The Graymoor Monastery
Just read about this place in Ten Million Steps...is this place still taking in thru-hikers???
You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.
You are allowed to stay at the ballfield shelter. There is water, privy, and cold shower. You can order pizza delivered too. But be aware, partiers sometimes roll in in the wee hours and stay overnight. Some guy was hanging out there too for a week with his tent set up in the shelter. Unless I were with others, I'd likely skip it next time.
ARe you saying u can't stay at the monastery any longer?
You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.
I don't think you could ever actually stay IN the monastery. In 2003 they allowed hikers to set up tents and hammocks under the pavillion which is half way from the ballfield to the monastery building. At dinner time they would come down, meet us and then escort us up to dinner.
'Slogger
The more I learn ...the more I realize I don't know.
Interesting. According to Nimblewill Nomad in his 1998 hike he was "shown to his private room in the old Friary." He also mentions an incredible breakfast spread, and the beauty of the monastery itself. Apparently in 1972 the first thru hiker stumbled into the Gramoor and the Superior allowed him to stay overnight...Word spread like wildfire among the other hikers, and the tradition of staying in the friary for thru hikers held steady between 1972- until at least 1998 according to the book. in fact, Nimblewill says the 1998 Superior told him : " The year 1998 marks our 26th year of lodging hikers at Graymoor. We are happy to have you."Originally Posted by Footslogger
I wonder when it changed....and why??? But you say they invite the hikers up for dinner?
You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.
Staying in a cell at the Monastery and having dinner with the Brothers used to be a highlight. Not sure when that stopped or why.
=====================================
Well ...they still were in 2003 - - and it was a fantastic dinner followed by a tour (at your choice) of the monastery.
'Slogger
The more I learn ...the more I realize I don't know.
They don't provide meals any longer. But you can still stay at the Pavillon, get water, shower etc.
Lonehiker (MRT '22)
too many hikers, too many of them ungrateful. i was fortunate enuf to stay "inside" 3 different years
Just to the south of the Monastery where the roads meet there is a new connivence store getting ready to open they were working on it this year should be open by next year so it will simple for short term resupply right there.
Oh brother.
I too stayed inside twice. Very Very Cool.
I believe another reason they stopped is because those guys were getting very old and dying off. There was only a few of them left in '95. They were very friendly and the food was great.
Now to look forward to a convenience store instead, (at the junction) will make a thru a lot less colorful.
It is built in a very beautiful settin also. A walk around the grounds of the monastary will impress most.
Don't let your fears stand in the way of your dreams
They did name it Appalachian Mart or something to that effect if it helps any?
I stayed inside. One nite only; no exceptons. AYCE dinner, breakfast, private room, shower, access to library. Great stop; very friendly.
When I stayed at the pavillion in June 2003, hikers were invited to dinner during July and August only.
While I was there, the Brother stopped by, and we chatted. He said that thru-hikers were not the true mission of the Monastery, and thus, they were doing less rather than more. I can accept this, because there are certainly many people much more needy than us thru-hikers.
I'll be up there in a couple of weeks to do some AT corridor boundary work.
I'll look to see if the store is open yet and post the info here.
My experience was very similar. I stayed there in June 05 and also talked to one of the brothers. I didn't ask him about staying in the monastery or meals but I told him we hikers appreciated having use of the pavilion.
I had arrived on a Sunday night when the field hosted several organized soccer games played by Latinos. It was some sort of league with uniforms and referees. Fun and fascinating to watch. The women were serving delicious meals and invited me to partake; my only reason for declining was a desire to lighten my pack of my own food. By dark they were all gone and I slept soundly.
That would be great. I don't get over there often enough. Let me know when your doing your boundary stuff if you want a hand I'll see what I have going on.
We stayed in 05 and were told that hikers were no longer staying inside. We slept under the roof of the sports field pavillion.
At 6 pm a brother came down, counted heads. He came down an hour later w/ deli sandwiches. Great place, nice people, cool experience, and an amazing place to walk around at night to see everything lit up.
It was still happening in 1993. I and my grandson, then age 11, stayed in a room inside, allowing Jon, an agnostic acolyte, to query the brothers with a thousand questions. We were served both supper and breakfast.
A few years later the practice was discontinued, but partially resumed after some hikers helped with some repairs as I vaguely recall.
I suspect growing numbers of sloppy hikers contributed to the change.
Weary
The Graymoor Monastery
In 2000 I was among a bunch of thru hikers who had the unfortunate job of pacifying the people left in the wake of a bunch of young folks that did bad stuff all the way to katahdin. They were offering breakfast at the monastery until the friars took a head count for breakfast and the hikers said they'd have breakfast but left without breakfast. The friar guy was not a happy camper and they discontinued breakfast.
I met Pat from Maine there and when we hiked out in the morning she turned left (sobo). I said, “I think we want to go the other way." She assured me that we were going in the right direction. I had hiked in when it was dark so I figured I'd gotten turned around. Then we got to the rode, which made it clear we'd gone the wrong way. We just turned and hiked back. After a while Pat said "aren't you nice for not saying anything." I said "don't worry, I won't mention it."
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
