Some info and pictures can be found at: http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/whites/green_hut.html

Last month following the ATC Conference, my GF and I did some luxurious (i.e. hut-to-hut) hiking in the Whites and enjoyed a most pleasant surprise at Greenleaf Hut.

Having hiked up the Liberty Springs trail, north over on Franconia Ridge to Mt. Lafayette, and down to Greenleaf, we were one of the last arrivals. I walked in and didn't find any apparent "Croo" members around. Then I saw a apron-clad guy close to my age or older come over and welcome us. He was part of the Croo, giving us the basic orientation.

I hadn't stayed in a White Mountains hut since the early 90s so I thought well, I guess AMC is getting some retirees nowadays to join their croos. Then at suppertime when we were all seated, I noticed the croo consisted of 5 older guys all in their 50s & 60s along with one young woman. One of my tablemates remarked "this was the oldest croo I've ever see."

So after dinner, the story came out: the regular croo had "vanished" under cryptically-explained circumstances. Our current croo was a reunion - all the guys had crooed in the 1970s, some even in the 1960s. I don't know how they arranged it but they all came together to croo this hut for a week or so. Between supper and dessert, they all told stories of their experiences back in the day and also shared photos. Supper was one of the recipes they used 40 years ago.

And the young woman serving with them? She's 2nd generation - the daughter of another old guy who wasn't able to make it. She fit in real well with them and was clearly having a good time.

This croo was having the time of their lives. And it certainly made our stay enjoyable.

You arrived on the night of the annual summer crew get together party. None of the regular crews were on duty at any of the huts. It was all fill in crews made up of former hutsmen and wanta-bees.

Last month following the ATC Conference, my GF and I did some luxurious (i.e. hut-to-hut) hiking in the Whites and enjoyed a most pleasant surprise at Greenleaf Hut.

Having hiked up the Liberty Springs trail, north over on Franconia Ridge to Mt. Lafayette, and down to Greenleaf, we were one of the last arrivals. I walked in and didn't find any apparent "Croo" members around. Then I saw a apron-clad guy close to my age or older come over and welcome us. He was part of the Croo, giving us the basic orientation.

I hadn't stayed in a White Mountains hut since the early 90s so I thought well, I guess AMC is getting some retirees nowadays to join their croos. Then at suppertime when we were all seated, I noticed the croo consisted of 5 older guys all in their 50s & 60s along with one young woman. One of my tablemates remarked "this was the oldest croo I've ever see."

So after dinner, the story came out: the regular croo had "vanished" under cryptically-explained circumstances. Our current croo was a reunion - all the guys had crooed in the 1970s, some even in the 1960s. I don't know how they arranged it but they all came together to croo this hut for a week or so. Between supper and dessert, they all told stories of their experiences back in the day and also shared photos. Supper was one of the recipes they used 40 years ago.

And the young woman serving with them? She's 2nd generation - the daughter of another old guy who wasn't able to make it. She fit in real well with them and was clearly having a good time.

This croo was having the time of their lives. And it certainly made our stay enjoyable.

Now that's a special kind of trail magic!:)