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  1. #1
    Registered User Sir-Packs-Alot's Avatar
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    Default Top of Georgia Hostel and Hiking Center is Open

    F.Y.I. - PLEASE NOTE: Top of Georgia Hiking Center - Nobo mile 69.0 / Hiawassee, GA IS OPEN DAILY 7AM TO 7PM.

    (There is an incorrect rumour going around that Top of Georgia is closed - THIS IS INCORRECT)

  2. #2

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    What time of year do you open?

  3. #3
    Registered User Sir-Packs-Alot's Avatar
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    Top of Georgia Hiking Center is actually OPEN YEAR ROUND.

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sir-Packs-Alot View Post
    Top of Georgia Hiking Center is actually OPEN YEAR ROUND.
    We stayed there and loved it. I've heard rumors that you are closing now?

  5. #5
    Registered User ldsailor's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ethesis View Post
    We stayed there and loved it. I've heard rumors that you are closing now?
    Closed earlier this year. See notice on Trek. There is another thread somewhere about it. If you do a search, you will probably find it.

    https://thetrek.co/top-georgia-hoste...ing-rest-2019/
    Trail Name - Slapshot
    "One step at a time."
    Blog - www.tonysadventure.com

  6. #6

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by ldsailor View Post
    Closed earlier this year. See notice on Trek. There is another thread somewhere about it. If you do a search, you will probably find it.

    https://thetrek.co/top-georgia-hoste...ing-rest-2019/
    but closed permanently rather than just for this season.

  8. #8
    Registered User ldsailor's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ethesis View Post
    but closed permanently rather than just for this season.
    Where did you hear that? I know the owner was considering not reopening, but until he made official notification, the closure was just for the season. If that's true, that's a shame. I liked the place.
    Trail Name - Slapshot
    "One step at a time."
    Blog - www.tonysadventure.com

  9. #9

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    Quote Originally Posted by ldsailor View Post
    Where did you hear that? I know the owner was considering not reopening, but until he made official notification, the closure was just for the season. If that's true, that's a shame. I liked the place.
    It was posted on Facebook on the ALDHA page - Bob emailed them about the closure and ALDHA posted the email.

  10. #10
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    do you have a link to that post? I was just on their FB page and couldn't find it.
    Thanks...

  11. #11

  12. #12
    Registered User ldsailor's Avatar
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    I just read the Facebook post and yeah, it's closed for good - at least as far as the owner, Bob, is concerned. A fellow that worked at the hostel for four seasons said the building has some structural problems, but whether that was the cause of the permanent closing is unclear.

    Personally, think it had to do with unruly hikers at least in part. When I stayed there in 2016 (2 nights while slackpacking during my LASH), I attended Bob's trail orientation. As anyone knows who have been there, there are signs all over about the no-drinking rule. Well, during the orientation some idiot was drunk on wine, which he was drinking right there in the group listening to Bob. He kept interrupting Bob and mumbling out loud to no one in particular. I asked Bob the next day why he didn't throw him out. He didn't think the confrontation was worth it. My guess is there were plenty of incidents like that and they would put off any owner.

    I have found memories of the place. I'm sorry to see it go and many hikers in the coming years will miss it too. Hiker Hostel, Top of Georgia... It's a shame.
    Trail Name - Slapshot
    "One step at a time."
    Blog - www.tonysadventure.com

  13. #13
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    thanks for the link

  14. #14
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    So, now there's no hostel in Hiawassee? After the Blueberry Patch closed, Top of Georgia stepped right in. Who's opening a hostel there? Great place to live.

  15. #15

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    Whoa! Disclaimer: some of this feedback on the closed hostel and the owner is rated R.

    https://www.reddit.com/r/Appalachian...el_now_closed/

  16. #16

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    Ps: I'm wondering if it might not be helpful to actual hikers hiking (like sobos) to post the fact that this place is now closed instead of this old post which states that it's open?

  17. #17
    AT 11,000 Miler
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    I had an awesome stay there in 2017. I thought it was one of the better run hostels I've seen.

  18. #18

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    Quote Originally Posted by crazylegs76 View Post
    Ps: I'm wondering if it might not be helpful to actual hikers hiking (like sobos) to post the fact that this place is now closed instead of this old post which states that it's open?
    I nominate you as manager of this project

  19. #19

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    He will pop up somewhere else with sensational claims and fabulous stories with no pictures or other hikers to back it up (he once claimed on a podcast he was on Naked and Afraid but that episode mysteriously never aired). He went quiet on social media 2 years ago when it was outed he lied about thru hiking the AT (and had the ATC change his status from thru hiker to section hiker after 13 years of it saying thru hiker).

    I bet he ends up on the Colorado Trail claiming 4 thru hikes of it and having his 10 rules for hiking the CT.

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