Every person I ran into that
last two miles asked me if I was going to sleep in the hut at the peak.
I steadfastly said
"NO"!
I was sooooooo tired the last two miles that when I finally saw the cabin,
I INSTALLY changed my mind. I got to the cabin just before 5 o'clock. I
must of set some sort of world record getting my sleeping back out of my
backpacking and jumping in. I probably was asleep before my head hit the
pillow. The next hour was my best period of sleep I got all night. I was
out cold. Then at six or so, the door burst open and two very tired
and cold rock climbers rushed in. Their climb had taken them a lot longer
to complete than they had anticipated. They did not have any camping gear,
as they had planned on hiking down the Mountaineer's Route after the climb.
Now that I was AWAKE, it was nice having some company and I needed it.
For the first time since I had my MSR stove, it did not work. They helped
me take it apart and clean out all the accumulated dirt and crap. Thanks
Guys! Sleeping the rest of the night was REAL tough. It was a restless
night. I would sleep in 20-30 minute busts and Thank God the temperature
outside was a lot warmer than the Ranger said it was suppose to be (if
you know what I mean�flush).
The
trip down in the morning was fast, I felt
great.
I sat around at the peak for almost an hour enjoying the view. Then it
was time for the 
trip down and fast it was. (5.5 hours) The trip was fun
but not the most fun I have ever had backpacking. Yosemite is better, but
a lot can be said for sleeping atop the highest point in the Continental
United States. Man that was cooooool!
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