I’m planning a 2008 thru-hike of the AT. I’m using a Hennessy Hammock and I’m not going to have a mattress with me. My question is do all the hostels have mattress in them to sleep on? The only place I’ve stayed that was close to a hostel was Upper Goose Pond Cabin, only 1/2 the beds had mattresses on them.
Captain K-man
Dear k, I think you mean ‘shelter’. The shelters on the AT are made of wood. You might be able to hang ur hammock on trees near many of the shelters. Perhaps UGPC had mattresses, but plan on carrying either a thermarest or a ridge rest or a z-rest… hikers swear by & at all of these. Otherwise you will be very uncomfortable! Luckily, you can pretty much get by without a tent, most nites, unless you stay with the huge AT pack or get dam weekenders hogging the shelters!
gingerbreadman
No,:), I mean Hostels. When I’m in town I would like to stay at hostels when possible. I just never stayed at any near the AT, and I think I read in one of the journals that there were no mattresses at a hostel. That got me wondering if I would be able to stay at them with out a mattress. UGPC is the only thing that I could relate to. Sorry for the confusion.
Captain K-man
I’d say that most hostels have mattresses. The Place in Damascus is one that I recall did not at the time.
Peaks
I used an HH in 02. Carry a Z-rest or something of the sort . It keeps cold off of your back while sleeping in the HH and just is a good thing to have for GP.
Virginian
Given the clientel, your probably better off w/out a mattress. Do you really want to lie (lay?) on a mattress where hundreds of dirty thru hikers have slept?
Striper
better off without a mattress
Given the clientel, your probably better off w/out a mattress. Do you really want to lie (lay?) on a mattress where hundreds of dirty thru hikers have slept?
Yes 
Nokia
I hiked in 05 with a HH, Big Agnes Zirkel, and an InsulMat - other than a night that got down to +10 F, I was quite comfortable. I used the InsulMat in the few Hostels I stopped in - even if mattresses were provided. Some, like Josh & Leigh Saint’s Hiker Hostel in GA, have mattresses I was comfortable using, but I usually slept on the floor or yard due to crowds (like Miss Janet’s). Mostly, though, I stayed in the woods and avoided all the temptations to shower and, therefore, socialize.
“Hostel” is Quentin Tarentino’s new flick. If you watched the second season of “Entourage” they made a comment about him being in a hotel in Vegas with two floozies writing it. I have not seen it, but I will soon.
Forest Gump
Well, my wife has asked me to post this correction to my comments regarding the movie “Hostel.” While Tarentino did produce the movie, he did not write it. The movie “Entourage” was referring to is “Grind House.” I am so ashamed…
Forest Gump