Are the hostels along the AT for hikers only? Being a avid TJ’s reader, I have read about Elmer’s, Miss Janet’s, The Blueberry Patch, Shaw’s, etc (those are just the ones that I can think of off the top of my head – no slight intended to any others) and I have shuttled hikers to & from the one in Pearisburg.
Can only hikers patronize these establishments?
Wild Hare
Each hostel has its own criteria about this and other issues. There is no “umbrella” organization that can answer for all, and there are no one-size-fits-all policies. You should check with the specific hostel you are interested in. You can find contact info for most hostels frequented by AT hikers in the Companion or Wingfoot’s Handbook. The Companion has an online version at www.aldha.org.
Skyline
If the hostel is very crowded with hikers, and they have just descended from a difficult section because of weather or injury, the spot at the hostel should always go to them. But if it is not so busy, most hostel owners would welcome the visit I think. I met a lot of wayward souls at hostels. I met some long distance cyclists too. I met a convict at Rusty’s and a guy who stole a pack of cigarettes from me at Shaw’s. I met lots of loving minions at Miss Janet’s. Just ask! AT hostel owners are special!
NEMO
As stated above it depends on the situation.
I was seriously bummed when I hiked all day to get to Woods hole in time to get one of the breakfast spots only to find almost all of the spots taken up by weekenders and an ex-thru-hiker who yellow blazed to Woods hole.
:mad
I generally am against thru-hikers who have a sense of entitlement but there are some trail experiences that are part of tradition.
I also believe that even thruhikers can abuse the hostles. There were more then a few times, especially towards the beginning of the trail, that I found hostels filled with “thru-hikers” who seemed to be hanging out for days and days at a time, doing more partying then hiking.:cheers
jalan
Wild Hare,
You can do “Hardcore” trail maintenance out of Kencora. It is a great hostel near Elizabethon, TN about 50 trail miles from Damascus. You could stop at Kencora, hike to Damascus for Trail Days then catch a ride back to Kencora and do trail work for a couple of days and get the hiker-hostel experience and give something back to the trail at the same time.
I would warn you to bring ear plugs for sleeping and put Vicks salve up your nose for the delicate aroma. Hikers have a very special bouquet.
Papa Smurf
I would warn you to bring ear plugs for sleeping and put Vicks salve up your nose for the delicate aroma. Hikers have a very special bouquet.
:lol :happy :happy :happy :girl ROTFLMAO
Hammock Hanger
like kincora, there are times when Miss Janet’s and i would assume other places that i have never stayed will be more filled with alumini and friends who drop by. Miss Janet said just the other day that as it gets closer to trail days, that this years as well as every years hikers will be upset to find there is no room at the inn, because alumni know to come there early to enjoy an early trail days experience. This is not bad. They actually contribute to what miss janet or Bob does. In Bob’s case it is Hardcore, in Miss Janet’s case, her trip to trail days takes quite a bit of work.
i was there for a few days last week to get away, and went to hike but got a fever on the 1st 4 miles. I was already fatigued for some reason, a bug i guess. nothing to write home about, just a good trip even tho it didn’t go as i planned.
maybe that is it, thruhikers agendas don’t always go as planned, so go or don’t go…enjoy if you do and be prepared to adjust yer plans.
burn