Woke up to the expected rain. It continued all day with only a few breaks.
We met the late arrival hiker, Candyman, who is a through hiker that started in Georgia.
Kyle and I started out with our umbrellas which actually did a lot of good work. Made our way along some ups and downs reaching Galehead Hut. It was closed to prep for the season, but we could see all the food they had air lifted in.
Our stop here also enjoyed a little break in the rain.
Then it was up South Twin Mountain for our main climb of the day. We planned to just keep walking through the rest of the day because stopping for breaks in the rain was cold and unsatisfying. Candyman hiked with us from Galehead and we chatted a bit. The trail was muddy and had slippery rocks and rocks everywhere. The conversation was a nice distraction.
Eventually made it to Zealand Falls hut just past the namesake water feature. Candyman wanted to make more progress so we said goodbye and he took off in the evening rain. We had reserved spots there because there weren't any other great options for shelter or camping in range for us. Given that we had been soaked pretty well by the rain all day, it was nice to have an indoor space to attempt to dry out.
Our visit was during the "self-service" season so we did not get fed meals, but at least we had a dry place to sleep. It was filled with a big family and some other random folks, lending an air of chaos to the shared space. A very cozy and intimate environment.
I enjoyed seeing how the hut system worked and quizzed the caretaker a bit. Could be a fun job for someone with lots of time on their hands, a love of wilderness, and a knack for hospitality.