NCMedic
11-04-2012, 12:43
Calling all day hikers, section hikers and thru hikers.
I thought I would put this out for the board. I am in a position to do something I have always wanted to do and that is open a hiking and fly fishing outfitter. I am trying to decide where I would like to focus opening this endevour and have targeted somewhere around the AT as one of the areas I would like to resettle in. So, my question to you is where on the AT is there a true need for a good outfitter. My thought is to carry the general supplies but also try to carry a strong selection of gear for the lightweight and ultralight hiker as well. Part of this selection process would be a town that is close to the trail and hiker friendly if possible, availability of fairly inexpensive rent/utilities and a generally good community to live in. The location would be a retail location with a large internet mail order side as well and close to the AT so I can provide mail drops with times more convienent than the local post office.
A couple of places that I am looking at are in Southern VA....Somewhere between Pearisburg and Charlottesville, Harpers Ferry, or somewhere in the North East. The farther north I would go, I would want to look at areas where there is a strong sense of hiker community as well.
I really would like your thought on where a new outfitter would be usefull for the AT hiker in general for the hikers, but would prefer to have a fairly good population and/or outdoor tourist type area. Your thoughts as AT hikers are greatly appreciated.
NCmedic
I thought I would put this out for the board. I am in a position to do something I have always wanted to do and that is open a hiking and fly fishing outfitter. I am trying to decide where I would like to focus opening this endevour and have targeted somewhere around the AT as one of the areas I would like to resettle in. So, my question to you is where on the AT is there a true need for a good outfitter. My thought is to carry the general supplies but also try to carry a strong selection of gear for the lightweight and ultralight hiker as well. Part of this selection process would be a town that is close to the trail and hiker friendly if possible, availability of fairly inexpensive rent/utilities and a generally good community to live in. The location would be a retail location with a large internet mail order side as well and close to the AT so I can provide mail drops with times more convienent than the local post office.
A couple of places that I am looking at are in Southern VA....Somewhere between Pearisburg and Charlottesville, Harpers Ferry, or somewhere in the North East. The farther north I would go, I would want to look at areas where there is a strong sense of hiker community as well.
I really would like your thought on where a new outfitter would be usefull for the AT hiker in general for the hikers, but would prefer to have a fairly good population and/or outdoor tourist type area. Your thoughts as AT hikers are greatly appreciated.
NCmedic