The Battle at Muir Hut- Chapter 7

As far as battles go, the Battle at Muir Hut is an extremely minor affair. Let me tell it as best as I have been able to put it together from the survivors, of which there were only two: Todd and Katz.

The Night before Muir Pass was spent at a junction where 3 rivers came together.  As usual by the time I got into camp Todd and Katz had already set up camp and eaten and both were in their tents when I arrived.  Evenings are my time of day!  I set up camp, prepared a meal, made a small fire to burn trash- this got Todd out of his tent.  He liked the idea of a fire.  And as it was getting late and trail traffic was pretty much over for the day, evening is a good time to wash/clean up by the river.  We both did that.

Time for tea and cookies, day over.  Not much rain that day.  I chalked it up as another splendid day on the JMT. 

Morning.  Both Todd and Katz were up early.  I crawled out of my tent and they were mostly packed already.  All three of us had our trail maps out.  We were headed for Muir Pass.  Campsites near the Pass were limited.  It was agreed by both Todd and Katz that they would push on up to one of those campsites close to the summit and take it and hold a spot for me.  That was clearly understood by all 3 of us.  This is important, when hiking with a partner, or in a group- everyone must carry their own trail map.  No exceptions. 

Todd and Katz were soon gone and I took another 45 min to eat and pack up.  I had no idea what I was getting into that day!  Without doubt, that section of trail from the rivers junction to Muir Pass was the most "awe" inspiring section of trail yet.  I walked up that trail like I was in a dream beside a stream with many waterfalls and under great trees and mountains rising up on either side.   I stopped often just to sit and take it all in.  I took picture after picture after picture.  In fact, I took too many pictures, stopped to talk to too many other campers, took too many breaks, that the time got away from me and I didn't realize how fast the day was slipping away. It was spectacular scenery.  I knew I would never be up that trail again.  I wasn't going to rush it. 

Along the trail, faster nobo'ers or sobo'ers will carry messages along to others on the trail.  By mid-morning I decided I wanted to spend the night on the Pass summit and I had sent word up the trail with a couple of fast trekking PCT hikers for Todd and Katz that I wanted to push on to the summit and spend the night there.  I thought that the message would find Todd and Katz in camp and they would not be concerned about me.  What happened was something completely unexpected.   

Somehow my messages got up the trail ok.  I haven't pieced this all together yet.  But, it went something like this.  Katz got the message first and decided to spend the night at the summit, too, so he pushed on up arriving in mid- afternoon.  I was still 3- 4 miles below the Pass when a sobo'er brought me word that Katz was at Muir hut waiting for me.  I think my strongest expletive is Rats!  I uttered it.   Now I felt obligated to push on a little harder to make the summit.  The day was fading fast, I was hungry, but I had to push on.

Then I met two more sobo'ers.  Another message from Katz.  He was cold, and was pushing on to Evolution Lake.  Pressure off.  I came to a small lake and stopped, and ate a hot meal.  I felt better.  Light is fading faster.  I packed up and pushed on but I was still at least a mile or so below the summit when darkest engulfed me.  I hiked another 30 minutes or so under headlamp and found a tent site. In morning light it turned out overlooking the last lake before the summit.  And the rodents were terrible there all night long!!

Long before I set up camp, while Katz was still in Muir hut on the summit, Todd arrived.  Todd is still thinking that the 3 of us will spend the night together.  Knowing there was no water on the summit, Todd had picked up enough water for all 3 of us for the night and carried it to the Summit.  From Todd I learned that Katz was a bit agitated, pacing, cold.  Katz didn't want to wait- he was going to push on.  Todd began to talk to Katz, something like, "You are RD's partner, why don't you wait for him?  You never hike with him.  We agreed to meet at a certain spot and I even carried all this water  up here for us...."  And, Katz responded in such a way that it provoked Todd to use stronger words than "rats".    

This offended Katz and he left Muir Hut in a huff and took off down the trail licking his wounds.  Todd dumped the water, and left too.  The Battle at Muir Hut was over.  I knew nothing about this until 2 days later when I caught up with Katz standing cold and wet next to his tent in the rain, not sure what to do.   When I finally caught up with Katz, I asked about Todd.  Katz didn't want to talk about Todd- he was obviously upset with him.  "Why?" I asked.  "He swore at me," was about all Katz said. 

Back in grade school I would watch something that I never understood as a guy.  Two grade school girls could be good friends.  Insert a 3rd girl into the friendship and strange things can begin to happen- a rivalry that only is seen between girls, usually.  The friendship between Todd and I was growing stronger as this trip went on.  It would become stronger at Vermillion Valley Resort, but by the end of the trip I was beginning to wonder what was going on with Katz.  Is there a trail fever something akin to cabin fever? 

If anyone thinks about spending a night in Muir hut- don't do it.  I talked with another backpacker who had done that once.  He told me the hut is overrun with mice all night long. 

When packing in a group, it is important to meet and keep any daily agenda agreed upon by others.  This day, my slowness, Katz' lack of adequate clothing, ruined this rendezvous.  I am wiser now. 

Images of Muir Hut:

www.bing.com/images/search?q=muir+hut&qpvt=muir+hut&qpvt=muir+hut&FORM=IGRE