have you ever hiked to a closed hut expecting it to be open?

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Have you ever hiked in winter conditions to a closed hut expecting it to be open?

  • yes

    Votes: 8 11.1%
  • no

    Votes: 64 88.9%

  • Total voters
    72
  • Poll closed .
There is a sign (or has a sign) that stated tha tLonesome Lake Hut was open with caretakers only when I was up a few weeks ago. It was in plan view.
 
When I stayed at Geenleaf on May 13th, the sign at the trailhead still read that the hut was closed. It only opened the day before, so I'm willing to cut them some slack.
 
David Metsky said:
It's a good solution, and one that is already partially implemented, but not a complete solution.

This touches what seems to be the central issue, which was addressed pretty well in Howe's "Not Without Peril," wherein a decedent's father sued and lost. The point made by the court is that there is nothing any institution can do to make certain activities "safe," and that therefore, the liability of the "owner" (the government or the AMC) is reduced and the individual's responsibility rises.

The particulars of the case in the book don't even need to be examined in order for the idea to be understood in the context of the recent Madison case. Eventually, the individual must accept final responsibility for his/her own safety. These particular participants may or may not have done so. See also the same book on Tinker/Haas.

Is this not the crux of umpteen pages of dialogue?

I'm glad the moderators have allowed the discussion to persist (however inane it became at points);
I'm glad Giggy et al. understand the responsible use of the First Amendment and applaud their thick-skinned persistence;
I agree with those who take a longer view of this, and its corollary: there, but for the grace of God, go I; and
I agree that there's a lot of wind when the facts are few.

Momentarily done making my own,

--M.
 
Last edited:
Speaking of Inane:

I'd consider myself a hiker, that said & looking at my current stat's on my exercise log:

After a weekend of 31.6 miles hiking I'm averaging 3.277 miles a week this year hiking. (last week that was around 2 miles a week) To do that much hiking, I'm here, on AMC & Alpinezone & reading my WMG & any guide covering where I'm hiking, April was the Catskill book.

I'm jogging 3.007 miles a week outside, I'm wearing cool max & $100 running shoes but don't get any running magazines or visit any websites.

I'm walking 6.774 miles a week, mostly in older running shoes or casual shoes, no gear, no magazines, no websites.

I'm on a treadmill (mostly jogging) 7.20 miles a week, cool max. running shoes, but no Fitness mag, Men's Health or any treadmill or website

Averaging 6.345 miles on a bicycle, mostly indoors on a stationary bike, no subscription or visit to Velo (any velo website) even though my brother is fairly well known in CT bike racing circles & is a Class 2 Racer.

A few miles more jogging later this week & hiking will be the activity I have less miles doing. :( If I fall off my bike, fall while jogging or walking I wonder how I'll be flamed on those websites. :eek:

When I hunted, I did not read any NRA publication or get on Outdoor Life or Ted Nugent's website :D

The point of this (is there one?) is that if I spend all my time biking or running & decide I want to mix up my routinue one day, how much research will I do? I spend more time doing other activities without researching them.
 
last i knew there were signs related to the hut status posted at least the major trail heads. the fact is that the white mountains don't have strict regulations and anyone can park at any trailhead at anytime and go hiking. i like that fact, but it also can contribute to bad decisions and bad situations. having worked in the huts in "off" and "on" seasons i can say that many people with reservations don't research what kind of conditions they are walking into. it may be spring in ny city in mid may, but tennis shoes, shorts and a day pack with a sleeping bag strapped on it won't get you safely from zealand to greenleaf hut.
"no, self service huts don't have blankets you should have brought a sleeping bag" was said many times.
people just don't understand the conditions they may be up against. the amc could also do a better job of dishing out that information. the reservations people don't always have the right info. to begin with even for people booking a night.
in the end though it is up to the hiker to be informed. i would never blame any institution in the whites for the madison rescue (or most likely any other). the question would be how can those type of events be minimized?

i can say as a former hut caretaker (not "croo") i would never turn anyone away from the hut even if they didn't have reservations if the conditions or my assumptions about their level of competence would make me believe turning them away would be dangerous. that is what floors and tables are for. pretend you are a thru hiker for a night. the huts were started as mountain shelters and they have taken a drastic turn towards mountain hotels in my eyes. part of it is irresponsibility of hikers in the early days and part is the ability for a non-profit to bring in large amounts of money, but the heart of it has been lost.

"there is always room for one more in the shelter".

a lnt discussion (particularly with regards to thru hikers could be launched as well). as could many others.

bryan
 
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