The Family From The South

[Creek Dancer]

If that's all that is written on the box, why all the disscusstion about "donations"?

If one stops at an unattended roadside farm stand and there is a cash box by the corn that states "$6 per dozen -- Honor System" no one would assume that that amount is a recommended donation.

Unless there is somethign else written on the sign, of course.

Wrong. That is precisely what I would assume.

[JohnWayne]

there is a big box with a big sign on it saying "$6 per night. Honor System" i don't "operate" the hostel. i help enforce the simple rules which so many hikers can't seem to follow. ALDHA has a poster in there titled "DO THE RIGHT THING" a list of 10 things to go by. 3,4,and 5 state: if you can afford beer, you can afford to leave a donation. if you can afford to eat in a restaurant, you can afford to leave a donation. if you can afford to hike the AT, you can afford to leave a donation. real simple folks. no more from me.

If the box says "$6 per night. Honor System" - that pretty much says it all. If someone cannot afford to stay at the hostel and reckons the hostel will "understand" they need to go to the person in charge and look them straight in the eye and tell them this before they spend 6 nights there. They need to square themselves before taking advantage of their hospitality. Anything else is flat down dishonest. So I reckon that we know what type of honor this mother has now.

[Lone Wolf]

If the box says "$6 per night. Honor System" - that pretty much says it all. If someone cannot afford to stay at the hostel and reckons the hostel will "understand" they need to go to the person in charge and look them straight in the eye and tell them this before they spend 6 nights there. They need to square themselves before taking advantage of their hospitality. Anything else is flat down dishonest. So I reckon that we know what type of honor this mother has now.

this past spring, april 15 - may 31, The Place had a volunteer/live-in caretaker. he made sure folks paid their way, cleaned up and followed rules. it ran real smooth. less than a week after he left it went back to the same old thing. no money in box, the house a mess, dirty towels everywhere, hikers blatantly breakin' rules, etc. thankfully he'll be back for the SOBO season. they're worse than NOBOs

[HikerMom58]

this past spring, april 15 - may 31, The Place had a volunteer/live-in caretaker. he made sure folks paid their way, cleaned up and followed rules. it ran real smooth. less than a week after he left it went back to the same old thing. no money in box, the house a mess, dirty towels everywhere, hikers blatantly breakin' rules, etc. thankfully he'll be back for the SOBO season. they're worse than NOBOs

When do you expect to see the SOBO's LW?

[Lone Wolf]

by the end of this month a few will start trickling in

[Kryptonite]

Do you think SOBOs are worse because they are nearing the end and are low on funds?

[Lone Wolf]

Do you think SOBOs are worse because they are nearing the end and are low on funds?

correct. what little they do have left goes directly to beer and pizza at quinceys. hikers ALWAYS have $$ for wants

[The Old Chief]

correct. what little they do have left goes directly to beer and pizza at quinceys. hikers ALWAYS have $$ for wants

Several years ago at the end of October I visited Ms. Janet while dropping off a SOBO who had finished the trail. There was a SOBO there who stated to us that he had run out of money so he decided to stay with her. Her kindness and inability to say no to freeloaders like this guy is the main reason her hostel no longer exists, while Uncle Johnny's is still going strong. I've seen NOBOs doing their own laundry for their "work for stay" at Ms. Janets.

[the goat]

If that's all that is written on the box, why all the disscusstion about "donations"?

If one stops at an unattended roadside farm stand and there is a cash box by the corn that states "$6 per dozen -- Honor System" no one would assume that that amount is a recommended donation.

Unless there is somethign else written on the sign, of course.

i think, legally speaking, it has to be classified as a "donation" or else they will be subject to a host of government regulations as if they were operating a hotel, and not a $6/ night hiker shelter.

[TOW]

Does anyone know if they are still on the trail or at home? I have not stayed at The Place or any Hostel. I do think they are very important for the AT Quest we all have, so I am sending The Place some money to help them for the service they provide us. Not on the Family of the South but for all the future hikers that are ill prepared.
I still am concerned about the children. Has any one seen them since they left Damascus? I agree with the Balls and Sunshine being hero's, they are not. I will give them credit for being able to get thousands of dollars of equipment and food in sponsorship. To bad this family didn't figure out how to hike free also. I would like to send the Family from the south boxes of food. I hope that if I was in trouble on the trail Lone Wolf and RED-DOG have the passion to come find me. Thank You

If you want to send a donation you send a check or money order here
The Place
c/o Tom Hayes
PO Box 4
Damascus, Va. 24236

We would greatly appreciate it!

[Mrs Baggins]

http://trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=389625

Well, wonderful. People are sending her free food, she has the money to buy more maps as well as microwavable foods (very pricey per person) and she writes like a 12 yr old with lots of!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so not impressed.

[vamelungeon]

If you want to send a donation you send a check or money order here
The Place
c/o Tom Hayes
PO Box 4
Damascus, Va. 24236

We would greatly appreciate it!

Thanks for the information!

[HikerMom58]

http://trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=389625

Well, wonderful. People are sending her free food, she has the money to buy more maps as well as microwavable foods (very pricey per person) and she writes like a 12 yr old with lots of!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so not impressed.

We shall see WHAT the story is really soon....

[fiddlehead]

http://trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=389625

Well, wonderful. People are sending her free food, she has the money to buy more maps as well as microwavable foods (very pricey per person) and she writes like a 12 yr old with lots of!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so not impressed.

Where's the love?

[The Cleaner]

Yeah,The Careless Bear has some new posts on TJ you need to read em for a good laugh.I'm only an HS grad,but I do try to use proper spelling.....

[Kryptonite]

Where's the love?

Her 7 year old is hiking 10-18 miles per day with 17 lbs on his back.

[Mountain Maiden]

http://trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=389625

Well, wonderful. People are sending her free food, she has the money to buy more maps as well as microwavable foods (very pricey per person) and she writes like a 12 yr old with lots of!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so not impressed.

LOL--- I didn't see anywhere that she has intimated that she was out to "impress" anyone.

However, she has certainly stirred up a few folks.

I can't condone all her apparent actions but then, I haven't walked in her shoes (boots.)

I just hope they are all safe and learn all they can from the experience.

[elmotoots]

I would bet a dollar she could not care any less than she already does, that people on this web site are not impressed with her.

How much is giving people on whiteblaze a good impression worth anyway?

[Velvet Gooch]

I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled ...

A Modest Proposal

For Preventing The Children of Poor People in Ireland
From Being Aburden to Their Parents or Country, and
For Making Them Beneficial to The Public

By Jonathan Swift (1729)

[moytoy]

We shall see WHAT the story is really soon....

How are we going to know what the "story" is?


I've been reading these 300+ post for a few days now and I can understand peoples concern for the welfare of these children. I frankly don't have an opinion because I'm not there and do not think I have enough information to form one. What I can't understand is why anyone wants to slam this woman for spelling, grammatical and punctuation errors. I can imagine she is writing her journal on a borrowed computer and has a time limit. Sometimes mistakes slip in. I'm sure my writing on these pages doesn't cut the muster for some. I just don't get it!