Uncle jonny' hostle in Erwin, TN

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#21

I heard all types of bad stories about Uncle Johnny from NOBOs on my SOBO hike in '99. When I reached Erwin, I decided to stay an check the place out for myself. This is what I observed. Thru-hikers who are rude and expect a free ride have a bad time at Uncle Johny’s place because he’s running a business not a free place to stay. I have spent a total of three nights at the hostel and boths time I enjoyed my stay. On the second trip with my wife we UJ gave us a deal on the cabin which we shared with another couple so we could have a private room. I have no illusions about UJ being a great philanthropist because he’s not. He is a businessman looking to turn a profit and he has a great location for his business which caters to tried, hunger, dirty thru-hikers looking for a place to stay. In the end you have to stop and meet the people before making an opinion about the place. For the record, Kincorra was the best hostel on both of my AT hikes.

Darth Packman

Darth Packman

#22

Well, Stealth Blew. I guess these messagers answer your question. If they don’t do what I did. I stayed one night at Uncle Johnny’s and one night at Miss Janet’s.

:cheers

Bilko

#23

Both UJ and MJ are well-meaning people who are offering and operating services for hikers in the way they know best.
Unfortunately, UJ became a favorite target of one of the most virulent, mean-spirited internet posters of the 21st century. This poster, the closest person we have to a long distance hiker Sen. McCarthy, was unrelenting in their hypercriticism of UJ. In this poster’s eyes, people seem to be saints (MJ) or sinners (UJ). In my opinion, UJ and MJ are neither. Future hikers should sample and judge the hospitality of both facilities/hosts on their own.
Happy hosteling and say no to hostility!

warren doyle

#24

ridiculous. that paints the ATC as a bunch of complete fools who would take a hostel out of their book–and one that’s right on the Trail, too–based on rumormongoring and the negative opinion of one (albeit experienced) hiker. for the ATC to make that somewhat serious deletion from the Companion you certainly know it’s going to be based on a lot more than that. and if you are the real Warren then you darn well know the reasons.

great post, Warren. you compare him to McCarthy then close with “say no to hostility.”

0101

#25

Yes, that hiker has done a horrible smear campaign because UJ threw him out after he was drunk and stupid off a bottle of Jim Beam. BJ then spammed the living hell out of forums. He is currently doing the same libel to a hiker with initials of WD.

He’s a disgrace to hiking. Most of us are not drunks.

nrkybill

#26

I generally don’t find stuff like this worth replying to, but for the record:

  1. I stopped going to Uncle Johnny’s for several reasons;
    the last time I was there was 2001. I had a foot injury
    that turned out to be a broken ankle; knowing that I
    needed some extended time off the Trail, I had a friend
    drive me to Kincora Hostel.
  2. I’ve never been thrown out of Johnny’s or any other
    hostel, for that matter.
  3. I haven’t spoken publicly about my feelings about the
    Erwin situation for some time now. I’d kind of thought
    this unpleasantness was all in the past. But if Mr.
    Doyle and Bill would like me to do so, I’d be happy to
    oblige. But I really don’t think they want that.
  4. Mr. Doyle’s paranoid “McCarthy!” post above speaks for
    itself. He needs de-caff or maybe, therapy.
  5. If Mr. Doyle thinks I’ve ever libelled him, he’s welcome
    to take action against me. However, proving libel can
    be a difficult process, especially when it’s never
    occured. To commit criminal libel, after all, one has
    be found guilty of saying something that was false.
  6. Speaking of falsehoods, Bill is welcome to post under
    his real name, at least if he wants his posts to have
    any semblance of credibility.
  7. And Mr. Doyle is welcome to make further comments about
    me to my face if he so wishes, instead of here. But on
    matter, I’m not holiding my breath.

Final comment: This whole Erwin thing is tired and old. Most folks are tired about hearing about it. There are any number of fine places to stay in Erwin, and hikers can figure it out for themselves when they get there; there are far too many hikers for there to be only one hostel or one place to stay, so it’s a good thing that there are several options.

Jack Tarlin

#27

I find it unfortunate that so many people feel the need to be involved in other people’s fights. If 1 person has an issue with a another there is no reason to get involved yourself. You see the same thing on most of the other AT forums and even on some issues/places/people on the PCT. I take anything negative that I read on the internet with a grain of salt.

Both MJ and UJ sound like good resources for the thru-hiker. I think it would be most unfortunate if there were zero hostels in Erwin. Be happy that you have the choice between 2 of them.

Kirk

kab21

#28

I had a couple beers there with Orc & bEan and some others. Uncle Johnny seemed to be a pretty fly guy. Dig:pimp

slick b

#29

My only experience with Uncle Johnny was in '02. I was walking north and when I got to the trailhead at Erwin, I wanted to get a motel room. It was a little confusing about which way to hitch into Erwin and I guess Uncle Johnny saw that I wasn’t going to stay with him. He said to get in his car and he’d give me a ride to Miss Janet’s. I got in the car and told him I wasn’t going to Miss Janet’s, I wanted a motel. He dropped me off at The Southern Motel and when I tried giving him $5.00 for the ride, he wouldn’t take it. I’ve talked to some hikers that didn’t like Uncle Johnny’s, but I’ve talked to lots of hikers that have had very good things to say about him.

I’m sorry to say that I haven’t stayed there, but the main reason is that I like motels better than hostels, so I always end up at the Holiday Inn Express in Erwin.

I stayed at Miss Janet’s in '05, but it was only because I was a late season sobo and there wasn’t lots of hikers. I really enjoy being around other hikers and talking to them, but I’m a light sleeper and I NEED my sleep after walking all day. Miss Janet is a top notch person and one of the best friends a hiker can have. I’ve never seen anyone stay so busy as Miss Janet, trying to help every hiker that has something they need or somewhere they want to go. She’s an angel!!

Baltimore Jack is another person that stands out and is always willing to help hikers, but in a different way…with his knowledge of the Trail. He has a great memory for different things along the Trail and where they are and how far are. He loves to cook at hiker gatherings too.

Warren Doyle is another unique Trail personality that I not only like, but admire. I know thru hikers who have sold all their backpacking equipment after they reached Katahdin because they were beat up from the Trail and never wanted to hike again. It’s not easy to walk through the mountains for over 2000 miles. Warren has walked over 30,000 miles!!!

I really like the different people I meet along the AT and that’s one of the main reasons I like to go back for walks on the AT…the people. They are all different and unique in their own way and that helps to make it a great experience and a GREAT TRAIL!!!

:slight_smile:

Stumpknocker

#30

I’m proud to say that I hiked some miles with Baltimore Jack, who gave me my trail name. In Erwin, Miss Janet picked me up and knew who I was based on someone who had hiked the trail 4 years prior and told her to be expecting me. The legnths these two people have gone to in order for me to feel welcome to the trail are great and I have a great deal of respect for the both of them. I never stayed at uncle johnny’s, but i did hang out there for I while during my nobo hike this past year. He seemed like a hospitable dude and my friends that were staying there loved the place. It’s kinda sad that people hide behind the internet and bitch about people. If these problems were genuine, they should be resoled face to face over a couple beers, or at the very least, a fatty J:boy :pimp

slick b

#31

I’m planning a thru-hike in 2011 and am looking forward to staying @ Uncle Jonnys. Great location and from seeing all the different responses he can’t be ALL BAD or ALL GOOD. HYOH Stay where U want to stay.

DAN-O