Ways to Improve Hanover NH

[Jack Tarlin]

Leopard:

I dunno about the Hanover Inn, as rooms go for around $250.00. It's a bit beyond most folks. Most hikers these days stay at the nearby Sunset Inn, and they share a room. The place is clean, hiker-friendly, reasonably close to downtown, and affordable if you are willing to split the costs. One of the things I intend to do is look into seeing if we can get the bus to stop there or close by (if it doesn't already) in order to make things easier and safer for hikers who want to go there. They should do the same thing at the other end of town for folks who want to stay at the Chieftain, another nice local motel.

[ShelterLeopard]

Wow- didn't know The Hanover Inn was so expensive. But I did figure I could find a way to get to the Sunset Inn and split it. But honestly, I figure I'll just make it a short day, do my errands in Hanover and continue on to Velvet Rocks for the night. But we'll see!

[nox2825]

First off I have never been to Hanover so I don't know what services are provided or what the attitudes of the residents are. But not much of what I have read here seems too unreasonable to request. At the very least they could be proposed to whichever committee you are meeting with. Who knows maybe you ask them for a small hiker campground and they'll love it. That might, in there eyes, be the solution to keep stinky hikers in a designated area instead of wandering around town all day. If they were to build a coin operated shower of some sort there it would definitely take some of the dirt out of town. If you were to go into the meeting with 30 ideas and 25 get shot down at least you tried. It's better than going in with only the 5 you are certain will be passed. You need to let them decide what they are willing to do, don't eliminate ideas so quickly.

[jersey joe]

Originally Posted by Jack Tarlin

Another possibility, Joe, is that some sort of sign or small bulletin board could go up somewhere, perhaps on the corner of Main St. by the Post Office, informing people that they're on the historic A.T., etc.; it could also mention the existence of the Dartmouth Outing Club and encourage people to go there for more complete information on the Trail. The DOC building is open already 24/7, so it'd be perfectly OK to direct people there; plus, this would save building and maintaining a kiosk.

Yes, something pointing people to the DOC building for information would be helpful.

[modiyooch]

Although, I own the companion book for reference; I don't carry the guide, or any maps. I just follow white blazes and carry a summarized data book listing mileage, towns, road crossings and shelters. That being said, I don't have maps of the towns and a kiosk would have been great. ok, info is in the doc building, but I needed direction to that building.

i guess you just need to ask the proprietors what they want and need, and then work from there. The town can embrace the AT and encourage the hikers to stop, shop and keep moving.

I think that the brass AT sign idea would have been cool. You never know, the town may go for it. It could be their way of embracing the AT and being proud of it.

[Peaks]

Not to provoke an argument, but there is another upscale town along the AT that also doesn't provide much in terms of hiker services: Kent CT. Why should hikers expect free services in Hanover any more than elsewhere? In reality, other towns more hiker friendly aren't really that far away, including Manchester Center VT, Woodstock NH, and Gorham. Granted, it would be nice to do laundry and shower, but that not that's not the end of the world. And, Velvet Rocks isn't that far out of town either.

[mikec]

Originally Posted by Jack Tarlin

One of the things I intend to do is look into seeing if we can get the bus to stop there or close by (if it doesn't already) in order to make things easier and safer for hikers who want to go there.

The bus does stop in front of the Inn when heading from Hanover and it stops about 250 beyond the Inn when going towards Hanover, due to safety reasons.

[modiyooch]

Where is my post about kiosk, directions to the doc building, proprietors and scenic AT blazes for the town??

[Jack Tarlin]

Nox:

The simple reality is that a "hiker campground" will attract problems and these problems will WORSEN relations between hikers and townspeople, never mind hikers and local law enforcement people.

I don't know if you read the whole thread, but you may be unaware that there already IS a
hiker campsite on the edge of town, and it has attracted drifters, non-hikers and partiers. There have been repeated problems there with litter, noise at night (and there are houses two minutes away), big fires, garbage, and assorted problems associated with partiers. If these problems continue, the present campsite will undoubtedly be closed and posted.


So in that this situation exists already, why on earth do you think that things will impriove if the town provides a new and improved "hiker campground?" As has alreeady been mentioned, a site without a permanent on-site caretaker will become a disaster area, and
the town isn't about to pay anyone to do this. And I assure you, the police have better things to do than drop by five times a night to check on things, and even if they did spend their time doing this, do you think it'd make them feel better towards visiting hikers?

So, no, I don't think this is an idea that the town will "love", and no, I'm not about to suggest or advocate it, either. I intend to go to this meeting with an open mind and with lots of good ideas........but this is decidedly not one of them.

Oh, and I can't think of one single community on or near the Trail that has installed, at town expense, coin-operated showers for hikers on the edge of town. I know of private businesses that have installed showers-for-pay, but towns? I can't think of one. For the umpteenth time, why do people expect Hanover to do things and provide things that NOBODY else is providing? How did Hanover get elected to be the one place to do this?

Honestly, folks, a little realism with some of your expectations would be helpful here.

[Jack Tarlin]

I just want to clarify something in my last post:

The fact that I am not going to personally advocate or suggest an idea to the committee of townspeople does not mean that these folks won't see an idea or suggestion that has been made here. As has already been stated, I intend to share this whole thread with people on the committee, including some who will have seen and read this thread BEFORE the meeting, so the fact that I won't necessarily introduce or suggest an idea does not mean your ideas or comments have been buried.

It merely means that I personally will not be responsible for suggesting or introducing an idea that I have grave misgivings or doubts about. There have been some fine ideas and comments here in recent days, and I look forward to discussing them at the upcoming meeting, and I look forward to some of them being considered and acted upon.

[rickb]

"Kep in mind that nearly every long-distance hiker ends up in the basement of the Dartmouth Outing Club..."

Why?

[Lemni Skate]

How about if the admissions department concentrated on accepting girls whose "turn-ons" include REALLY REALLY REALLY long walks in the woods.

[rickb]

Rather than look to provide more services for hikers, why not introduce/inform all those coming to Hanover from around the world (Parents, tourists slumming out of Woodstock etc.) about the AT, its traditions and a bit about those who have trod its path.

Not everyone has read "A walk in the Woods" or will even connect the book with the town.

Magic will follow.

Had such been the case when I walked thru in 1983, Charles Bronson may have smiled at me when I walked by.

[neighbor dave]

Originally Posted by rickb

"Kep in mind that nearly every long-distance hiker ends up in the basement of the Dartmouth Outing Club..."

Why?

it's a great,free, out of site place to chill, and congregate, on rainy days.
plus, if memory serves me correctly, they have phones,( important before cell phones became standard equipment).
there are more benefits too, perfectly legit ones i might add, but shouldn't be mentioned here.

[rickb]

Originally Posted by neighbor dave

it's a great,free, out of site place to chill, and congregate, on rainy days.
plus, if memory serves me correctly, they have phones,( important before cell phones became standard equipment).
there are more benefits too, perfectly legit ones i might add, but shouldn't be mentioned here.

Like what? Do some get to shower?

[Jack Tarlin]

Rick:

Dave is correct about the basement of the Dartmouth Outing Club. It's a nice (and safe) place to leave your gear while you explore the town; there's a bulletin board there with information of use to hikers, i.e. info on people who may be putting up or shuttling hikers, special events going on itn town, people offering short-time jobs that hikers might be interested in, etc. There are sofas where people can hang out, there are computers available at all hours for free that hikers are welcome to use. There are large and clean bathrooms. Also, the staff of the Outing Club is always eager to help hikers out and answer their questions.

But the real answer to your question Rick, is that most hikers find their way to the basement of the Outing Club because their guidebooks prominently mention that checking this place out is a really good idea and a good way to start one's visit in Hanover.

[Jack Tarlin]

The showers/locker rooms in the Outing Club are kept locked; you need to know a combination to get into them; they are NOT available to the general public, and while on rare occasion a hiker may have received access to them, this is not standard policy and is not something hikers should expect or anticipate when they visit this building.

[rickb]

So no lockers to keep your pack in for the afternoon?

[Jack Tarlin]

No. But I've never heard of anyone losing anything here.

[rickb]

Is there a public pool in Hanover.

College town and all.

Could make the town more appealing to some.