Sierra hut work parties need your help

Each fall dozens of volunteers join in work parties to prepare the Club's backcountry huts for the winter. The big job is usually cutting and stocking firewood; but there are also repairing broken windows, sewing mattresses, and general clean-up.

This year's big excitement will be at Benson Hut where we are planning a major housecleaning, followed by installation of a new wood stove - with delivery by helicopter, if we can schedule the service.

Early work parties at Peter Grubb and Benson Huts have already cut firewood, ahead of expected chain-saw bans as the summer fire danger increases.

We assemble Saturday morning at the Club's Clair Tappaan Lodge near Donner Summit, just off I-80. Your Friday lodging and Saturday breakfast are courtesy of the Club. Tools and food for the weekend are also provided by the Club. All you need to bring are gear for a simple overnight backpack (sleeping bag, pack, eating utensils, flashlight, etc.), clothes you don't mind getting dirty, and a healthy attitude toward manual labor.

If this sounds interesting, contact one of the leaders listed below. We look forward to seeing you.

Sep. 11 - 12, Benson Hut - finishing incomplete tasks - Jim Gannon at jgannon99 -at- earthlink.net or (707) 525-1052.

Sep. 18 - 19, Peter Grubb Hut - storing firewood, general repairs - Debbie Benham atdeborah4 -at- pacbell.net or (650) 964-0558; or Herb Steierman at herb.s -at- ix.netcom.com or (408) 733-7013.

Sep. 25 - 26, Ludlow Hut - storing firewood, general repairs - Dick Simpson at rsimpson -at- magellan.stanford.edu or (650) 494-9272.

Oct. 9 - 10, Bradley Hut - storing firewood, general repairs - Joe McGuire at joseph_mcguire2 -at- agilent.com or (408) 204-8775.

Oct. 16 - 17, Peter Grubb Hut - storing firewood, general repairs - Dick Simpson (numbers above).

Oct. 23 - 24 -as needed - Dick Simpson (numbers above).

Oct. 30 - 31 -as needed - Dick Simpson (numbers above).