Holy Family Hostel: Pearisburg, VA
This hostel in Pearisburg is located a few miles from the AT, but there are blue blazes when you reach town that direct you from the grocery stores on the south side of the New River Bridge. It is hosted by the Catholic church in Pearisburg.
The hostel has all the standard stuff like a pay phone, a shower, kitchen, and a loft for sleeping. There is also a nice yard for pitching a tent and a pavilion for eating outside. It is run from contributions and Bill tends it with help from the hikers staying there.
Rules include no alcohol (it is a church), giving a contribution, and a two day limit on stays. Things to consider are that there isn't laundry facilities at the hostel, but there are some in town. Super Wal-Mart is visible across a large field, and a good grocery store is about 1 mile walk from the hostel.
Bill offers rides and you can find his phone number at the pay phones where the trail crosses by town.
Holy Family Hostel - Bill G
I have stayed at this hostel many many times. I used it when I was sectioning with Bills help as a shuttle and I used it to wait for my husband to rescue me when I was hurt during my thru hike.
I personally support this hostel every year, as I think they are great. However, the hostel just wouldn't be the hostel without Bill G. HE is a wonderful man. Yes he is X-army. He is also in his late 70's and works his tail off for that shelter and the hikers that stay there.
He shuttles, builds, cleans, helps out hikers, etc...
NOTE: One night while I was there the hostel was full to capacity and there must have been at least 9 tents. I was staying there another day with another injured hiker. Bill came in after everyone else had left. When he opened the DONATION BOX, there was $20., two tens,mine and the other guy there. So where were the donations from all of the other hikers that had stayed there the night before???? WHo do you think supplies the electricity, water, heat, soap, TP, etc.
Remember to leave a donation no matter how small at all hostels.
HH
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Pearisburg hostel needs work
Bill G. is a good guy but hikers need to pitch in to help the hostel. It is in decrepid shape. Needs cleaning and some repairs. Don't know if they still have a payphone on the side. Can anyone confirm whether it does or doesn't?
Hikers using the hostel have been cheap at times skipping out w/o leaving a few dollars for the hostel. I'd leave at least three dollars per a stay in the donation box. You get a shower and a roof and kitchen use there, so isn't that worth a few dollars. The place can overcrowd in peak season which is a downer because it is already claustrophobic in there. If the place gets too crowded, I think you are allowed to pitch a tent on the lawn however.