Date: 2006-08-11
From: Crawford Notch, US 302

To: Lakes of the Clouds Hut (5,000')
Miles today: 11.2

Today's hike was difficult: strenuous with steep, rocky terrain that's extremely exposed to weather above treeline. It included: Saco River, Mt. Webster (3,910¢), Mt. Jackson, Nauman Tentsite (3,800¢) Mizpah Spring Hut, Mt. Pierce (Mt. Clinton), Spring, Spring (yes, there were 2 - 1.3 miles apart); Mt. Franklin, Lakes of the Clouds Hut (5,000').I spent the night in the highest and most popular hut in the chain, Lakes of the Clouds Hut, which is located on the southern shoulder of Mount Washington offering sweeping views, gorgeous sunrises and sunsets and proximity to rare alpine flowers. However, I must report I was not treated to any of these acclaimed rewards of nature.A little bit about the White Mountain hut system which includes: Lonesome Lake Hut, Greenleaf Hut, Galehead Hut, Zealand Falls Hut, Mizpah Spring Hut, Lakes of the Clouds Hut, Madison Springs Hut, Carter Notch Hut.The region¢s 8 huts are spaced about a day¢s walk apart and no two huts are the same. However, some things such as the friendly and dedicated hut crew (¢croo¢ as they choose to call themselves) are characteristic. Crews vary in size, but are usually made up of young men and women who act as cook, accountant, naturalist, and information specialist. And, because crew members are often very knowledgeable and flexible, they frequently change roles.As they are responsible for punctual meal service, the ¢croo¢ spends most of the day baking bread and preparing the other courses of a hearty and nutritious hut dinner which begins promptly at 6 PM and consists of freshly baked bread, salad, soup, the entr©e, side dishes, and dessert. The hiker fellowship shares a bond of plans, tips and experiences around these tables.   All are offered in friendship. Some last a lifetime; others are more temporary."Dinner Talks¢ geared toward conservation, education and recreation provide an opportunity to learn more about low impact hiking and White Mountain history. A natural history library and log books, from past hut guests, are also available for reading pleasure or fact gathering.Sleeping accommodations are bunks with wool blankets and quiet hours are observed from 9:30 PM (WE call it ¢hiker midnight¢) to 6:30 AM.The morning wake-up will be unique: guitar playing; singing; a quiet knock on the door? Each hut "croo" has its own style, and each morning has its own surprise as you get underway. Breakfast is served by 7 AM as the hut ¢croo¢ provides safety tips, the latest forecast ¢ radioed moments before from the Mount Washington Observatory ¢ and best wishes for a safe and happy hike.The merit of the hut system, is two-fold: enjoyment of the mountains without the need to lug food, cooking equipment, and sleeping gear - the more strenuous aspects of backpacking - and controlled environmental management limiting the impact of human activity to one, rather than several, forest sites. All garbage can be recycled and even human excrement, after being composted, is helicoptered out of the mountains. "Leave no trace"¢¦keep the environment pristine. Bequeath the beauty and history of Nature to those who follow in the footsteps of all who have walked before¢¦This is our mandate and legacy.Elevation Change: 3,723¢High: 39° Low:   32° Tomorrow¢s journey: Mt. Washington (6,288¢)    Excerpt from Walden   - Henry David Thoreau - I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear, nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion¢¦