as far as the horizon in all directions. As the day passed I realized that I wasn't feeling well and was having dizzy spells . We had to use our headlamps at Zeacliff Pond and hike hike in the dark. We reached the Zealand Falls Hut at 8:00 and stopped in to warm up a bit and rest. As I was talking to the cru dizzyness overcame me and I almost passed out in front of them. I realized that it would be bad for me to try to continue on 4.8 miles to the next shelter. I told the cru that I wasn't doing well and asked for a work for stay or if I could pay to sleep on the floor. They told me that they already had their limit of work for stays and that I had to rest and push on. I told them that I was feeling sick and was told that it wasn't their problem. I then asked if I could sleep on the porch and was denied that as well. I had no other option but to continue down the trail. I decided that after a mile that I couldn't go on so Honey offered to let me crash in his tent for the night. We found a flat spot along the way and, with our headlamps which we had been using since before the hut. We set up the tent, hung our food and ate a quick meal before squeezing into his tent. We had to sleep facing different directions just to fit into the tent, but we did, just barely with no room to spare. I fell asleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow and I slept like a rock that night. *Begin Rant* - By now, I'm about fed up with the attitude of the crews in the A.M.C. I am treated well until it's found that I'm a thru-hiker and then the scowls and attitude kick in!(with few exceptions including former thru-hikers working there)I do my best to keep clean and act with the upmost respect for all that I encounter along the way, to be a "Trail Ambassador" that I had pledged to when writing a paper about the bad behavior on the trail. I'm disappointed that the A.M.C. which did such a wonderful thing by setting aside this wonderful park would allow or tolerate such behavior. I had heard stories about the huts but didn't believe it until I faced the discrimination myself and can attest to it from experience. - *End Rant*.