The Loma Prietan
December 2002/January 2003
Hikers Hut Celebrates 25th Anniversary
by Ann Harding
On October 19, almost 50 longtime Sierra Club supporters met at the Hikers Hut in San Mateo's Sam McDonald County Park to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its opening in December, 1977, and to congratulate Ollie Mayer on the tremendous time and energy she has put into nursing this unique overnight mini-lodge in the Santa Cruz Mountains from a gleam in her eye to its topping out. As well as a gathering of committed volunteers, friends and families, the event was also an opportunity to thank Miesje Aldrich, our hardworking current Hikers Hut Committee Chair, as well as her predecessors, for excellent stewardship.
The speakers on the program offered complementary (and generally complimentary!) pictures of the past and present life of the Hut, both serious and amusing. Jane Kos and Len Walker presented readings by environmental writers as well as enthusiastic comments from overnight guests. Treasurer Carl Darling painted a generally healthy financial situation, although donations for future improvements are always very welcome. Ranger Tom O'Connor was not able to be present, but his weekly maintenance oversight and problem-solving skills continue to be much appreciated. Bill Freedman, "Mr Mushroom", recalled the choice of the Hut's site by Jules Eichorn, the joys and sorrows of alfalfa in lieu of flush toilets, and the virility of an uppity Amanita phalloides specimen by the Hut's deck.
Ollie took us back those 25 years, to
her dream of a system of trails and huts throughout San Mateo and beyond, to
the ceaseless fundraising and hard physical work of the early volunteers, and to her inspiring (and sometimes hilarious) experiences hutting from Norway to Switzerland to Japan. The Hikers Hut, costing all of $28,000 including shipping, was designed and prefabricated in Denmark and erected in only three weeks by two Danish carpenters (who could read the blueprints), flown in specially by the manufacturer. For Ollie, and apparently also for all those gathered, the Santa Cruz Mountains in San Mateo are the perfect locale for huts and trails from the ocean to the creeks, the trees and the precious peace we find not so very far away from the hubbub of the Bayside cities.
For those of us with less spring in our step than once upon a time, many thanks to Wim de Wit for his thoughtful shuttle service, as well as to the organizers of the excellent
cold lunch. The last time I stayed
in the Hut was in 1989, with the Singleaires. I hope my next visit will come a little sooner.