We visited Eliza at Lakes of the Clouds, an AMC hut where she and her "croo" cook and serve dinner and breakfast for 90 guests every day. She is the Assistant Hut Master this summer. The hike up the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail took us two hours and ten minutes although Eliza and her croo do it in about one hour. It is a beautiful trail with waterfalls and crystal clear pools along the way. The croo pack out trash and bring in supplies twice a week from the summit of Mt. Washington which is about a mile and a half away. It is an exposed trail above tree line and more often than not it is very windy and sometimes raining.
Here is Eliza talking to the guests before serving dinner.
We were so lucky to have Eliza hike up with us. She was returning from her days off, so we got to have her company all the way up the mountain. The time flew as we talked. Note the waterfall behind the happy hikers.
One of the perks of knowing a croo member is being allowed to climb up on the roof and watch the sunset. It was spectacular when we were there and we felt really lucky to see it. A completely clear night is rare. It's not called Lakes in the Clouds for nothing!!
Time to say good bye.
The trail lead us away from Lakes and up Mt. Munroe. I took one last look at Eliza's mountain home before heading out of sight. The hut is on the left and one of the lakes on the right. Behind it is Mt. Washington.
Although I'd heard about the hut system in the White Mountains for years, I'd never been to one. I have always been really intimidated by the challenge of hiking in "the Presidentials". With Eliza up there, we were inspired to climb the mountain to see her. To get myself in a good mindset, I looked to Buddhist teachings. There is a saying, "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." That's all you have to do to get up a mountain; just take one step and then another. It's a metaphor for life, too. And boy is the view worth it! I was actually sad to come down off the mountain. When the trail dips below tree line and you smell the familiar evergreens and feel mud underfoot, there's a tinge of sadness. You're leaving the realm of the gods and joining the mortal world once again.
3 comments:
Welcome back, Barb! Now you're ready for a trip to visit Colorado at 5,280 ft. Great sunsets too.
You westerners have to brag!
We know you've got it all out there.
But it does sound fun. One of these days.
What beautiful weather you had on this trek! Just gorgeous- all of you AND the views!! SO good to see Eliza. She looks BUFF!! Not that she doesn't the rest of the time but just hearing about her hiking up the mountain in an hour imbues the pictures with a real sense of how healthy she must be, and I love to see the hut master junior in charge of what is TRULY important- grub!. Love it all. Thanks! XXOO
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