Help Create Chica & Sunsets’ Hostel

[@thriftyendurance]

This is very exciting news! 👍🏻 Franklin could use another hostel. I like your planning thoughts of creating beds, not bunks. In addition, air circulation is very important, even if you have bunks. The minimalist approach will work for health too, especially with another year of Norovirus that ran amuck! Yuck! I think your hostel could be as beautiful and efficiently run as "The Hostel of Maine," which, actually, I consider more a B&B than a Hostel. You are not the first thru-hiker couple to start a hostel and could be as popular as Shaw's in Monson! I give you both a lot of credit for getting started. I know one contractor you should contact...Craig "Hawk" Mains. He's home in Sturgis right now, but I bet he could give you a lot great tips. It would be great if the ATC can track hikers with skills, but maybe contact Odie from Hiker Yearbook who is really dialed in with the hikers' stats. You can build a whole crew of current, future and past thru-hikers. Will your hostel be PET-FRIENDLY? If so, what is the additional charge for pets? A separate room would be ideal! If you need IT help, setting up WIFI, etc, you should contact Jason "Frozen." My "Birch" is a landscaper. He can ask around to see if there are any arborists in your area. We are not familiar with anything in that area. We will be rolling by in 2021, going SOBO. Are you only open during season or all year round? You can cater to all kinds of outdoor enthusiasts like MTB and paddlers too! Happy building your dream hostel! I can help get the word out and would love to buy a package...OH YES...contact Ramdino who does the hiker updates! I can trust you with funds...you did an amazing job tabbing all your thru-hike expenses. I think you were the only ones I saw do that. 🌺

[@ChicaandSunsets]

These are great suggestions. We actually reached out to Odie when we were getting roofing quotes, but he had other projects going on. Thanks for the thoughts.

[@shellikolash1511]

Sounds Great Loved Franklin when we took a couple zeroes last year

[@jeffs6229]

I’m in. I live in ATL and can help with labor. Very exciting! Welcome to the south!

[@gregseymour2941]

Thanks Jeff! Currently the downstairs is unlivable and we are working on getting the electric sordid out. But we'll have a painting party soon enough. Stay tuned.

[@averagecampers]

Watching you all and listening to your comments in this video is somewhat funny because we did the exact same thing on the trail! We really enjoyed watching your thru hike before our AT thru hike attempt in 2018. Unfortunately, our hike was cut short because of a severe injury. Since then, we are planning to finish our hike by completing section hikes. Currently, we are setting up a hostel in Florida to support the Florida Trail hikers. Lots of work but worth every drop of sweat. Best of luck to you both on completing your hostel and we look forward to visiting in the future :) The AT needs more people like you!

[@ChicaandSunsets]

Average Campers' Adventures Thank you so much! And kudos to you guys for doing a hostel in FL for the FL Trail! You know the hard work we’re going through!

[@jameswarren3733]

From a lifelong native of NC, Welcome and all the best!

[@ArnieLovesHiking]

I am so excited for you all and your new adventure! So glad you picked Franklin for the location and can't wait until G and I are able to get out again so we can stay there! You are two very hard working people and we wish you the best in all of your endeavors.

[@ChicaandSunsets]

Thank you so much Arnie!

[@Macdivers1]

See, ya already got peeps clamering to stay. I love hanging out at a hostal for the evening conversation and cookouts. I am from Morehead City on the coast and drive the nine hours to visit the mountains. Imagine the business you can get from Raleigh, Greensboro, Charlotte, etc. The sky is the limit 🙆

[@Irishdaisysadventures]

So excited for you all!!

[@douglynch9012]

Good to hear from you guys again. I wondered after we spoke at Trail Days if the hostel idea would come to fruition. Great to hear that it has. As someone that has shuttled a lot of hikers over the past few years I get a lot of feedback about the different hostels. I have no doubt that you guys will get this right. Will have to get down your way and buy you both a beer.

[@ChicaandSunsets]

Thanks for the kind words! We would love to see you again Doug.

[@whynotbekind1957]

Sounds awesome...Would love to see some of the renovation progress and see some of Chicas furniture makeovers. I know based on Sunsets detailed trail expenses while you guys were on trail, that he has crunched all the numbers and did all the research possible to guarantee that you can make this hostel run as you intend....Best of luck getting the rest of your funding to finish and be ready for 2020...wish I could help you guys out but am on a tight budget because of health problems and treatments, but as big a community as the AT has and the people you have influenced through your videos, I will bet you won’t have any trouble meeting your goals.

[@ladybirdtreks3036]

I am so excited about this!!! I followed your hike, loved your book, and I’m planning a 2021 thru hike! I would love to help!!

[@ChicaandSunsets]

Ladybird Treks thank you so much! We love hearing that people followed us and read our books. Awesome on your 2021 hike, we’d love to meet you if you come through Franklin. Here’s link to help if you’re so inclined: chicaandsunsets.com/help-create-chica-sunsets-hostel/

[@ruthzab2279]

Hi Chica and Sunsets I’ve followed you since your start on the AT and enjoyed seeing your adventures. Hoping one day to thru hike myself. Please add details regarding how to donate. It would also be helpful to see how you’ll track credit towards a future stay in your hostel. Sounds like a great idea. Best of luck.

[@ChicaandSunsets]

Hi Ruth! See the description under the video to go to our blog post for details on how to donate. Thanks so much!! -- Chica

[@darrengarlough5121]

I enjoyed your every video of the AT in2017. Hope to hike myself in the near future.I think it would be fun to help out with your adventure. I no nothing about electrical work or remodeling, but for more than 30 years I have been an arborist it's the only trade I do know.Let me know what your thinking

[@ChicaandSunsets]

Darren, that’s awesome. Shoot us an email at [e-mail]. We would love an expert opinion on several trees on our lot.

[@daveinstlouis7296]

Awesome

[@marykeane3959]

China and Sunsets, this is a great idea to fund the remaining renovations. I read your post with the donation levels. Would you kindly define “non thru-hiker season?” Did I miss it? It seems with both north and southbound hikers, it only leaves a very short window open for some of your packages. I have followed you since your training in Costa Rica and thoroughly enjoyed your videos of both the AT and the Camino. Thank you.

[@ChicaandSunsets]

Great question that we should have covered. We are figuring mid-February to mid-May to be the busiest time. While we will support Sobo’s there just wont be as many and we will be able to schedule the entire space to be available. So roughly June through end of January. Let us know if you have other questions.

[@100_zwe]

Did I miss the part about the gift levels, or is it posted somewhere else? I’m in.

[@ChicaandSunsets]

No Picnic Thank you! You can go here to see levels: chicaandsunsets.com/help-create-chica-sunsets-hostel/

[@Macdivers1]

I'm in. Just say when 😀🤪

[@acemurphy2]

How much square feet is the Hostel area? Wilsonart is very good flooring. Not as cheap as other flooring options but hands down better. I've had it for fifteen years. 🌲🌲🌲

[@ChicaandSunsets]

Thanks for the tip Ace. The hostel is about 750 sq ft which includes 2 beds a bath and living and kitchen/dining. We’ll cover everything but the bath, which already has great tile.

[@texashikeaholicsadventures]

Hi Chica and Sunsets!! I have followed for quite some time and I often binge watch your AT journey!! I respect that you have thought this all through and have decided upon your donation/reward system, but I have a question. Would you consider allowing donors to donate funds in exchange for some kind of acknowledgement on "a wall" in or outside the hostel. What I mean by that is maybe you could dedicate a wall either inside or outside the hostel which would include all the names of individuals who donated funds to help get this project off and running. This question is coming from someone who loves and respects the thru-hiking community, but will most likely never get the opportunity to become a part of it in reality. This option would give individuals like me a chance to be a part of something bigger than ourselves!! Anyway.....just asking, if this is not an option, we will still be making a donation because I really think you are responsible individuals and think you will do amazing in this venture. Thanks!!

[@ChicaandSunsets]

This is something we discussed but then just forgot about as we were putting together our gift levels. You have convinced us to move forward with this idea. We have plenty of wall space and regardless of how it’s displayed the donors, as well as their donation amount, will now be displayed prominently and in perpetually. We’ll revise our blog post to reflect this as well. Thanks for reminding us of this great idea and thanks for cheering us on. Chica and Sunsets

[@texashikeaholicsadventures]

@@ChicaandSunsets that's great!! We will definitely be donating and will be following this journey with great excitement!!

[@texashikeaholicsadventures]

@@ChicaandSunsets I just purchased 5 hostel stays. You will see them under Barbara Dunlap; however, they are compliments of the Texas HIKEaholics. We would like for all 5 hostel stays to go to a thru-hiker of your choice during your first operational season. Thanks so much for allowing us to be a part of such a great adventure!!

[@ChicaandSunsets]

@@texashikeaholicsadventures -- WOW! We see your 5 Hostel Stay donation and are blown away by you guys! Thank you SO much! Will send you official receipt email this morning (to email on your paypal). We can't thank you enough! -- Chica & Sunsets

[@1650million]

You´re very brave... I did consider this type of business in the past (Camino) but I came to the conclusion that the romanticized idea I had about the "perfect" hostel would be every bit as feasible as it would be self-imposed slavery, sooner than later... :D Having your home and your business under the same roof, intrinsically complicated, per se. But not being able to leave the business for a couple of days/week, or two months straight (if you´re so inclined) far, far worse, unless you´re making so much money you can afford to hire someone you trust to actually run the business, which is unlikely with those prices and very limited real state... Anyway, I´m not trying to rain in your parade, just hoping you guys did your research, and talked to anyone who is actually what you´re trying to do. Just saying I found it way too restricting... for me. Best of lucks, anyway. :)

[@ChicaandSunsets]

We have definitely done our research. We are not doing this to make money, we are doing it because we love hikers and the Appalachian Trail, and we want to be part of their lives. Also, the hostel will be separate from our living quarters, as well as being a small hostel (4 people max). We are definitely excited to try it and see how it goes! Thanks for your input.

[@Macdivers1]

Maybe you can expand down the road and add a couple of private rooms so us hiker trash wanna bees can hang out with other hikers. Got a few 🌲 a couple peeps can hang from?