Wish I knew this about AT Hostels 

This has been one of the most informative videos I have seen concerning hiking the AT. Thank you!!!!

The expired food @ standing bear has been an ongoing thing for YEARS.

The first hostel heading north is Above the Clouds...it has saved many a hike being an early place to stay when you hit bad weather early or trying to help a sore knee. Food is amazing and very clean, plus shuttle from and to the trail.

Thank you for doing this video! I will be getting on Trail in 2024 and this is really helpful! I love your form too!!!

That form was such a great idea as it was an quick way to reach out to let you know how we could help you! Made planning at your end easier!

A few other outstanding Hostels…1/4 Way Hostel in Virginia was amazing, the Notch Hostel in New Hampshire was great in every way-thanks Serena, and the Hostel of Maine was clean, comfortable and luxurious. Finally Shaws in Monson Maine was great, with a legendary history and breakfast. I agree that Woods Hole was unique and so enjoyable. Neville is amazing, the loft was great and she even let me play her grandfather’s Martin guitar after a short audition!!!😊

We stayed at ALOT of hostels this year and my favorites were: Above the Clouds, Chicago and Sunsets, The Discerning Hiker, Mountain Harbor (B&B), Natures Inn, The Refuge, Black Bear, Lady Di’s, Weary Feet, Woods Hole, Wicked Waystation, The Notch, The Green Mountain House, The Maine Roadhouse, and Shaws. There was a Church before Caledonia State Park that was great, a lady who had a room downstairs and a wonderfully decorated home and yard in PA (I think), and another lady who ran a B & B in VA (She was a musician and her home was surrounded by cornfields) that were great. I really wished we had a chance to stay at the Blackburn AT center in VA… we stopped in for water and the host gave us soda and ice cream and was so very kind. It was much nicer than Bears Den just a few miles before. We had a similar experience with the hostels in VA and we, too, started staying mostly in Air B & B’s and hotels after Stanimals in Waynesboro and Cross Trails in Harpers Ferry. The AT hostel game picks back up in Vermont, NH and Maine where there are some very nice places to stay.

This was such an informative video! Thank you ✨🤞

Thank you for this beautiful video. This helped a lot. Good information

Hey Fern! I really enjoyed this video segment, and we can always count on your frank honesty. Before I forget, congratulations to you and Gypsy for your new channel, upcoming ventures and your nuptial plans. This video is very informative; I was planning to stay at Standing Bear Farm Hostel at the end of The Smokys this April, but now I'm debating it. I will be doing that section car-to-car with another hiker, so I won't need them for resupply, but just the business and hospitality sense that they'd sell expired resupply goods to hikers gives one pause. I am so looking forward to stay at Wood's Hole Shelter when I do that section. Neville's grandparents are from my neighborhood down here in Roswell, GA (her uncle was our mayor), the subdivision I cut through erected a nature tributary in "Miss Tilly's" honor ... also, you may recall the Wood's Hole Shelter on the Georgia section. I've never met Neville, but I have several friends that know her. Also, one of my former neighbors, Jenn Kent is the owner/hostelier of The Hostel of Maine ... she used to walk her dog in front of my house. Can't wait to be a guest there either. Mountain Harbour is another I am looking forward to stay. I was planning on staying at both Stanimal's too ... now not sure. But when doing car-to-car sectioning, one has more options. My Worse hosel experience ever was during my first section (SOBO from Delaware Water Gap to Duncanon) was at the Palmerton Hotel ... the smell of the grease vat from the adjoining restaurant/bar that was below the rickety creaky stairs up to the 2nd floor balcony ... dark hallway with a single raw lightbulb ... door had damage of being previously kicked down ... couch had unmentionable stains, window a/c didn't work. I ended up sleeping on a back deck lounger and was awakened thru the night by seedy people coming and going (I could only assume they were there to buy crack). Worse lodging experience of my life! On trail or off! And that's saying something, seeing as I'm 66. Now the main reason for my post is to share with you my favorite all time hostel experience, which happed on my last section this past September. It was the Bears Den Hostel and I wish that you and Gypsy could have experienced it to. I'm attaching a link to a video from said section where I give an impromptu review of Bears Den just before getting back on trail. I hope you enjoy it and Thank You both for the many hours of your journey you've shared with us. For me, you two (three if including Close Call) are on my Top Five all AT vlogs of all time! Sugar Bear ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tAm_-XtnYhs.html

Wow! Very informative and helpful! Starting in May. In GA We are older hikers so we will be taking it very slow! Thank you for doing this video ! ❤🥾🥾

It's interesting to hear how others felt about different hostels. Above the Clouds in Suches, GA is my favorite. I didn't think I'd make it out of Georgia much less to Maine. Nimrod was so kind and talked with me even though I was a sobbing mess. Some hostels seem more hit and miss though. I wasn't going to stay at Uncle Johnny's but it was pouring rain. Nothing bad happened but I wouldn't stay there again. It's not my jam. The only hostel I tell people to avoid is 4 Pines in Catawba, VA. The two guys who run it are awful. The trail angel form is a really good idea. I could have used some hiking buddies in November when everyone was gone🥲

Despite your comments at about 4 minutes into this video, Fontana Lodge is NOT the only place to stay prior to the Smokies if you're northbound. There's also The Hike Inn, run by Nancy Hoch. I've stayed there twice and would highly recommend it. Nancy is one of the sweetest people you'll encounter on the trail. She'll pick up from Fontana Dam (or probably elsewhere, but that's where I got picked up). There's laundry available for a small charge on site as well. She'll shuttle you to town for resupply/supper and get you back on trail clean, rested and fed. Look up The Hike Inn and call her. I believe it's listed with FarOut and good guidebooks. Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated, just a satisfied customer.

Standing Bear has been selling expired food for a decade. Also I had no signs of Laughing Heart being a party hostel. Maybe I was there on a down night but it was quiet and chill.

Valuable video. Thanks.

Very informative and cool stories!!Thanks, Good Stuff✌️

Thanks for the info. Always check reviews too

Woods in the Hole and above the Clouds are both Awesome Hostels !!!! Loved them both... Great people!! Must stays in my opinion.

Chica and Sunsets ( Jen & Greg ) are great people and have an awesome place. I've never heard of anyone having a negative experience there. For the record they thruhiked in 2017 as I shuttled them from the trailhead at Uncle Johnny's to Super 8 in Erwin and back to the trail. You're also not the first to have a problem with the shuttle driver at Uncle Johnny's in Erwin. I'm glad you mentioned it because I'm not sure the owner is aware of this behavior. Also was good to see the young lady with the kitten, I took them to Johnson City and back when they hiked through.

Thanks so much for this info! It was very helpful, and what a beautiful cabin you have! I will be vlogging my thru-hike starting in mid- to late March: Texas One-Step Hikes the AT. Hope you follow along. 🌻

Lot's of good information.

Great video! Awesome information. Crow✌️

Well done! Hope to see you in the Smokies later this year 🐻

Hostel of Maine was not so good in 2019. However, highly recommend The Cabin as a great place to stay a little earlier on the AT.

I had a much different experience with Alison at Open Arms and stayed a couple of times and got a food drop from her as I worked my way through VA this winter. Both bunk rooms I stayed in (3 beds per room) were spotless as was the bathroom. Her not wanting stinky hikers laying around on her furniture or even in her loaner clothes does not mean she doesn't wash the loaner clothes; just means she wants the least amount of lingering hiker stink possible. Great stay and would stay again.

Pro tip- stay at USA Raft instead of Uncle Johnny’s. It’s a trail mile north of Uncle Johnny’s.

Thank you SOOOO much for this video! I am not comfortable or into the party seen.

Do you have to stay at hostels or hotels during the AT thru hike or can you camp the whole thing, if wanted?

I just want to say that most Hostels have a website. If you do a little research ahead of time, youll get an idea of what they are like.

Good video.thanks. Thumbs up

Wow people provide clothes and food and laundry and transportation services just because they're kind? Or is this part of the hostile price/experience? That's so sweet of the one person who offered to wash your clothes for you. What a sweetie. I'd be freaked out about a stranger touching my stuff but the thought is definitely what counts💗

Instead of Standing Bear consider The Discerning Hiker. They pick up at Davenport Gap and their hostel is new and wonderful. The owners are great also and that makes all the difference. Standing bear is great if your thing is LOTS of drugs, expired food and overloaded privies.

Yeesh seems like you ran into a couple doozies. I'm definitely not the partying type being that I am 33 during the trial for more of a grounding journey. Anyway I just thought I would leave a comment thank you for participating in the trail and maybe have a chance to meet you guys someday.

Great video

I was at Standing Bear in September 2021 and everything I bought was within the expiration date.

Do you reserve hostels? How does it work??

The Human health hostel in Maine is one of the best book online

Expired dates I understand If you buy things cheap sometimes come with close expired dates but they are cheap So despite the fact, things lasted 2 to 4 years past the best-by date maybe more So what should you do Although it should be common courtesy for others to respect this date even if you think or know better As a traveling trail angel with a younger son, in toe, We watch dates for others but have much older on shelf As bed and breakfast thank you I think more hikers need to highlight and experience this more often. thank you again happy trails ~woodbooger~

Where are you two now? Any hiking trips planned? Just wondering

This is a great video; it's packed with great information. Green Dragon Hostel - Bill

I stayed at the terrapin hostel in Kingsfield Maine

I missed your face girl!!!!

Welcome to Maine.

Hostel of Maine was a great one up north.

Expired food huh, well fuk that! Shut them down! im sure they no about tha problem and that hikers kno, and tha fact that they didn't address tha issues. Goes to show a problem!

Most all dry Expired food is fine don't ever worry about that lol

Blah blah blah get to it. Hostels are pushing you for your money.

Your standards are a wee bit too much perhaps... as you mentioned do you research and fill up your bank cards. ✌ ☮

Thank you for making this video! This is all really good stuff for me to know before I start my thru hike this year 🙂 I'll be vlogging my journey this year and you can find me at FreedomForaging!