One of the more "upscale" places to spend a night at on the AT is in a Hostel near (or slightly near) the trail. For $25 or so one can get a roof over your head, a bunk bed to sleep on, sometimes a shower (hot shower were optional!) and depending on the hostel, a dinner and many times breakfast. These are welcomed breaks from sleeping on the ground or the wood floor of a shelter....but the "uniqueness" of these establishments (and the people that run them and/or the hikers that stay there) was also a key allure, as you will see on this page:
BEAR GARDEN HIKER HOSTEL
Owned and operated by retired school teachers Bob and Roberta from Michigan (they even knew where Swartz Creek was: home of the dragons!)
LICKSKILLET HOSTEL
Owned and operated by "Mongo", former thru hiker. Very cool place. An old church probably from the 50's turned into a hostel. Mongo was out hiking but he had some very good friends that helped him and us out (Mariette and Valerie). At night I swear we could hear the ghosts of the church choir singing.
Woods Hole Hostel
A great hostel that happen to be an organic farm.Stayed one night for a good night sleep and great breakfast!
And what a breakfast indeed....compared to our normal instant carnation drink!!
4 Pines Hostel
This hostel, a converted garage, was a key stop off spot for many including MacGyver and I to pick up food re-supply, and the outside surrounding evironment is impressive with wide open great views and a pleasant surrounding feel. The inside........certainly a "unique" lived in look and feel.
But we did have our first cheese burger and fries on the hike this year at a local convenience store/gas station...and it tasted great!!!
Joe the owner of 4 Pines, a quiet and unassuming man of few words that cares about hikers.....and the best corn hole player I have ever seen.
Stayed in the bunkhouse at Middle Creek Campground one night. MacGyver looking for water with 2 "very energetic" 4-legged companions. It was hard to curb their enthusiasm.
Stanimals
Stayed at Stanimals in Glasgow, VA and what a treat. The Manager, Charlie (trail name "Pilgrim" is a 2019 thru hiker, a Navy veteran and a great host, shuttle driver, specializing in his great breakfasts AND desserts! Those of you hiking thru Glasgow needing a place to stay, try Stanimals.
This is Charlie ("Pilgrim"). One other story about Charlie. MacGyver was having real problems with his backpack and had ordered some parts to be sent to Stanimals for him to pick them up. Well, Charlie had heard that we were staying at a shelter some miles away the previous night (and thought the parts may be important)....so he drove and hiked out there to deliver the parts! at 9:00pm at night. Now that is going the extra mile....literally!
Latest comments
27.09 | 17:20
Hi Possum! MacGyver and I finished up on Sept.7th with 351 miles in this year. False alarm on MacGyver taking ill. He was dehydrated but recovered in about 2 days. Was great to meet you this year!
27.09 | 17:16
Hey Pinnacle! Great to meet and hike with you also! And great advice on the next section we did. Thanks!
06.09 | 16:10
Great meeting you and your Brother at Eagles nest.
06.09 | 16:07
It was great meeting you and brother at Eagles nest
Pinnacle
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Great views from the top of South Twin Mtn!
Okay....starting on June 21st we decided to do a bit of "Platinum Blazing" at the AMC Huts. It was not the plan at all in the beginning for various reasons.....but the bad weather we are experiencing and lack of camp sites in the Whites; it made a lot of sense :)
Stayed at the AMC Highland Center June 21st and it was quite a place......and we celebrated MacGyver's Birthday!
On day 11, on the way to "Lake Of The Cloud" Hut, we had some good views around, of, and on top such mountains as Mt. Webster, Mt. Jackson, Mt. Eisenhower, Mt. Franklin.....and a pile of snow!
Day 12, June 23rd's highlight was summitting Mt. Washington. Its legendary for having very unpredictable, sometime dangerous weather but we hit it on perfect day...and definitely perfect compared to what we have already been thru in New Hampshire!
From the summit of Mt. Washington to the Madison Hut (where we stayed tonight) was only another 6 miles but the rock scrambles down were brutal...but the Hut they had Veggie Pot Pie for dinner!
Day 13, June 24 we hiked up, over and down Mt. Madison! Pics to follow shortly but let me just say that this was one of the toughest descents so far. Jagged black rock proved very difficult! Made it to Gorham for the night...thinking about the pending "Wildcats" ahead!
Day 14, June 25 we did the Wildcats. That first day wasn't too bad but that did change! This is MacGyver and I enjoying our first summit......forgot to mention that the Wildcats had 4 summits! But also, some good views
Stayed at Craford Notch Hut after the Wildcats for a much needed, inside a building, rest! Also met NOBO Thru Hiker "Big T" from Mississippi.
Well....the weather had been generally bad the whole hike; but things got much worse the next days (June 26 and 27).....dangerously worse
This is not a picture that we took (because we were too busy trying to stay alive!) but almost like one of the crossings we made (but ours was in deeper rapids). We crossed a flooded Rattle River several times with one crossing getting worse than the other. Made us pause a bit.......
June 27th we slipped and limped, soaking wet to U.S. 2 in Gorham and stayed at the Barn Hostel managed and owned by Paul. But about 2 miles or so before we reached U.S. 2 we passed by the Rattle River Shelter....and it looked like this....
Of course, our initial reaction, cold and tired, was "What Kind of Long-Distance Hiker" would violate so many unwritten rules of hiking etiquette!!!
Then we found out that those staying in the shelter (for multiple days at a time) were AMC trail volunteers and State Park staff helping out to shore up the trail as best they could during the unprecedented flooding that was going on.
MY TOTAL APOLOGIZE for jumping to conclusions without know the facts. Thank you for what you do!!
Okay...coming back to The Barn Hostel.....MacGyver and I fell in love with it at first glance! Growing up in the 60's and early 70's, this Hippy vibe that we saw and felt, made us feel right at home :). In fact, I think I stayed at a place like this when I hitchhiked to Southern California in 1972! :)
Best laid plans??