Ken Berry, the first Class o’ 2006 Appalachian Trail northbound thru-hiker to reach Mt. Katahdin, got it in his head that he so loved the trail that he’d sell his home in Maryland and buy one near the AT, also in Maryland, and start a hiker hostel. Here’s his first Trail Journals entry. That was last September; now he’s got his Free State Hiker hostel essentially ready to receive hikers. This would be the year to check it out, before the bunkbed mattresses start to reek.
More on Ken’s adventure at this Whiteblaze thread.