jbbweeks
12-13-2014, 13:40
I have very mixed emotions in selling my cabin. Having taught school for over 20 years, I recently had to retire for health reasons. For years I dreamed of having a hostel on the AT and offering “trail magic” to everyone that passed my way. Forced to retire a couple of years back, I foolishly, I used my nest egg to build my dream and hoped for the best, but, very close to completion, things fell apart.
The AT has always attracted me, even though I have difficulty hiking. My friends gave me the trail name “Nightcrawler” because I had a habit of crawling into the shelter after dark, exhausted. If my respiratory system had supported my trail aspirations, I would have been a thru-hiker a decade ago. But I loved every moment I spent on or around the trail. In my younger days, I could just keep pushing and make some miles. Section by section, I hiked past every white blaze between Springer and Damascus. Finding a slip of property near the trail in Bland County, Va., I finagled with the owner to work out a ‘dollar down and dollar a day’ type deal and faithfully made payments while I taught school. Then one weekend I got sick and was never allowed to return. Suddenly without my students,I had no one to help. I hoped helping the AT hikers would fill that sudden void, so I took a shot at my dream and…
I live in upstate SC, 5 hrs. away from my cabin, so my friends in Bland have been watching things. Selling is the last thing I want to do, but, sadly, I have reached that point. But I want someone that loves the AT, has a generous spirit, and wants to help all hikers on the trail, to take over my dream. It may be a selfish, narrow-minded pipe dream, but if I have to let it go, I at least want the pleasure of knowing my cabin is in the hands of a trail person or group.
So with that said, the location is near the footbridge on VA 615 in Bland County VA
the cabin is about a mile over the ridge from the trail - 1.75 mi by road
· Two bdrms, two bthrm, large loft area, kitchen, great room, huge front deck
· Never had appraisal done, but State Farm made me insure cabin for $ 91,000
· It is 75% complete
· Right now has temporary power (extension cord from power pole)
· Water from one of two creeks pumped to 1100 gal. storage tank above cabin
· Water pumped by ram pump (no electricity needed)
· Approx. 3.5 acres bordered by Jefferson National Forest
· Must have $ 75,000 to almost break even
· Not under sales contract at present
· Some fantastic neighbors
If anyone would like to invest a little $$$ in a worn out middle school history teacher, has a love for the AT and doing trail magic, and wants to be partner in an AT hostel, I would entertain all offers.
Thank you WhiteBlaze for your service to hikers-
I am with regrets-
Bruce Weeks
[email protected]
(864) 287-8017 home
(864) 221-6410 – cell / text-best way to contact
29158 29159
The AT has always attracted me, even though I have difficulty hiking. My friends gave me the trail name “Nightcrawler” because I had a habit of crawling into the shelter after dark, exhausted. If my respiratory system had supported my trail aspirations, I would have been a thru-hiker a decade ago. But I loved every moment I spent on or around the trail. In my younger days, I could just keep pushing and make some miles. Section by section, I hiked past every white blaze between Springer and Damascus. Finding a slip of property near the trail in Bland County, Va., I finagled with the owner to work out a ‘dollar down and dollar a day’ type deal and faithfully made payments while I taught school. Then one weekend I got sick and was never allowed to return. Suddenly without my students,I had no one to help. I hoped helping the AT hikers would fill that sudden void, so I took a shot at my dream and…
I live in upstate SC, 5 hrs. away from my cabin, so my friends in Bland have been watching things. Selling is the last thing I want to do, but, sadly, I have reached that point. But I want someone that loves the AT, has a generous spirit, and wants to help all hikers on the trail, to take over my dream. It may be a selfish, narrow-minded pipe dream, but if I have to let it go, I at least want the pleasure of knowing my cabin is in the hands of a trail person or group.
So with that said, the location is near the footbridge on VA 615 in Bland County VA
the cabin is about a mile over the ridge from the trail - 1.75 mi by road
· Two bdrms, two bthrm, large loft area, kitchen, great room, huge front deck
· Never had appraisal done, but State Farm made me insure cabin for $ 91,000
· It is 75% complete
· Right now has temporary power (extension cord from power pole)
· Water from one of two creeks pumped to 1100 gal. storage tank above cabin
· Water pumped by ram pump (no electricity needed)
· Approx. 3.5 acres bordered by Jefferson National Forest
· Must have $ 75,000 to almost break even
· Not under sales contract at present
· Some fantastic neighbors
If anyone would like to invest a little $$$ in a worn out middle school history teacher, has a love for the AT and doing trail magic, and wants to be partner in an AT hostel, I would entertain all offers.
Thank you WhiteBlaze for your service to hikers-
I am with regrets-
Bruce Weeks
[email protected]
(864) 287-8017 home
(864) 221-6410 – cell / text-best way to contact
29158 29159