Episode #268 - Lisa and Gordon Simmons (The Hostel Around the Bend)

Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis

Steve Adams

Sports, Wilderness

4.8 • 599 Ratings

🗓️ 29 April 2021

⏱️ 51 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Lisa and Gordon Simmons are the proud owners of Hostel Around the Bend in Hiawassee, Georgia. The hostel is just half a mile from Dick's Creek Gap (AT Mile 69.2) and this is their first season fully open.

We discuss the experience of running a hostel, how the year has gone for them, and even share some advice for hikers. If you'd like to stay at Hostel Around the Bend or get in touch with them, their information is below:

https://www.hostelaroundthebend.com/

7675 Hwy 76 E
Hiawassee, GA 30546

Phone: (706) 389-9668

Email: stay@hostelaroundthebend.com

Katie, or Phoenix, has been having a tough few weeks and has come to a decision that changes her AT plans. That said, as always, she looks on the bright side.

If you'd like to support the Virtual Walk, 10,000 Steps for 10,000 Families, click on the link below to walk virtually with Steve, in Mighty Blue's Tramily. Thanks for all the support.

https://runsignup.com/RaceGroups/109424

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Any support is gratefully received.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	You are listening to the Hiking Radio Network where we talk the walk with shows by hikers
0:05.3	about hikers for everybody. Mighty Blue on the Appalachian Trail, the ultimate midlife crisis, joins Stephen his guests every week as he staggers from Georgia to Maine.
0:33.6	Hi, everyone. Thanks again for coming back to Mighty Blue on the Appalachian Trail,
0:38.1	the ultimate midlife crisis. Once again, my name is Ryan Hopkins, or JR, and I hope everyone
0:44.5	enjoyed the show last week. If you did listen with Steve doing his monthly show, I really enjoyed
0:51.1	the interview, and I think it is a great format we have going with the show
0:56.6	right now and with me guest hosting. So something we talked about originally was figuring out
1:03.4	ways to get on the trail more and the last show that I did two weeks ago was the on trail
1:08.1	interviews. I was really curious to hear from some hostel owners
1:12.2	and folks that are kind of adjacent to the trail in that capacity, so shuttle drivers,
1:17.8	that kind of thing. And I started doing some thinking and reading about some places in Georgia.
1:23.9	And I've stayed at quite a few places in Georgia. And I was curious about a place called
1:30.4	Hostel Around the Bend. Some of you may be familiar with it. It used to be known as the top of
1:35.4	Georgia hiking center, I think it was center, which closed and has changed ownership now and
1:41.8	has kind of officially opened up this season for their first
1:45.6	through hiking season. And so I went down and I got to chat with the owners. It definitely is a
1:53.1	working operating hostel. There was lots of commotion, lots of people in and out, all just
1:59.6	never a dull moment.
2:02.0	And I guess that's what you can expect from a hostel in Georgia in April.
2:08.4	So the owners, Gordon and Lisa Simmons, are originally from around the area, and they will
2:15.7	obviously share more about how they came to be involved with the
2:19.3	hostel. But it was such a treat to meet them and their dogs as well. Gordon and Lisa will be on
	...

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