[at-l] Palmerton Hostel

[janl2 at mindspring.com (Jan Leitschuh)]

>> The glitch that immediately comes to mind with this suggestion is MONEY. 
>>


Whether hikers know it or not, hostel owners already have an informal 
"telephone network." It cost no more money that a phone call or e-mail.

I saw this in action at Andover, when some southbounding hikers were 
suspected of ripping off a single mother who gave them a berth for the 
night. A few phone calls, and doors were closed to these two suspected 
troublemakers all down the trail.

I was a bit unnerved because the charges were hearsay, and what if 
they were wrong? Nonetheless, the mechanism exists. Bob Peoples could 
hook  Palmerton into such a network just by making them aware of it, 
and in touch with the hostels above and below the town.

Thruhikers experience such an often-unacustomed freedom from certain 
societal limitations (casual farting and belching come immediately to 
mind ;-) ), that it can go to the head when normal "rules" and 
expectations are suddenly lifted. Others had problems before they 
started. They feel anonymous, moving from town to town, unaccountable.

It's probably not a bad idea that hikers know their bad behavior 
follows them down the trail. That's the word that the ATC, ALDHA, 
e-lists, hiker networks should get out: "act badly, and doors will be 
closed to you, succor denied." Those types of hikes would dry up 
quickly then. Word of mouth spreads among hikers.

LovedPalmerton Shoe

PS John O,
Is there an address on that letter? I'd be happy to write to Palmerton 
to reinforce my deep appreciation for their town. I even wrote about 
it in my journal. Palmerton was extremely hiker friendly, and its sad 
to see them turned off hikers.


Jim Bullard wrote:

> At 07:13 AM 9/21/2004 -0400, Bror8588@aol.com wrote:
> 
>> In a message dated 9/20/04 23:03:57 Eastern Daylight Time,
>> janl2@mindspring.com writes:
>>
>> > JohnO,
>> > a practical suggestion.
>> > How about arranging for Bob Peoples of Kincorra hostel to speak with
>> > the town powers-that-be? Bob manages to run a very tight ship and is
>> > well-respected.
>> > In discussions with him, I've learned some things about hostels and
>> > know he could offer very pragmatic suggestions - and AT connection and
>> >
>>
>> In the Hotel Industry and other industries there are Associations that 
>> meet
>> at yearly conferences or who publish a newsletter targeted toward the
>> particular needs of the industry.  Is there not a "Hostel Industry 
>> Association?"  There
>> are enough hostels and hospitality shelters along the length of the
>> Appalachian Trail to make it worthwhile.

>> as a venting outlet.
>>

>> Skylander
> 
> 
> The glitch that immediately comes to mind with this suggestion is MONEY. 
> Hotels are profit making enterprises. Joining associations and 
> subscribing to industry newsletters are justified by the increased 
> profits that come from such associations and information. Hostels of the 
> type JohnO got the letter from are "out of the goodness of our hearts 
> and we *hope* you will donate enough to cover the cost" organizations. 
> Asking them to take on the additional burden of solving the problem is 
> unrealistic when they can solve it (and spare themselves a lot of other 
> self imposed hassles) by simply closing the hostel.
> 
> 

-- 
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