[at-l] Palmerton Hostel

[mathews at uga.edu (Doug Mathews)]

Hi all,

Back from my bike journey and still in 1 piece......saw much great scenery 
and many "hills"

On the subject of hiker behavior....this is not the first I've read of poor 
behavior by hikers. when I was on my hike in 2002 and in Damascus I heard 
from a hiker staying in the church hostel there that the cops had to come 
through because some were smoking marijuana.  I also so some hikers not 
give donations at hostels where it was suggested.

There were notes in the companion about places that for years had hosted 
hikers that no longer did because of the behavior of a few.  There will 
always be that part of society that chooses to act in ways that the general 
population does not. In some cases this different behavior has no impact on 
anyone but that person, bey when it impacts others in the present or in the 
future, I wonder if its not up to the rest of us to deal with it.  Not in a 
confrontational way, but let those involved that its not going to be 
tolerated.  If we do not, then are we not letting a few dictate to the rest 
of us and we then have to pay the price.  A rude, belligerent, alcohol 
abusive individual makes a hostel owner, land owner, motel owner, etc mad 
and who pays for that?  The next hikers that happens to come along. And we 
did nothing wrong so we pay the price.  Peer pressure works great, but a 
moving hiker who may never see people again can be a loose cannon.  I for 
one do not find it objectionable to talk to a hiker abusing the trail and 
those that support it. Nor do I find it objectionable to "report" hikers 
that are acting improper.  If I (we) don't, then when things become closed 
to hikers we have no one to blame.  I'd like to think that the trail was a 
friendly place, open and receptive to all, both on the trail and the 
periphery that supports it, but more and more actions by a few can 
compromise it.  I think that we must let those that abuse the trail and its 
supporting infrastructure know that they are not welcome. Its not a 
pleasant thing to do, but I'd ask all of us, do we not have a 
responsibility to give back to the trail and to the preservation of it and 
its supporting activities?  I for one believe that.  Lets help educate 
those that don't get the picture.

Ok...enough of my ramblings but these kind of actions really bother me.



Have a nice evening!

Mainframe

p.s.  I really enjoyed Palmerton and the BLT at the little restaurant.


At 11:23 AM 9/20/2004, you wrote:
>Receiving letters like this really upsets me. Here we have a "few hikers" 
>who are jeopardizing a well established hostel. It would be appreciated if 
>this letter could be passed around in hopes of educating those "few hikers".
>Thanks
>John O
>
>
>
>
>
>
>John O'Mahoney, Editor
>Thru Hiker Companion
>40 Lenape Trail
>Brick, NJ  08724
>
>RE:  Palmerton Hostel
>
>Dear Mr. O'Mahoney:
>
>         I am writing to ask for your advice and assistance in a troubling 
> matter for Palmerton Borough.  For over 25 years the Palmerton Borough 
> Hall has been used as a hostel for through hikers on the Appalachian 
> Trail.  In recent years the actions of a growing number of a few hikers 
> is jeopardizing our interest in continuing this courtesy.   Recognize 
> that we are talking about a minority of hikers, but a minority whose 
> actions may affect 450-500 hikers per year who choose to stay with us for 
> a night.  Many fine, wonderful people have become known to us through 
> this outreach, but others appear to have less appreciation for what we 
> have to offer.
>
>         Some of the more blatant offensive actions that we do not 
> appreciate are generally associated with immature behavior.  We are not a 
> "flop house" for those who choose to over drink and sleep it off the next 
> day.  Even more offensive are those individuals who have over drank and 
> used our stairwell and shrubbery as a urinal or place to up-chuck.  As 
> repulsive as it sounds, it happens too often.  Others feel that they are 
> just too "independent" to have to register with either the police or our 
> office.  If their independence is that critical, they should stay at the 
> shelters provided on the trail.
>
>         My last item of concern is for those traveling with their 
> pets.  Three of the four regular office staff here have house dogs who 
> stay indoors with us at home.  The difference is that these house animals 
> are regularly groomed and washed.  Last year a hiker's "friendliest dog 
> in the world" chased one of our residents out of the basement.  This is 
> first and foremost a public building where many people come and go on a 
> regular basis.  Please don't ask us to invite pets in, because the answer 
> will be no.
>
>         Please offer any thoughts or suggestions you may have, as we have 
> nearly decided that we cannot risk a truly unfortunate circumstance 
> happening.  As of this time, there is a 90% probability that we will not 
> open in 2005.  We hope you have the answers that will allow us to look 
> forward to meeting many new friends next year.
>
>                                                         Sincerely,
>
>                                                         BOROUGH OF PALMERTON
>
>
>                                                         Rodger P. Danielson
>                                                 Borough Manager
>
>_______________________________________________
>at-l mailing list
>at-l@backcountry.net
>http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/at-l