4/28 – 5/3 – Planned a work / stay at Woods Hole hostel for the week. I have been a guest a number of times during hiking trips since 2020 and wanted to spend some extended time here. What better way to do this than with a ‘work stay”
I arrived on Monday 4/28 after my weekend with “the crud”. I had not eaten before my arrival so I thought I was better but could not be 100% sure. The owner Neville was a bit concerned about my my condition and wanted to be sure I was in the clear. She asked me to come back the next day, Tuesday 4/29. I left disappointed but understood. I went to breakfast and realized I was fine, but decided to wait the day before returning.
I spent the day at various AT trailheads in the area looking for hikers to provide some “trail magic” as well as to find place to spend the night in the van. I never saw one hiker. At one trail point in the afternoon I met a gentleman from West Virginia doing trail magic that had been in the spot all day and only saw 5 hikers. I guess we were still ahead of the “bubble” of hikers doing their northbound thru hike (NOBO).
I spent the night at the “Narrows” AT trailhead near Pearisburg. This was my second time here as I started a section hike from this same location a few years back.
In the morning I headed back to Woods Hole for my week stay. Woods Hole is a refurbished log Chestnut cabin from 1880. Additional buildings for a bunk house and shower house have been added. They provide homemade breakfast and dinner each day. It is hard to describe but I consider this place magical and I just get very emotional each time I stay here. (and emotional writing this)
I was able to park my van “up the hill” on the property and was able to have access to electricity from an extension cord form the pole barn… this was perfect.. Spent the week learning the process of working various jobs and assisting with meal prep and cleaning each day for the guests.
Th real fun staying at a Woods Hole is meeting all the hikers coming through. Each day there was maybe 5 to 10 hikers. Some stay one night, some stay second night when they realize how nice this place can be. Hikers come from all over, I met someone from UK, Western North Carolina near me and all parts of the US. The hiking stories are endless form of entertainment.
The days start early at 7am since hikers like to get early starts when leaving. I was usually in my van, done for the day by 7PM. The week went by very quickly A few days i had almost 15,000 steps!! The weather was prefect most days… sunny and highs in the 60’s most days. A big strom came trough during the middle of the night with lightning and hail… that was exciting
The owner Neville Harris is such a wonderful person. I just love the energy she has with her place. She offers yoga, fresh organic vegetable for the garden with coffee and dinner served on her hand made poetry. There is so much history here. Her grandmother who created the hostel is in the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame for her support of the trail.
Adventures of an AT Section hiker "Mapless" 