Uncle Johnny's Hostel

[Lugnut]

No matter what anyone says, no matter the reputation of the person making that observation, no matter what the true facts are in regards to the Uncle Johnny/Ms. Janet situation, one fact remains. Uncle Johnnie's is 20 feet from the trail and many (if not most) hikers are not aware of what is going on; some use WF's book, some are new to the AT and thousands more never heard of this site, and so, if after the long desent down the mountain one sees a picnic table, hammock and a pepsi machine he, or she, will likely stop. If you happen to catch Johnny on a good day (and he does have a some) then you will probably stay. Maybe we could start a fund raiser so Janet can buy Johnnie's place. That would solve all the problems! Yeah, that's the ticket!

[steve hiker]

But for a reputable hiker guidebook to ignore the reality of the situation by continuing to publicize the place is unfortunate, and for an educational website to print untruths about the situation in Erwin,

Then, his guidebook is not reputable. Nor is his website educational, but in the nature of misinformation or propaganda.

[Miss Janet]

HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!
I would give 1,000,000 $$ (of my future lottery winnings!) if we could just have 1 year of peace!!! I have heard my name mentioned in conjuntion with UJ's so many times I know some people think we were a COUPLE! Please, lets give it a rest this year!

But it does bother me that I have spoken to Dan fairly recently and he did not tell me that he had had any complaints about my place. I really wish he had told me so that I could address them this season. There is no way to please everyone or control everything but the complaints could have been legitimate. I heard that Trailplace once had a commentary about the Hostel Wars that was pretty much Dans view of the whole problem in Erwin and it seemed to favor UJ's side. It is his site and he is entitled to his opinion. Despite all that I am sure that he included my information in his guidebook and I thank him for that.

I love having hikers stay with me but there are more of you than I can handle when it is very busy. I would love to have a HOTEL for about 6 weeks every year but ... I DO NOT WANT JOHN SHORE"S PLACE! He has a great location and I know many people have great stays there. But after helping at his place for years I knew that some hikers wanted to be in town. I simply provide an alternative. Just know that if you stay at his place you are very welcome to come into town and visit us and I hope you do.

All of this negative stuff every year goes against everything I believe in. The saddest thing I ever heard was a sobo kid who said he first heard about all of this way back in the 100 mile wilderness!!! So, please, help me find ways to stop all of this this year? Please?

[Miss Janet]

HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!
I would give 1,000,000 $$ (of my future lottery winnings!) if we could just have 1 year of peace!!! I have heard my name mentioned in conjuntion with UJ's so many times I know some people think we were a COUPLE! Please, lets give it a rest this year!

But it does bother me that I have spoken to Dan fairly recently and he did not tell me that he had had any complaints about my place. I really wish he had told me so that I could address them this season. There is no way to please everyone or control everything but the complaints could have been legitimate. I heard that Trailplace once had a commentary about the Hostel Wars that was pretty much Dans view of the whole problem in Erwin and it seemed to favor UJ's side. It is his site and he is entitled to his opinion. Despite all that I am sure that he included my information in his guidebook and I thank him for that.

I love having hikers stay with me but there are more of you than I can handle when it is very busy. I would love to have a HOTEL for about 6 weeks every year but ... I DO NOT WANT JOHN SHORE"S PLACE! He has a great location and I know many people have great stays there. But after helping at his place for years I knew that some hikers wanted to be in town. I simply provide an alternative. Just know that if you stay at his place you are very welcome to come into town and visit us and I hope you do.

All of this negative stuff every year goes against everything I believe in. The saddest thing I ever heard was a sobo kid who said he first heard about all of this way back in the 100 mile wilderness!!! So, please, help me find ways to stop all of this this year? Please?

I am sorry I vented last night. It was not aimed at anyone just the situation.

[Frosty]

I am sorry I vented last night. It was not aimed at anyone just the situation.

Didn't see it as a vent, only a reminder that we all need to keep things in perspective, and that when issues get over-discussed, no one wins and the Trail loses.

Thanks,
Frosty

[Kozmic Zian]

Yea, UJ's.....Well, when I came through in '96, it wasn't there and I had a great stay at NOC. Everybody was staying there, then. Then, when I came down the hill in '00, here it was, this 'compound' right up against the hill. I mean, how insulting can you be. How obvious it was to me, that this person who had put this place here, did it to exploit hikers. Not me. I do not support commercial exploitation of the AT or hikers on the AT in any way, shape or form. UJ's, in my opinion, is just that! Sorry, Charlie, No Tuna!...KZ@

[Jack Tarlin]

Weary---

There's no point in "informing" Wingfoot, as he already knows all about the situation, including John Shore's disgusting attempts to interfere with Miss Janet's business operations this past summer and his repeated failed efforts to
get her closed down. In spite of all this, and in spite of being aware of the problem in Erwin for something like five years, he still includes Mr. Shores' business in his Erwin listings, and apparently, according to another poster here, he has made the remarkable observation on his website that he seems to feel that it is Janet's place that has received more complaints and has generated more problems, which is a categorically false and laughable statement.

In short, Weary, by printing nonsense such as this on his website, Mr. Bruce is either giving ample proof that he's woefully out-of-touch with the contemporary Trail, and woefully ignorant of the situation in Erwin, or worse, he is entirely aware of the nature of the problem there and is choosing to mis-lead people by printing innaccurate and false information.

There is no secret that there's been a problem in Erwin, and no secret that since its opening days, dozens of hikers have complained about one particular establishment there. I assure you that this is NOT unknown to the administration at Trailplace; unfortunately, like any other contentious or potentially controversial subject, this is NOT a subject that can or will be freely discussed there; I assure you, Weary, that if someone were to go on Trailplace and flatly ask "Why do you print such positive things about Uncle Johnny's despite massive evidence to the contrary?" that the question would be deleted before it could be answered, discussed, or debated, just as ANY similar discussion there would be similarly muzzled.

Weary---since YOU think contacting Trailplace about this issue is such a good idea, and since YOU have such confidence that the subject would be freely discussed and debated there, well why don't YOU go on a Forum there and introduce the subject. Then, feel free to tell us what happens. Fact is, Weary, there's no point in any of us trying to do this, as I have no doubt that the discussion would get anywhere; this is not something that the Trailplace administration wishes to discuss freely and openly, and were anyone to try to do so, and were anyone to question Trailplace and the Thru-Hiker's Handbook
about their continuing to publicize and speak well of a notoriously poorly-run
hiker facility, I have no doubt that the conversation would be strangled in infancy, and if anyone kept pushing the matter, they'd be thrown off the website. This is what happens over there to people who raise unpleasant subjects. I would attempt to sign up as a contributor there and introduce the subject, but believe me, I have better things to do with my time. I have NO confidence whatsoever that this subject would be granted fair and open debate there. This simply isn't permitted over there aandnever has been, and it's the principal reason I no longer have any use for the site. It's a lousy place to have a genuine and open discussion about anything, especially subjects that have generated controversy.

But if you disagree, well, YOU introduce the matter and tell us what transpires. Fact is, if Trailplace were honest about its reporting on this matter, our present discussion wouldn't be necessary. But if you think the solution is to "inform" Trailplace administration about the reality of the Erwin situation, well have fun. I assure you, they alredy know. But I'd be curious to see what happens.......when the conversation/thread is abrubptly terminated or shut down, I have no doubt that you'll have the integrity to let us know.

[Jack Tarlin]

It seems I sent my last post without having first read Miss Janet's request about letting things go this year and givig this all a rest.

And of course, she's right. This whole subject has been done to death. The 2004 hikers will decide for themselves what to do and where to stay in Erwin, which is how it should be. Many folks will stay with Janet and will have a wonderful time. Some will stay with John, and I hope that they, too, have a great stay. Others will stay in a motel or other location; others may skip Erwin altogether and move on towards Roan Mountain and Damascus.

I hope Janet is right and that this year we can all move on past much of the upleasantness of the past. This will happen when service providers in Erwin and elsewhere realize that there are plenty of hikers to go around, and that no one facility can possibly hope to take care of them all; therefore it's in everone's interest to run, clean, safe, friendly, reputable businesses, where everyone benefits, both the proprietors and the hikers, who really don't want to deal with these petty and entirely unnecessary disputes.

I hope things go better in 2004 both in Erwin and elsewhere. This way, service providers can center their energies on improving their businesses, which will inevitably help their own reputations; hikers can center their energies on the trips, and can avoid getting tangled up in the annual hostel-war controversy.

It'll be interesting to see what happens.

[weary]

Weary---since YOU think contacting Trailplace about this issue is such a good idea, and since YOU have such confidence that the subject would be freely discussed and debated there, well why don't YOU go on a Forum there and introduce the subject. Then, feel free to tell us what happens. .

The 2003 Thru Hiker Handbook has entirely neutral listings for both hostels. A search of Uncle Johnnies on Trailplace turned up no specific discussion of either hostel, just a general discussion of hostel rivalries and a suggestion that thru hikers should not participate in them.

Since neither hostel existed when I went through in 1993 and I have no first hand knowledge of either place, I think it would be more valuable for those who have first hand information to notify Trailplace of their experiences.

BTW. I never said I have confidence that the subject would be freely discussed on Trailplace. I've expressed my views on Trailplace and Wingfoot several times on this and other lists. I don't want to rehash them again. But never have I even hinted that free discussion is always encouraged. I don't have a clue about Wingfoot's feelings about the relative merit of the two places. I do think that those who have complaints should complain directly to Trailplace, not through a third person with no first hand information.

Weary

[Jack Tarlin]

Weary--

It does not surprise me in the slightest that the relative merits or NON-merits of these places haven't been discussed or debated there. That is exactly my point. You will NEVER see this matter fairly debated there, as the administration of that site has clearly made up its mind where it stands on the matter, and that stand is to ignore the half-decade of complaints and problems that are universally known to anyone who has hiked since 1998.

As I commented above, I hope this year proves to be different.

I am now going to do as Miss Janet requested, and let this matter go. I trust people with sound judgment can decide on their own what to do when they arrive in Erwin.

[ayce420]

Why anyone would choose this place over the genuine warmth, friendliness, hospitality, and limitless kindness of Miss Janet's Place is an utter mystery to me. The overwhelming majority of the Class of 2002 made the deliberate decision NOT to stay here, for numerous reasons. I suggest the Class of 2003 take this into consideration when they plan their trips. Details available upon request, but really, all one need do is talk to anyone who hiked this year. If you don't go to Janet's, then stay at a motel; you'll be happier, you'll be treated better, and you'll still have your wallet when you leave.

JT is a self assigned guru of the trail? I think not! Take your personal feelings somewhere else! Get a life!

[ARambler]

JT is a self assigned guru of the trail? I think not! Take your personal feelings somewhere else! Get a life!

"Get a life"? You use your first post to bring up a 4 year old thread? Did yoru old name get kicked off the site or did you just forget your password after 3+ years in jail?

I heard nothing bad about UJ on the trail this year and very few real hikers care about 4 year old WB threads.

I enjoyed 2 nights at UJ's. Only spent more time at the Cabin and the AT Lodge. I did a slack to Sam's gap. Even in the tail of sobo season, he was pretty full of hikers spending multiple nights. It would be great to get another hostel in Erwin.
Rambler

[Lilred]

JT is a self assigned guru of the trail? I think not! Take your personal feelings somewhere else! Get a life!

OK who are you? Your first post and you bring up reeeealllly old news in order to slam Jack?? It is quite obvious, to even the newest member of this site, that you are the one that needs to get a life. Unbelievable that someone would bump an old thread just to slam someone. Grow up.

[Johnny Thunder]

OK who are you? Your first post and you bring up reeeealllly old news in order to slam Jack?? It is quite obvious, to even the newest member of this site, that you are the one that needs to get a life. Unbelievable that someone would bump an old thread just to slam someone. Grow up.

I don't know, I really like ACYE420's user name. Maybe next time I'll create a cool one like "Cyberhikerpacksniffin'instigator"

[Hooch]

Lil' Red is right, as a fairly new member of WB, I find it pretty childish that someone would dig up a nearly 4 year old post and slam a very respected and reputable member of the AT community on their first post. You've got some nerve, man. That was just childish as best.

Oh, by the way, welcome to WhiteBlaze.

[ayce420]

OK who are you? Your first post and you bring up reeeealllly old news in order to slam Jack?? It is quite obvious, to even the newest member of this site, that you are the one that needs to get a life. Unbelievable that someone would bump an old thread just to slam someone. Grow up.

If your so concerned about "digging up bones" Why don't you complain to the the guy who runs this website as he has left the old posts listed in order to side with JT and MJ.

[Sly]

I don't know, I really like ACYE420's user name.

Yeah but it's like putting the cart before the horse.

[SGT Rock]

If your so concerned about "digging up bones" Why don't you complain to the the guy who runs this website as he has left the old posts listed in order to side with JT and MJ.

Since you are new here I can assure you that you have absolutely no idea how dumb that just made you sound. There isn't "the guy that runs the website", and other things about this issue and why those guys leave stuff like this up would be apparent if you spent any time around here. One of "those guys" wants UJ back in the guides BTW.

Good try though.

[Johnny Thunder]

Yeah but it's like putting the cart before the horse.

...or maybe it's the homerun champion before the steroids. You pick.

[Hooch]

Since you are new here I can assure you that you have absolutely no idea how dumb that just made you sound. There isn't "the guy that runs the website", and other things about this issue and why those guys leave stuff like this up would be apparent if you spent any time around here. One of "those guys" wants UJ back in the guides BTW.

Good try though.

Thanks for setting him straight, Rock. That is all a very long and compicated subject that not a whole lot of people truly understand in its entirety. I know I sure don't Gotta love the "gentle counseling" that comes from the First Sergeant.