Iconic Muir Pass Hut

Jay, your pictures make me want to hike the Sierra–badly.

That stone hut may not look like much, but that was the shelter we had for two nights during a winter ski trip through there. There is a marmot that spends a lot of time sunning up on the roof, and he was starting to look pretty good for the stew pot.

–B.G.–

Looking back at desolate Helen Lake (11,595 feet) while heading up the south side of Muir Pass:

Coming into view:

Approaching the hut from the south (11,955 feet) during my Aug 2009 visit: still a fair bit of snow left

The plaque over the fireplace:

It reads:

Muir Hut

This building was constructed in 1930 by the Sierra Club in cooperation with the Sierra National Forest and dedicated to the memory of John Muir.

The Muir Hut is intended as a temporary shelter for hikers caught in storms on this exposed section of trail.

Overnight camping and fires are prohibited.

addendum: the fireplace no longer works and the flue is plugged. Where would you get the wood anyway?

Looking north through the window at Lake MacDermand and Wanda Lake:

Looking up at the underside of the hut's magnificant conical roof:

The old door as seen from inside the hut:

Time to head north to Evolution Lake:

Lake MacDermand and Wanda Lake as I head down the north side of Muir Pass:

Sun cups and chatting with the marmots with the dome in sight.