Wouldn't go back there?

imported
#1

There must be places along the Trail where thru hikers have had bad experiences and to which they would not and will not return for whatever reason.
Any towns/business/establishments or situations that if you could do them over again, you’d avoid for any reason? Examples would be things like that burger that made you hurl, terrible service, blatant rudeness or open hostility to hikers, biting dogs, mean people, etc.
I realize this is subjective and personal, but Class of '05 might be interested in hearing the war stories…

Tyger

#2

Gosh, I can’t come up with many places to avoid. I had so many positive expeeiences. I think you’ll find that most folks will be incredibly generous and friendly and will want to feed you:) It would be better to do a list of must stay places rather than the opposite.

I hate to defame places, so I won’t get into specific details, even if they make for good stories. I’d say simply, stay at The Barn Hostel in Gorham NOT Hikers Paradise. Also I regretted greatly not staying at the Cabin in Andover ME. The Andover Guest House was a fine place, but the Cabin definately seemed to be the place to stay. Lastly I was treated pretty poorly by one of the owners of the Caratunk House for no particular reason, but they have since shut down.
You don’t have much to worry about.

Ooh-I just thought of one! I would not recommend spending time at Fontana Village Resort. Either go there and grab your maildrop and spend the night at the free Fontana Hilton shelter OR plunk down the money to stay with the Hoch’s at the Hike Inn. They will do your laundry, take you to a town with grocery store and restraunt and are real nice. The Village resort is spooky, did not have enough food for the advertised AYCE and the general store was slim pickins, oh and none of the laundry machines worked.

A-Train

#3

"the advertised AYCE at Fontana Village Resort "

I ate the breakfast AYCE twice in 03’, once when I hiked Thru and then when I went back to ask my Father in Laws permission, both times were great. No arguments, just different experiences.

Christopher

#4

"the advertised AYCE at Fontana Village Resort "

I ate the breakfast AYCE twice in 03’, once when I hiked Thru and then when I went back to ask my Father in Laws permission, both times were great. No arguments, just different experiences.

Christopher

#5

We both got the highway from those E-Coli Blue Plate Burger Specials. We won’t even walk near that place again.

Bushwack & Bramble

#6

These places were not very hiker-friendly when I passed through in '98. I’ll spare the details, but I will definitely not plan on hitching to either place if I ever attempt another thru-hike.

Ozone

#7

We had a bad experience at the Andover House in Maine (03). The lady there was very rude. Won’t bore you with particulars, but I wouldn’t go back there again EVER. The folks at THE Cabin are great (didn’t stay there but met them at Trail Days) We went to Pine Ellies and really enjoyed our stay. They went out of the way to make you feel welcome.

Had a another rude encounter at the Maples in Damascus. Why they tried to get us to stay there and then acted like they hated hikers was beyond us, but it was an unpleasant experience. (I beleive they are no longer in business, but I am not 100% sure of that)

For all the towns, hostels, etc that we stayed in over a thru-hike, having two bad experiences isn’t a poor ratio. Most of the places we went to we were welcomed and enjoyed the experience. Going 6 months with no negative experiences isn’t very realistic, so shrug your shoulders and hike on.

Goosebump the snow princess

#8

Sorry about that double post…

Christopher

#9

The campground facilities run by Trent’s Grocery at Va 606 were extremely dirty, toilet, sink, shower. A kid who looked to be about 12 said proudly that he was in charge of the campground. We were gratful to have a place to stay and the food at the store was fine, but using the woods would have been cleaner. Also, I’d say the same for Four Pines Hostel between McAfee Knob and Dragon’s Tooth. The garbage was piled up and smelly and the bathroom was filthy. He had a sign on the table that said something like “clean up after yourself because I don’t.” I really enjoyed the approach the Episcopal Church in Vernon NJ took–they had chore cards for hikers to choose with specific easy tasks folks could to do to pitch in and help. Mind you, I’m not a clean freak, but I think dirty bath facilities are a great way to transmit infections. Overall, though, I’d agree with others, that nearly all of my experiences were extremely positive. On that note, I’d highly recommend stopping at the Dutch Hauss in Montebello VA. Enjoy!

Rainbow

#10

It is funny how we have different experiences at the same places. In '03 I was hiking with a couple of guys who stayed at The Hike Inn at Fontana Dam while I stayed at the Fontana Village Resort. We took an extra zero and they moved to the Resort with me. They hated the Inn…gave them a hard time on using their phone and the guy kind of “lectured them” on the Smokies. The Inn food was limited in selection but was fine. The rooms were great and price right. Because they only have a few rooms at the Hike Inn, and it is early in the season, there is a nice hiker crowd at the Resort…everyone was having a great time chatting with each other. The food store is limited and the laundry did have a couple of dryers out of service. I stayed there again this past year and had the same great experience.

The place I had a bad experience both years was The Whistle Stop cafe at VT 103. Both times I was with another hiker and both agreed with me that the waitresses were terrible. The first year she chatted with the locals at the bar for at least twenty minutes before taking our order. This past year the service was slow again and the guy I was with asked for the “biggest Coke” they had. She brought him a medium and acted like “so what”…he had to order another one. My guess is they got stiffed by a hiker in the past and just don’t care for hikers in general…or we happened to get them at “the wrong time of the month.”

Skeemer

#11

personally, i wouldn’t stay at the hostel right across the street from where the trail comes out into town in erwin. a few of us had already decided that we wanted to stay with miss janet. the owner of this hostel came out the first time, very friendly and inviting us to check his place out. we declined, saying we were meeting friends in town, but never said anything about staying elsewhere. as we tried to hitch, he came out a second time and urged us to come in and look at his place. we felt this was a little pushy, but remained polite. the third time he came out and spoke to us, he told us it was “really rude to stand outside an establishment and not come in to check it out.” needless to say it was a little freaky and we were very glad when we finally got a hitch into downtown erwin.

otherwise, most towns and services proved fairly friendly as long as you were proving that hikers are good citizens (trying not to trash hotel rooms, not sneaking extra people into your room, not being obnoxious and giving hikers a bad name, etc.)

zero

#12

NEARLY got ripped off of $20 at an establishment in Erwin back in 01, just glad i checked the receipt before hitting the trail.

Had to watch a dog being belted at an establishment near Davenport Gap (in 2004), then left out all night in a terrible rain storm (chained up, else we would have moved it). We had half a mind to find a bolt cutter and take it with us, but feared the owner would give us the deliverance treatment if we dared.

Anon

#13

I’m not a thruhiker. I’ve only done 1000 miles in the last 9 years… Places that I’d avoid? The Northern Presidentials are the nastiest, ugliest piece of trail that I’ve ever encountered. Of course, you can’t thru-hike with out that section. I don’t plan on ever getting near them again!

Harry Dolphin

#14

I think everyone has a different experience at a different time. There is one place I would mention but I am willing to give it another try when I pass thru this year.

You never know, some of the places people have talked about I did not have a problem with. Guess it depends on the day. I won’t bad mouth a place until I have had a couple of lousy experiences. Then, I think I would have a right to say something.

Cuppa Joe

#15

March 2004 on top of Snowbird Mountain. Time: 11:30pm. Day: Friday. While asleep, I had someone in a 4-wheel vehicle drive straight for my tent. The first set idle with their brights on for several minutes. Then they swerved at the last second. At the time I was pretty freaked out. The more I talk to people they’ve had bad experiences where there are fire roads leading to the trail or if the trail is near a road.

guru

#16

I did not have a bad day on the trail. Why not choose your own place to self distruct.
Obviously this is even possible going to Miss Janet’s. She is so far off the trail that I regretfully by-passed her (even though it is one of the most popular hostels). I’m sitting in the hostel on the AT with my host Hill Billy, while “zero” (OK I can see spelling it out, but can’t you at least capitalize your name?) is having his worst reported experience just going by.

I stayed at The Hike Inn at Fontana Dam so maybe I lucked out. I stayed at the Greasy Creek Friendly Hostel, just before Roan Mt which only has two beds. This hostel, 0.6+ mi from the AT, must either expand or be relegated to a secondary alternative. It was one of my highlights in 2004. Trust me, All places in Andover, ME are great, this leads to silly debates about the greatest.

Find your own magic or keep your own whining to yourself.

Fine Print: I read the Thru-hiker’s Handbook and the Companion and shelter registers (SOBO’s were a little too late for me.), for the latest trail info.

Rambler

#17

I stayed at Fontana Dam and witnessed something really unexpected. Out behind a building a man way beating some homeless guy. The poor guy fell down and the guy just kept kicking him. Then he pulled out a knife and stabbed the hobo in the back as he lay sobbing. It was the most erotic thing i have ever seen.

Munchkin

#18

You’re the scary one. Writing stuff like this isn’t cool.

Deb

#19

Seek medication, Munchkin.

Butt Volcano

#20

Are we SURE they captured the REAL Eric Rudolph in nearby Murphy NC?

Skyline