View Full Version : an AT dream
Upon my approaching retirement, after my 2010 hike, I'd love to move to one of the sleepy little trail towns and open a hostel, shuttle hikers, and do what ever else comes along.
What a great idea, huh.
How demanding could you guys be?
Bear Bag
05-29-2008, 09:57
We demand beer!
fiddlehead
05-29-2008, 10:02
Average burn out in 7 years. Enjoy!
Alligator
05-29-2008, 10:04
...
How demanding could you guys be?Did you forget to put this in the hiking humor section;).
The Cloud 9 is for sale in Hiawassee.
Lone Wolf
05-29-2008, 10:15
Upon my approaching retirement, after my 2010 hike, I'd love to move to one of the sleepy little trail towns and open a hostel, shuttle hikers, and do what ever else comes along.
What a great idea, huh.
How demanding could you guys be?
the AT is saturated with hostels. hikers are way too demanding
Gray Blazer
05-29-2008, 10:54
Free steak and eggs!
I think I'd hire Many Sleeps too, I like him. Lone Wolf, policy consultant?
If you are serious about starting a hostel, there was a great thread back in 2006 started by Baltimore Jack that really gives a good idea of what to expect.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=18659&highlight=hostel+rules
whitefoot_hp
05-29-2008, 17:18
i would imagine it is hard to take the small market for this service and make it pay the property taxes. unless you have neels gap, where you still have access to the market before the all quit.
So.. you want to move to a sleepy trail town, put up somehikers, shuttle them around. How demanding could we hikers be? Do you really want this relaxing low key job?
expect to spend much of every day making beds, driving hikers here and there and to and from trail. Many will want to smoke and drink. You either have to put up with it or enforce a ban on it.
Many of the hikers will be either unwilling or simply unable to pay and significant fee. You will barely break even and be working much of the week. Hikers can come at any day, any time of day.
Also there are already hostels all over the place along the trail. It will take a special effort or special amenaties to get them to come to a new hostel.
Gee if this thread ends up in the humour forum.. folks will have a field day with the "how demanding can you guys be?"
David
bigcranky
05-29-2008, 19:19
Plenty of folks like staying at little out-of-the-way Bed and Breakfast establishments, too. After a while they say to themselves, hey, this is the life -- I want to open my own B+B. How hard can it be?
OK, working on a plan B. ankh
Lone Wolf
05-29-2008, 20:59
hostels are dirty. hikers get sick from being in them. you get what you pay for
Blissful
05-29-2008, 21:03
hostels are dirty. hikers get sick from being in them.
I got sick when I came home for a break. And then real sick after the hike for 2 months with 2 colds and the stomach flu.
Lone Wolf
05-29-2008, 21:06
I got sick when I came home for a break. And then real sick after the hike for 2 months with 2 colds and the stomach flu.
don't run your home like a hostel
bigcranky
05-29-2008, 21:27
We're not trying to discourage you, really, I mean it. Just be aware of what you are getting into.
Bare Bear
05-29-2008, 22:47
Yep those HOSTEL folks make a mint. Just look at the Cadillac Escalade that Ronnie Haven (Franklin) drives........or Nancy's (Hike Inn Stecoah Gap) H3 with the gold rims. I am sure that Bob Peoples at Kincora has a Mercedes hidden somewhere too.