Bradley Hut celebrates second 10th anniversary; hut work parties scheduled for September, October

The Sierra Club's Bradley Hut had its 10th anniversary in 1967, and it had a 10th anniversary again this August.

The original Bradley Hut was constructed in Five Lakes Basin, a shallow depression in the bench which rises above and separates Alpine Meadows from Squaw Valley near Lake Tahoe.

Named for Josephine Crane Bradley, the hut was built by Club members, family, and friends in 1957. With passage of the California Wilderness Act of 1984, Five Lakes became part of Granite Chief Wilderness. The U.S. Forest Service ruled in 1996 that Bradley Hut should be removed.

The hut was dismantled a year later and by 1999 even the remains of its concrete foundation had been dynamited and buried. In the meantime, the Forest Service worked with the Club to find another location. A new Bradley Hut, built with some of the major timbers salvaged from the old, opened in 1998 in upper Pole Creek, about four miles north of the original site.

The relocation was financed by contributions from various Club entities and individual donors, and by a major grant from outdoor-equipment co-op REI. Over 150 volunteers contributed labor. In the rush to completion, there was never a proper opening ceremony.

To celebrate the new Bradley's 10th anniversary, the Hut Subcommittee, with support from the Club's Clair Tappaan Lodge in Norden, is sponsoring a birthday party on Sun., Sep. 28.

The 150 volunteers who made the relocation of Bradley Hut possible are only part of a long tradition, which continues to keep the huts available for members and the general public. Normally the chores are more mundane than completely moving a hut; but firewood needs to be stocked, windows repaired, and dust swept out every fall in preparation for the coming winter season.

Hut users are the most common volunteers for the weekend work parties; but others simply like to lend a hand. The crisp mountain air and the opportunity to take a short hike or enjoy fall colors reflected in a nearby lake at the end of the work day also have some appeal. No experience is necessary; the only requirement is a healthy attitude toward manual labor. The Club provides food and tools; you need only bring gear as for a simple overnight backpack trip.

Work parties are scheduled almost every weekend in September and October; for details, see the calendar starting on page A of this Yodeler. Please help. The huts exist only because of the generous contributions from their users and friends.

For more information on the huts, contact Clair Tappaan Lodge at (800)679-6775 or visit ctl.sierraclub.org and select "Donner/Tahoe Huts" from the left menu bar.