View Full Version : Sleeping on Dining Room Floor of AMC Huts?
A thru-hiker told me the crew of one of the AMC huts let him sleep on the dining room floor from lights out (10:00 PM, I think) until they needed to move the tables back for breakfast the next morning around 6:00 AM. He had a tent, but this saved him from having to pitch it and possibly having a wet tent in the morning. I know about “work-to-stay” at the huts, but getting to sleep on the dining room floor seems like a good alternative if one doesn’t get chosen for “work-to-stay” for some reason. I realize he didn’t get any food like a “work-to-stay” hiker, but sometimes it is nice to just have a roof over your head. Has anyone else had this experience? I suppose it is simply at the discretion of the hut crew, just like “work-to-stay.”
It's not really supposed to happen. But when bad weather hits, sometimes crews will allow thru-hikers to crash out in a safe place.
A pretty bad storm system blew through when I was on the big open 10-mile stretch of the Presidentials above treeline. I hit Lake of the Clouds about 1 PM and grabbed a spot in the Dungeon (Storm cellar bunk room). The Croo there can put six in the Dungeon and take in four more for work for stay according to AMC policy. But that night, because of severe weather, they allowed a total of 17 thru-hikers to stay over. It was more about not turning hikers out into a severe storm than any thing else.
Of course, croos don't have to allow in any thru-hikers. It's really up to the folks on the croo.
Blissful
08-04-2009, 16:09
I dont know but we had to do work-for-stay for the privelege of sleeping the the dining floor for free. I've not heard of them offering this if you don't do work. (?)
He didn't get any food, like a "work-to-stay" person would, just a roof over his head. I don't think he did any work for the privelege of sleeping on the floor other than helping move the tables.
Blissful
08-04-2009, 20:53
Well it really depends on the hut. Im just saying that the ones we went to, they expected work and we were glad to offer it. And you should be able to offer them some work, even to talk about your hike with visitors. If they say not to wrry about it, than accept it as a gift.
Blissful
08-04-2009, 20:54
He didn't get any food, like a "work-to-stay" person would, just a roof over his head. I don't think he did any work for the privelege of sleeping on the floor other than helping move the tables.
Food is minimal at best at these places. You are really asking for a roof over your head with work-for-stay, not food. Some did make us food, some did not and we got the scrapings. But we had a safe place to stay.
I've slept on the floor in the dining room or on top of the dining tables when I did work-for-stays and all the beds were taken. I don't think you should depend on staying inside the huts unless you are paying, doing a work-for-stay, or there is some sort of emergency. There is some leeway with the different hut leaders but, I don't think it's a good idea, and rather imposing, just to think you can automatcally stay in a hut, even if it's only on the dining room floor, just becasue it's raining or you don't want to set up a tent.
I have always had the most cooperation with AMC hut leaders when I asked about policies first, explained my situation(low on money, no reservation), and didn't assume anything. It doesn't hurt to offer to help the Hut workers in any way either, even if they already have a work-for-stay crew already. DON'T go to a hut with a chip of entitlement on your shoulder because you are a thru-hiker. I think an entitlement attitude( I want something for nothing, you have to accommodate me) is one of those things that annoys the AMC. The AMC huts are run entirely different than the other shelters along the AT.
During my 06 thru-hike I stayed in 3 huts doing work for stays. Everytime I ate like a king. Fresh baked goods(bread, cookies, cake, pies, banana bread), roast beef, turkey, chicken, fresh killer salads, fresh sauteed vegetables, etc. You may want to figure the availability of possible hut food into your the amount of trail food you carry. I did. Meant I needed to carry less.
In addition to what I said above about your attitude, realize not everyone is always accomodated, and if you want to do a work for stay stop don't inquire about it at the last moment - like at the end of the day when the huts typically have many who ask.
River Runner
08-04-2009, 21:26
Food is minimal at best at these places. You are really asking for a roof over your head with work-for-stay, not food. Some did make us food, some did not and we got the scrapings. But we had a safe place to stay.
Odd. The books I've read generally mention thru hikers being able to purcase extra food really cheap (like $1 or so for a bagful of pancakes) or feeding thru hikers who weren't even staying extra cookies, etc. I guess that wouldn't be something to rely on, and may vary from hut to hut? Or perhaps they've quit doing this in recent years?
Lone Wolf
08-04-2009, 21:30
when the lights go out at 9:30 i've just wondered in and laid down. the crew is in their quarters partying so they don't know whats going on in the hut
Sleepy the Arab
08-04-2009, 21:37
It does depend on the crew.
I've had crew that has had me work a little for the floor space (no food), crew that sold thru-hikers floor space for $5 in the basket, crew that sold leftover bunks for $10, and one caretaker who let 12 thru-hikers do work for stay - that "work" being tasks such as wiping down a counter, pushing in the benches and so on. On the opposite end, I've encountered crusty old hutmasters who will, in exchange for a bit of floor and the overcooked edges of the leftover lasagna, put you to work in some of the most tedious chores ("scrape the ice out of the fridge, then help with cleaning the pots") for the full two hours.
Always have a backup plan.
when the lights go out at 9:30 i've just wondered in and laid down. the crew is in their quarters partying so they don't know whats going on in the hut
LOL. Thanks Lone Wolf for the info. If I ever know you are in my neighborhood I'll lock the doors and windows.
Lone Wolf
08-04-2009, 21:51
It does depend on the crew.
I've had crew that has had me work a little for the floor space (no food), crew that sold thru-hikers floor space for $5 in the basket, crew that sold leftover bunks for $10, and one caretaker who let 12 thru-hikers do work for stay - that "work" being tasks such as wiping down a counter, pushing in the benches and so on. On the opposite end, I've encountered crusty old hutmasters who will, in exchange for a bit of floor and the overcooked edges of the leftover lasagna, put you to work in some of the most tedious chores ("scrape the ice out of the fridge, then help with cleaning the pots") for the full two hours.
Always have a backup plan.
and it should not depend on the individuals who run each hut. the AMC should set a firm policy across the board for every hut regarding who can stay
Cabin Fever
08-04-2009, 21:58
Great info for thru hikers, but how do section hikers navigate the huts. Do they just pony up the cash?
Lone Wolf
08-04-2009, 22:00
Great info for thru hikers, but how do section hikers navigate the huts. Do they just pony up the cash?
nope. barter the same way. thru-hikers ain't special. matter of fact, by the time they get to the whites they should know how to avoid the huts
Sleepy the Arab
08-04-2009, 22:02
and it should not depend on the individuals who run each hut. the AMC should set a firm policy across the board for every hut regarding who can stay
Oh, you and your rules. Pppt! :D
Lone Wolf
08-04-2009, 22:04
Oh, you and your rules. Pppt! :D
if they had consistent rules i woulda abided by them. i knew a hiker that traded dope for food and lodging. i'm the crew member's boss woulda been cool with that :rolleyes:
Cabin Fever
08-04-2009, 22:11
nope. barter the same way. thru-hikers ain't special. matter of fact, by the time they get to the whites they should know how to avoid the huts
Excellent. The Presidentials may be my next section.
Lone Wolf
08-04-2009, 22:13
work for stay is open to anyone. first come, first served
CrumbSnatcher
08-04-2009, 22:31
work for stay is open to anyone. first come, first served
ive heard of hikers staying at one hut, having the croo radio ahead to save them a spot at the next hut!
CrumbSnatcher
08-04-2009, 22:35
i too avoid the huts,i've only ever done 1 work for stay. i like to stay at liberty springs,garfield ridge,crawford notch,pinkham notch (stayed at the tentsite at mizpah once. LW is right plan ahead.
Does the crew generally stick around a few days after the closing date? I will be coming by Lake of The Clouds and Madison after they are closed and thought they might be a great place to temporarily seek cover especially if the weather is nasty.
and it should not depend on the individuals who run each hut. the AMC should set a firm policy across the board for every hut regarding who can stay
Each crew is pretty autonomous. Realistically it couldn't be otherwise. Their only bosses are trail miles away. Besides conditions vary with weather. I vote to let the crews set their own rules. Most in my experience are pretty friendly.
But then I don't have much experience. I paid to stay at the huts in '93. I was racing the days to make Katahdin before snow fell and I didn't want the hassle of work for stay. Weather, snow and heavy winds forced an extra night at Lake of the Clouds. Then I wished I was doing work for stay. Not to save money, but because the kitchen was the only warm spot in the place.
I've been at the huts on AMC events before and since when the club picked up the tab. Otherwise I've never stayed at one other than in winter when a couple are on caretaker status and the cost is much cheaper.
Weary
Doing a work for stay at an AMC White Mountain hut is just another thru-hiker experience that many thru-hikers enjoy.
I did work for stay at two huts, during my thru. I worked at Lake of the Clouds defrosting a frig, with three other thru-hikers. I slept on the floor and received dinner and breakfast. I also did work for stay at Madison Hut. Washed a few pots and pans, got two meals and even got a bunk for the night. I found the crews very accominadating to thru-hikers as long as you treated them with respect. I enjoyed the experience and would recommend other thru-hikers to try working for stay.
max patch
08-06-2009, 11:00
I did a work for stay at LOTC and hindsight being 20/20 wish that I had paid when I arrived. They worked my but off; the "free" lodging wasn't worth it.
From reading forums my experience is not typical.
Frick Frack
08-06-2009, 11:02
Great info for thru hikers, but how do section hikers navigate the huts. Do they just pony up the cash?
All thru hikers are section hikers until they finish.
I did a work for stay at LOTC and hindsight being 20/20 wish that I had paid when I arrived. They worked my but off; the "free" lodging wasn't worth it.
From reading forums my experience is not typical.
I did very little work. Probably less than an hour. Slept well and ate good.:sun
peakbagger
08-06-2009, 16:36
The huts have a very limited cancelation policy on reservations. Therefore when the weather gets nasty (or the forecast is nasty), they do get some no shows and occasionally people bail when hiking between huts. In both cases the hut crews end up cooking food for people who arent there. If a thru hiker stays at the hut that night, they probably make out well. If on the other hand there is a full hut of hungry paying customers, the work for stays may not eat as well. Anytime they can fill a space of a no show with another paying customer, its increased revenue. Anytime they do a work for stay, its revenue neutral.
If there are leftovers, they are occasionally recycled for the soup and bread at lunch that is usually offered (which is usually a good deal AYCE).
A general rule of thumb is to hike the whites during the week and avoid hut stays on Friday and Saturdays.
I stayed (paid) at Lakes one night at the end of August last year. The weather was picture perfect, clear, warm and very little wind. There were about a dozen or so thru-hikers sleeping on the dining room floor.
Never stayed in any of the huts and never wanted to or planned to. I did stop in a few just to sit, take a break, and talk. I just tented my whole way through the Whites. I did have an interesting experience at Zealand Hut though. I stopped in there about 1:00 in the afternoon just to see if I could fill up my water. They had some big party going on there with about 100 people. It was some sort of anniversary / class reunion. They had past hut managers there from all the way back from the 60s and 70s. I didn't want to intrude on their party so I filled up my water and was packing up to leave when one of the girls from the croo asked me if I was a thruhiker. I told her I was and she asked me to help them eat some of the food they had! They had a huge spread of food out on the table. They had made too much food for lunch and were needing to start cleaning up to prepare dinner. I sat there and ate for 90 minutes. I thanked them for it, but they also thanked me for helping them get rid of some of the food. I guess I was just in the right place at the right time. I hiked out to Ethan Pond for the night and didn't even need to cook dinner that night.
The Old Fhart
08-06-2009, 20:50
CrumbSnatcher-"ive heard of hikers staying at one hut, having the croo radio ahead to save them a spot at the next hut!"Be careful. Apparently the latest they will do that is 2PM. They apparently can't radio the next hut to set things up but rather have to radio the reservations system at the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center who will then contact the other hut. At least that was the way it worked a few years ago.
Does the crew generally stick around a few days after the closing date? I will be coming by Lake of The Clouds and Madison after they are closed and thought they might be a great place to temporarily seek cover especially if the weather is nasty.
Sharky, Lake of the Clouds Hut may not be available to you after they officially close, but they used to leave the cellar door open for emergency overnights, people who just wanted to sleep in the basement for whatever reason, or if a hiker had a dog.
Some of the huts have overhangs and/or decks and /or porches that could be used as improptu shelter in bad weather even if they were officially closed and no one was around.
CrumbSnatcher
08-07-2009, 01:06
Be careful. Apparently the latest they will do that is 2PM. They apparently can't radio the next hut to set things up but rather have to radio the reservations system at the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center who will then contact the other hut. At least that was the way it worked a few years ago.
i have no opionion on that,but do you think that is fair? or should the hikers kick it in gear and first come first served(work for stay)
Different Socks
08-08-2009, 01:32
Can any of you tell me how it is that you get "work for stay"?
I mean how do you broach the subject without making it seem like you really would like it?
Different Socks
08-08-2009, 01:36
By the way, things really have changed since I did my thru's in 1992 and 2001. The huts I remember NEVER allowed hikers to sleep on the dining room floors--unless of course if it is an emergency.
When did this "sleeping on the floor" thing start?
ShelterLeopard
08-08-2009, 19:49
Can any of you tell me how it is that you get "work for stay"?
I mean how do you broach the subject without making it seem like you really would like it?
I'd think basically you'd say "I might be interested in work for stay". I think that's pretty much the best way to "broach the subject".
LIhikers
08-08-2009, 21:10
Great info for thru hikers, but how do section hikers navigate the huts. Do they just pony up the cash?
My wife and I are section hikers and came to our first hut this summer, Lonesome Lake. We wandered in around 10 AM and bought ourselves a snack. We each had a BIG piece of carrot cake and several glasses of lemon-aide for a total of $3. The croo members we saw were friendly and laid back. It all seemed reasonable to me, but that was a very limited experience.