Peter Grubb Hut Via PCT, CA

Peter Grubb was born in 1919 to a San Francisco family who lived quite comfortably. An avid outdoorsman, he hiked and skied much of Americas west. An active boy scout and with excellent academics he died of exposure at the age of eighteen in 1937 while on a bicycle tour of Italy. He was a popular member of the Sierra Club and in 1939 the Sierra Club built a hut and named it for him deep in the Sierras. This hut, situated on the Pacific Crest Trail(PCT), has been a source of comfort for cross country hikers and skiers for almost 70 years. The two story hut can comfortably hold about fifteen people and is equipped with green basics. There is solar powered lighting with switches on timers. A two burner solar powered electric stove top. A wood burning stove. A nice supply of wood and a wood splitter. Emergency food supplied by Sierra Search and Rescue. Some flashlights, card games and a picnic table. Sleeping arrangements are on the floor. In the summer its available on a first come basis but in the winter time it is so popular it is by reservation only. It is very popular with snow skiers and snow shoe hikers. They ask for a $10.00 donation per person for an overnight to cover expenses and pick up after yourself. There is also a modern pit toilet next to the hut. Notice in the pictures there is a winter entrance to the hut and a summer entrance to the hut at ground level giving you an idea of how much snow falls here in the winter. The same applies to the toilet, summer access and winter access up high.


The hike begins at the Donner Pass Tahoe National Forest parking area designated parking for the PCT. As with most high Sierra hikes the first order of business should be to load up on sunscreen and load up with bug spray. The mosquitos can certainly ruin the trip. This trailhead accesses many different trails and you can basically go in any direction from here. Being just off the Interstate highway this is a major re supply point for thru hikers. The hike starts by traveling thru the thick forest in an eastern direction. Huge granite rock outcropping are abundant with several ponds of standing water. It is quite common to still have several feet of snow here well into July. The first T intersection is with the Glacier Meadow Loop Trail. Turn right here and continue to the next T and take a right here also. At 3/4 mile you arrive at a Y. Take the sharp left which now has you headed north. In a quarter of a mile you reach two pedestrian tunnels taking you under the interstate. Another quarter mile you arrive at another Y. Take the left trail. The trail starts its uphill from here. Nothing dramatic but it is uphill for the next three miles. Soon you lose the sound of traffic from the interstate and alternating rock outcroppings of Granite and Andesite break up the forest. You can occasionally catch a peak of Castle Peak but the best view will be from the pass. There are several small streams which often have some water deep into summer. You travel along and eventually cross Upper Castle Creek which has a little more water flow. The climb continues to where you top off at Castle Pass which offers panoramic views of the Sierra in this region. This marked intersection is a cross. Go straight and begin a slight descent of a about 200 feet over the next mile as you approach Round Valley. Castle Peak and the surrounding ridges create Round Valley. Once you reach the meadow watch for the Peter Grubb Hut on your left. The hut is latched but unlocked and operates entirely on the honor system. Leave no trace and return the way you came.

2008-08-30 AZLOT69