The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) built “huts” in the backcountry as hostels for hikers. They have running well water, electricity, and for a couple hours of scrubbing floors, dishes, walls, etc. lots of food.

Most people make reservations to stay in the huts but thru-hikers can do “work-for-stay” and eat and sleep for free. At Zealand, they fed me well and the work was not too bad so despite the destruction of my backcountry experience for this 100 miles or so, I’ll suffer the loss for the amazing lack of hunger and slight food baby I have acquired.