Services we liked on the Trail - Virginia to Massachusetts

"Church Hostel" - Delaware Water Gap, PA

Virginia - Part B

Since we were close to home and also did this section with my husband at other times, we did not use the services. But we have heard of some excellent services along the way to Harper's Ferry that you might consider.

Blue Ridge Parkway - many hikers rave about the Dutch Haus B&B that offered a free lunch to hikers last year and reasonable rates.

Waynesboro - Most services available to hikers including a large supermarket for resupply. Rockfish Gap Outfitters is, I believe, the best outfitter on the trail. Superior service, will help with warranty issues and has all the gear selection you need without the yuppy stuff. And a great AYCE Chinese Buiffet place. Church hostel is available here in season.

Shenandoah National Park - the waysides are overpriced but if you are starving or you need resupply, you can get it at various locations.

Northern VA - one of the best hostels that past hikers have loved is Bears Den hostel. They have a hiker special that combines the hostel rate with food. I have seen the place and it looks like it has everything (shower, Internet, phone, among other thigns) but I have never stayed there.

West Virginia

Harpers Ferry - home of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Be sure to stop in and get your picture taken. They can help with your questions, etc. There is an outfitter here but when I was there a few years back, it looked kind of small. Did sell some backpacking food like noodles, tuna packets, etc. Check here for accomodations.

Pennsylvania

US Rt 30 - turn left and walk down the road for some great pizza at Taormina's. Hiker friendly.

Caledonia State Park - nice restrooms and water. Pool only open on weekends in late May.

The shelters in early PA are great. Courtesy of the PATC

Pine Grove Furnace State Park - store offers ice cream for the famous ice cream challenge, but if you aren't used to lots of fat, don't do it for your stomach's sake. We stayed at the Ironmasters Hostel. Okay place, but with no AC in the summer it was HOT and the women stay on the top floor. Not fun. But the caretaker was very nice. Accepts maildrops. Has showers and laundry.

Boiling Springs - we skipped this town but did stop at at the ATC office to use the restroom and get water.

US 11 - head left for motels and restaurants by the Interstate. The Super 8 where we stayed was not very helpful and pricey. But the diner across the street had good food.

Duncannon - small little town. Port Clinton Hotel, okay for the rate, no AC, has laundry and shared shower. We got Internet access at an Internet place down the street. PO. Small places to eat. Evening shuttle from the hotel to a grocery store. No phone in town except near the bar.

Port Clinton - be forewarned, the lady working the day shift at the PO was not hiker friendly and quite mean. We hitched a ride and stayed at the Microtel across from Cabelas. Nice place if you can split the room with other hikers. Has laundry, no Internet. Cabelas had what we needed for gear. Fast food places nearby.

Eckville Shelter - the bunks are infested with chiggers or mites or something. I was bitten all night. The caretaker is not very nice. No food. Has showers.

501 Shelter - cold shower, enclosed bunkhouse, active mice. You can order pizza here. Noisy roof when it rains.

Lehigh Gap - we stayed in Palmerton at the Jailhouse hostel. Free and had showers. Everything is centrally located with laundry, library for Internet across the street and IGA. People were very friendly. Just a bear of a town to get out of, try to get a ride from someone in town back to the trail as the road is four lane and very busy.

Delaware Water Gap - church hostel near the trail, donations, nice place. No laundry or Internet. PO down the street. Recommend mail drop here. No grocery store except for convenience stores near the Interstate. Good diner.

Mohican Trail Center - good stop. Great pizza to order (best I had on the trail, IMO). We had the hiker bunkhouse to ourselves and it was BIG.

Unionville, NY - we did not stay here but did use it for a mail drop which worked out well. The mayor is hiker friendly and we hear he now allows hikers to stayovernight at his house. Might check that out.

NJ 94, Vernon - Nice hiker hostel here at a church with laundry, Internet and showers. Fast food places. Get a ride from someone to Vernon at the Heaven Hill farmer's market to the left of the trail. No hitchhiking permitted in NJ.

New York

Bear Mtn State Park - has restrooms, water. Don't know about PO. Inn was closed. The people there in the picnic area did not know what to make of hikers. Wildlife exhibits interesting.

Graymoor - basically a shelter (picnic shelter) where we tented, but you can order pizza and they deliver. Has a cold shower. We had rowdies roll in with pick-up trucks at 2 AM, so be warned and keep your guard up.

Enjoy the delis in NY but their prices for hiker food is very high. Great hot dog stand at NY 22, on the left at a pullover on the road, just after you pass the AT train station.

Connecticut

Kent - we did not stay here, but stayed with friends. Did use PO for a mail drop. The outfitter was basically a yuppy one and fairly useless (no fuel canisters or Aquamira).

Falls Village - we did not stay here, but it sure was a friendly little town. Many people said hello to us. We got water from an outside spigot at the high school during a bad thunderstorm.

Salisbury - again, we did not stay here but it has good eateries, a good grocery store, and the PO. The people were rather classy and not sure what to do with hikers, but we had a few talk to us as we were drying out gear. No pay phones and cell coverage spotty at best.

Massachusetts

South Egremont - I only menton it because we stayed at the Inn here. They were very friendly to us and shuttled us back and forth to the trail. Do not try to stay on weekends - pricey and usually booked. Good convenience store with good sandwiches down the road, but that's about all to this town.

Great Barrington - we did not stay here but ended up here waiting for my f-i-l to pick us up during an intense heat wave. Has everything you need but is spread out.

Dalton - again, we did not stay here but Tom's place looks great (nice guy) and it looks like a good hiker town for a stay.

Cheshire - we stayed at the church hostel, free to hikers. A new outfitter there wants to cater to hikers. PO across the street.

MA 2 - turn left for a great supermarket to welcome you to Vermont. We did not stay in this area though. Too pricey.

Services we liked on the Trail - Georgia to Virginia

The "Hiker Hostel" Dahlonega, Georgia

I was reading on White Blaze of a request for a listing of places where hikers enjoyed staying along the Appalachian Trail. I decided to go ahead and post the places where we stayed, along with comments on services, etc. This post will cover Georgia to Virginia.

Georgia

Dahlonega - The Hiker Hostel - bunks, great breakfast included, laundry for a small fee, computer, nice area for hikers to hang out. Josh will pick you up at Woody Gap if you call.

Neel's Gap - We stayed at Goose Creek Cabins. The owner was very friendly and provides shuttles to and from the AT. Nearby restaurant was closed in 2007 but supposedly he will make a run in the evening (if it is open in 2008). Or you can order a pizza. Highly recommended. No computer available. Excellent outfitter in Neel's Gap, a must.

Hiawasee - We stayed at the Hiawasee Inn. The owners there, upon hearing we were a family, immediately gave us their big "apartment" type room complete with a kitchen for the same hiker rate. Friendly staff. Laundry available. No computer that we could see but check with the owner. Shuttle to the trail for a small fee. Great AYCE buffet in town. Groceries.

Dick's Creek Gap - Cloud Nine Hostel. We walked there - a long walk but they are said to pick up at the trailhead and they did take us back in the AM. We were too late for the restaurant run that night, but we had great smoked trout that night. Cool activities like ping pong. Laundry, computer. Laura is very friendly. The hostel is for sale though in 2008.

North Carolina

Winding Stair Gap - Franklin - Ron Haven is a true friend of hikers. He will pick you up at the parking lot and take you to one of his two motels (we stayed at the second motel and liked it very much. Seemed nicer and more modern. It was close to the laundry). In the evening Ron will shuttle you around to the grocery store, post office, etc.

Natahala Outdoor Center - we did not stay there but other hikers have and they do have services. I found the outfitters there a bit rude but they do take maildrops which is nice.

Fontana Dam- to prepare for the Smokies, we opted to stay at the more expensive Hike Inn which has motel-like rooms. They will pick you up at Fontana Visitor center (use the pay phone) and take you back in the AM. They allow you to briefly use the computer in their home, but be warned, they do smoke. They also do your laundry and take you to Robbinsville for food and supplies. I found the owner a bit gruff but had good wisdom for hiking in the Smokies.

Gatlinburg - We opted not to go into Gatlinburg

Green Corner Road (when you come out of the Smokies) Standing Bear Farm Hiker Hostel -Curtis is very friendly. A rustic place with bunks but you can get a shower, use the internet, and do your laundry, so it's great. The food prices are a little expensive but when you're hungry, you pay it, and you can get some minor resupply there to get you to Hot Springs.

Hot Springs - Cute little town. As Elmers was full, we stayed one night at the Alpine Court Motel, cash only and pricey. Stayed at Elmers for night number two and they let us stay in one of their grand bedrooms, so it was great. They didn't serve dinner that night though, sadly. We did like the food at Smoky Mtn Diner. And there is a Dollar General for cheap resupply.

Tennessee

Erwin - since my hubby came up, we opted for the Holiday Inn Express and it was very nice (much friendlier than the Super 8 from what I have heard). If you have several hikers to go in with you, this is a good option for nice relaxation. Great hotel, laundry, Internet, free breakfast. Lots of hikers when we were there. Uncle Johnny also does shuttles if you want to do slackpacking in the area. He also operates a hostel right by the trail.

Rt 19 E - Mountain Harbour B&B - this place was okay. Easy to walk to. Owner a bit gruff but it may be his personality. They charge for laundry and shuttles to restaurant, PO, and groceries. Accept maildrop. Hostel is over a horse barn and the horses do make noise at night. Comfortable though with bunks and a kitchen and video collection.

Dennis Cove Rd - Kincora Hostel - Bob and Pat Peoples are great, what can you say? They know how to run a hostel. Has everything you need, and they run a free shuttle to town. Bob also ran us a free shuttle to slack over Pond Mtn in bad weather. He knows everything about the trail in the area. Great place.

(Note: Pat Peoples passed away in 2008. Not certain what is happening with the hostel)

Virginia - Part 1

Damascus - friendliest town on the AT , or so it says. When we were there, it was very quiet as it was soon after the VA Tech tragedy. But a great town. We stayed at Dave's Place (operated out of Mt Rogers Outfitters) as they provide rooms with a key so you can lock up your backpack. I did not eat there as I went with my hubby on an outing, but there are places to eat, to buy supplies, etc. Full service town.

US 11 - Near the Interstate. We stayed at the Relax Inn across from the trail. Okay, it was kind of a dump and the AC didn't work well but it had what we needed like a shower (though the tub leaked) and laundry. Not the greatest place, but sometimes you can't be fussy. They charge $5 for maildrops. No computer. No PO. Convenience store nearby where you might be able to resupply.

(Note - there is a new hostel in this raea that just opened up. Worth checking in to)

Bland - We stayed with my hubby at a motel in Christiansburg, so no info on this area. But there are services.

Pearisburg - We stayed with friends here, but it looked like a full service town and has a hostel.

Catawba - The Homeplace restaurant is great- a littel pricey but great food for hungry hikers.

US 220 - We stayed at the Comfort Inn under I 81 (other hikers did too) but other choices available. Country Cookin AYCE is practically next door. Hotel had Internet, breakfast, laundry. Nice place. Had a hiker rate but they may be doing away with it in 2008. There is an outfitter and huge grocery store here (by the trail).

An Author of the Trail

What does a handwritten piece of paper have to do with the love of writing?

It is a simple, homemade sign I made at the completion of my hike atop Mt. Katahdin, giving honor and praise to my husband who stood by me through it all. But it reveals something more as well. Besides walking with my feet, I must also acknowledge the author side of me that thinks and writes. I have written and published over a dozen novels with my latest one due out next month. My main goal of the hike was not simply to do it but also to document my experiences in a trail journal. To accomplish this, I kept in the confines of my backpack a small rustic notebook to handwrite journal entries while on the trail. In a world of computers and phones that allow one to text message and even send computer entries, there is nothing like simpe handwritten notes and journal entries that tell of a particular moment in time. To see those handwritten acknowledgements during difficult and joyous times of life. I was perusing my handwritten journal the other day and marveling how God brought me through this journey. And it is written down for all eternity, pen to paper. And I am using that journal as well as my online journal and blog to recreate the adventure in a non fiction book.

I hike. I write. And I give praise to God for it all, that He may use it for His glory.

Trail Birthday

I just celebrated my birthday back on January 12th and although I did not have a birthday on the trail, my son, Paul Bunyan did. The day before his birthday was an absolutely awful day for us. We were crossing Baldpate Mtn in Maine with the worst weather of wind, rain, and fog. The rocks were so slippery it took us forever to cross them, it seemed. I felt so bad for him as he was scared and so was I. Huddled in a shelter sipping warm drinks, we decided we would try and make it to the hostel a day ahead of time to dry out and get ready for his birthday. Thankfully we were able to get a hold of the hostel operators who picked us up in style in their mini motor home and took us to their wonderful home near Andover, Maine. We were treated to a homestyle family dinner as soon as we walked in. Seeing all the bounty laid out before me, I nearly cried. It was hard to believe we had gone through such an awful day on the trail, only to be rewarded at the end with a feast, surrounded by happy people. The next day Paul Bunyan had his birthday in style. It just reminded me of the faithfulness of God, that there are rainbows to enjoy when the storms of life are through. So do not lose heart.

Contemplation

I write this with a heavy heart. I, among many other hikers, are mouring the loss of one of our own - a young hiker, out for a walk on New Years Day in Georgia near the AT, only to be senselessly killed by a deranged man. It's really hard as we like to think of a trail like the Appalachian Trail, carved among the wonders of God's creation, safe from such horrific evil. But it is not. This is still a fallen world, and evil prowls about. The devil prowls about, seeking to kill, steal, destroy. Even in the serenity of the woods.

But I rest in the knowedge of God's presense, even in a cruel world. That He still rules over this. That evil may take reign for but a moment, but He is forever. And one day that evil will bow the knee.

Maranatha. Come, Lord, come.

The End of an Era... It Seems

Okay, I will admit it. I shed tears when the hour drew to an end.

What a banner year 2007 was for me.

Completing the Appalachian Trail with my son.

A multitude of published books.

Good health. Great friends. Awesome God we serve.

Just to name a few.

Of course, I always wonder what the new year will bring. I hope to sell a few more books this year. Complete a book on my trail journey. We have already reserved a beach house for June and bought season passes for Kings Dominion - a nearby amusement park. We are getting ready to lead our church youth group on more new adventures, and my hubby will help build the set for a new play - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - at a nearby playhouse (of which the wife is always an associate advisor). We will have the party of the year in May when my son officially graduates from high school. And I'm sure we will do hiking as well. Maybe take a weekend excursion or two into the deep woods.

A few things are in the works, but no one really knows what will happen until the year is played out.

So I will wait and see as I plan my way and the Lord guides my steps in the year 2008.