Reviews
David K. - MULLICA HILL, NJ 3/1/2013
This hostel provides a beautiful setting for those who would like to just get away from it all. Located near the base of the Smoky Mountains and close to the Appalachian Trail, Hemlock Hollow Inn & Paint Creek Cafe offers a beautiful setting of nature at its best. Offering the rental of beautiful hostel cabins at very reasonable prices, it's every hiker's dream. Each cabin offers a comfortable setting with bunks, beds, sink, hot water, stove, refrigerator, electric, and heat. The hostel even offers a twin bathhouse for men and women that includes all bathroom facilities. There is also a pavilion that visitors may use. The best of all is the Paint Creek Cafe that offers a great but simple menu at reasonable prices, home cooked meals, various beverages and coffee. On top of this, you have the choice of eating inside the cafe or you can sit outside on beautiful deck that overlooks a great setting that includes a beautiful view of a running stream. What more would you want? You can relax, talk amongst other hikers or visitors or even have a chat with the owners who can tell you many stories of the area. This is a must stop for a bite to eat. This is the "Best Kept Secret in Greeneville, TN.
Hemlock Hollow, thru-hike sorrow (290.2m)Posted by on April 23, 2013
Hemlock Hollow, thru-hike sorrow (290.2m)Posted by on April 23, 2013
Not much ankle pain this morning, but I still had to hobble to the bathroom from the sofa.
Around 7:30am, Cap woke up and began packing final items before our hike. I had my day pack set and my regular pack ready for delivery to Hemlock Hollow, a hostel with bunks and cabins 16 trail miles from our Hot Springs starting point this morning. We were slack packing, and I’d spoken with Hattie the night before — the owner of the hostel — it was going to be an easier day without our full ~25lb packs. Excited to return to the trail; hiking helps to warm up muscles and aids in circulating what lubricants I have left in my aching joints.
Coffee, group photo, and we were on the road back to Hot Springs by 8:45am. We stopped at Reggie’s for breakfast on the way which was a treat.
By the time we got to town it was almost 11:00am, so we said our farewells to Lola and we were off.
Four ibuprofen, down the hatch. I still had some swelling this morning.
Steep and prolonged climbs followed, and I was feeling great. New shoes felt superb and I was making a fantastic pace. After the climbs the trail became hill hugging and sweeping through gentle PUDs over some beautiful areas. Green tunnels and easily navigable trail, I was on a roll.
About half way in (8 miles) my left ankle started to tweak, and so did my right extensor tendon. You have to be kidding me, not now.
Three more ibuprofen; I had to keep both the pain and swelling down and keep going – it was close to 3:00pm and I still had another three and a half to four hours to go.
I pushed on and each step began to feel like I had hammers smashing me in the feet and shin. My left ankle was painful on both the outside and inside, agonizing.
By 5:30pm I was hobbling and leaning heavily on my trekking poles, and the downhills — which were aplenty — we’re destroying me.
Four more ibuprofen.
My spirit and determination was waning, and fast. It took everything I had to keep going and I hung back with Alfalfa for the final few miles. I was coming in last. I know it’s not a race, but when I’ve been one of the first to finish each day, this was a big telltale sign of what was about to become the inevitable.
Reaching the hostel at 7:00pm is was in so much pain that even standing still was excruciating. I’d told Alfalfa, Cap, and Tom that I thought today would be my last day, I just couldn’t keep popping close to a dozen ibuprofen every day. They were shocked to hear me speak with such conviction, but they’d all seen how much pain I was in, and how much medication I was taking.
I called my wife and brought her up to speed about me quitting. As usual, she did her best to motivate me, playing to my passion for staying the course; but I think my decision had already been made a week ago coming down to Davenport Gap. I was sick of pushing, tired of being in pain – it’s exhausting, and I wasn’t enjoying the trail anymore.
I’m done.
Not much ankle pain this morning, but I still had to hobble to the bathroom from the sofa.
Around 7:30am, Cap woke up and began packing final items before our hike. I had my day pack set and my regular pack ready for delivery to Hemlock Hollow, a hostel with bunks and cabins 16 trail miles from our Hot Springs starting point this morning. We were slack packing, and I’d spoken with Hattie the night before — the owner of the hostel — it was going to be an easier day without our full ~25lb packs. Excited to return to the trail; hiking helps to warm up muscles and aids in circulating what lubricants I have left in my aching joints.
Coffee, group photo, and we were on the road back to Hot Springs by 8:45am. We stopped at Reggie’s for breakfast on the way which was a treat.
By the time we got to town it was almost 11:00am, so we said our farewells to Lola and we were off.
Four ibuprofen, down the hatch. I still had some swelling this morning.
Steep and prolonged climbs followed, and I was feeling great. New shoes felt superb and I was making a fantastic pace. After the climbs the trail became hill hugging and sweeping through gentle PUDs over some beautiful areas. Green tunnels and easily navigable trail, I was on a roll.
About half way in (8 miles) my left ankle started to tweak, and so did my right extensor tendon. You have to be kidding me, not now.
Three more ibuprofen; I had to keep both the pain and swelling down and keep going – it was close to 3:00pm and I still had another three and a half to four hours to go.
I pushed on and each step began to feel like I had hammers smashing me in the feet and shin. My left ankle was painful on both the outside and inside, agonizing.
By 5:30pm I was hobbling and leaning heavily on my trekking poles, and the downhills — which were aplenty — we’re destroying me.
Four more ibuprofen.
My spirit and determination was waning, and fast. It took everything I had to keep going and I hung back with Alfalfa for the final few miles. I was coming in last. I know it’s not a race, but when I’ve been one of the first to finish each day, this was a big telltale sign of what was about to become the inevitable.
Reaching the hostel at 7:00pm is was in so much pain that even standing still was excruciating. I’d told Alfalfa, Cap, and Tom that I thought today would be my last day, I just couldn’t keep popping close to a dozen ibuprofen every day. They were shocked to hear me speak with such conviction, but they’d all seen how much pain I was in, and how much medication I was taking.
I called my wife and brought her up to speed about me quitting. As usual, she did her best to motivate me, playing to my passion for staying the course; but I think my decision had already been made a week ago coming down to Davenport Gap. I was sick of pushing, tired of being in pain – it’s exhausting, and I wasn’t enjoying the trail anymore.
I’m done.
Flyingfishman's 2008
Appalachian Trail Journal
First Previous Next LastMonday, June 23, 2008
Destination:
Starting Location: Louisville, KY
Today's Miles: 0.00
Trip Miles: 68.00
Hemlock Hollow Farm's Hattie and Richard - Click picture to see full size"Snakes on a Helicopter" part duexWhenever I hear a story like the one I posted on 6-19-08 I have to question it. Sometimes the bizarre turns out to be true and more often it isn't. The story I am referring to is this:
"The next morning Hattie prepared us a great breakfast and then shuttled us back to the trail. As we talked to her she told us a story about how the National Forest service determined there were not enough Rattle snakes in the area near her farm. In their infinite wisdom they decided to drop the snakes from a helicopter to boost the population up. Snakes landed in a lot of undesirable places…rooftops, porches and back yards. One local resident lost her pet dog to a snake bite. She shot the snake and took it to the local Ranger’s office and demanded restitution. The Ranger responded by fining her $500 for killing the snake. I’m checking into this one. It sounds like a story I have heard before."
I wrote to the good folks at truthorFiction.com for an investigation. Here is a copy of our correspondence:
*****************************************************************************
From: TONY ASHLIN - TRUTH OR FICTION [mailto:tonyashlin@truthorfiction.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2008 1:15 PM
To: Fisher, David
Subject: Re: Snakes dropped from a helicopter
Hi David.
Rich and I just love snake stories so thanks for the submission.
I talked to the US Forest Service in Greenville TN and they have no knowledge of this. I did manage to call the Tennessee Wildlife Resource agency and talk to a non-game biologist. She was very helpful in verifying this e-rumor.
Timber Rattlesnakes are declining in number so the State of TN has deemed this species a "special conservation need owing to loss of habitat". The killing of a timber rattlesnake is an offense punishable by a fine in this state.
At this time there is no relocation program for timberrattlers and the non-game biologist and I had a good laugh remembering the famous Thanksgiving turkey drop from the TV Show "WKRP" where the helicopter drop part of this story very most likely came from.
Thanks for alerting us
Tony Ashlin
truth or fiction team
----- Original Message -----
From: Fisher, David
To: question@truthorfiction.com
Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 6:21 AM
Subject: Snakes dropped from a helicopter
I recently stayed at a hiker hostel on the Appalachian trail called Hemlock Hollow http://www.hemlockhollow.net/ in Greeneville, TN. The owner proprietor Hattie informed us of a rattle snake drop. According to Hattie the Forrest service had determined that there were not enough rattle snakes on the mountain. In their infinite wisdom they decided to drop rattle snakes in gunny sacks from a helicopter.
As a result one landed in a local resident’s back yard and bit and killed a woman's pet dog. She in turn killed the snake and took it to the local ranger's station demanding restitution. They in turn fined her for killing a Timber rattler. Is this true or a "Rural" legend?
Can you investigate this?
David Fisher
Louisville, KY
**************************************************************************
Let it be understood that Hattie was passing along this story and did not witness it first hand. She did not make it up. It sounds credible because goverment agencies often do take the course of non common sense. Anyhow, it is a fun story to tell, even if it isn't completly accurate.
Peace!
Flyingfishman
Destination:
Starting Location: Louisville, KY
Today's Miles: 0.00
Trip Miles: 68.00
Hemlock Hollow Farm's Hattie and Richard - Click picture to see full size"Snakes on a Helicopter" part duexWhenever I hear a story like the one I posted on 6-19-08 I have to question it. Sometimes the bizarre turns out to be true and more often it isn't. The story I am referring to is this:
"The next morning Hattie prepared us a great breakfast and then shuttled us back to the trail. As we talked to her she told us a story about how the National Forest service determined there were not enough Rattle snakes in the area near her farm. In their infinite wisdom they decided to drop the snakes from a helicopter to boost the population up. Snakes landed in a lot of undesirable places…rooftops, porches and back yards. One local resident lost her pet dog to a snake bite. She shot the snake and took it to the local Ranger’s office and demanded restitution. The Ranger responded by fining her $500 for killing the snake. I’m checking into this one. It sounds like a story I have heard before."
I wrote to the good folks at truthorFiction.com for an investigation. Here is a copy of our correspondence:
*****************************************************************************
From: TONY ASHLIN - TRUTH OR FICTION [mailto:tonyashlin@truthorfiction.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2008 1:15 PM
To: Fisher, David
Subject: Re: Snakes dropped from a helicopter
Hi David.
Rich and I just love snake stories so thanks for the submission.
I talked to the US Forest Service in Greenville TN and they have no knowledge of this. I did manage to call the Tennessee Wildlife Resource agency and talk to a non-game biologist. She was very helpful in verifying this e-rumor.
Timber Rattlesnakes are declining in number so the State of TN has deemed this species a "special conservation need owing to loss of habitat". The killing of a timber rattlesnake is an offense punishable by a fine in this state.
At this time there is no relocation program for timberrattlers and the non-game biologist and I had a good laugh remembering the famous Thanksgiving turkey drop from the TV Show "WKRP" where the helicopter drop part of this story very most likely came from.
Thanks for alerting us
Tony Ashlin
truth or fiction team
----- Original Message -----
From: Fisher, David
To: question@truthorfiction.com
Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 6:21 AM
Subject: Snakes dropped from a helicopter
I recently stayed at a hiker hostel on the Appalachian trail called Hemlock Hollow http://www.hemlockhollow.net/ in Greeneville, TN. The owner proprietor Hattie informed us of a rattle snake drop. According to Hattie the Forrest service had determined that there were not enough rattle snakes on the mountain. In their infinite wisdom they decided to drop rattle snakes in gunny sacks from a helicopter.
As a result one landed in a local resident’s back yard and bit and killed a woman's pet dog. She in turn killed the snake and took it to the local ranger's station demanding restitution. They in turn fined her for killing a Timber rattler. Is this true or a "Rural" legend?
Can you investigate this?
David Fisher
Louisville, KY
**************************************************************************
Let it be understood that Hattie was passing along this story and did not witness it first hand. She did not make it up. It sounds credible because goverment agencies often do take the course of non common sense. Anyhow, it is a fun story to tell, even if it isn't completly accurate.
Peace!
Flyingfishman
“THE HIKER HOSTEL YALL WHERE AMAZING!!!
- “THE HIKER HOSTEL YALL WHERE AMAZING!!! god it wa s good to get a coke after coming from damacus VA and stayen a nite in one of yalls cabins” 10-10-11
- “Phyllis and I had a fantastic show last night at the Paint Creek Cafe in Greeneville, TN. We LOVE playing this place and we LOVE the folks there. We had a great crowd and eat the best ribeye steaks this side of the Mississippi! Thank you for having us, see you again on September 3rd!! Robin and Phyllis Pickit Fence” 10-08-11
- “Visit OPEN HOUSE at the ’new’ now BEAMER’S HOME IMPROVEMENT CENTER in Greeneville, Tennessee! - located at 4185 W Andrew Johnson Hwy (11-E) SATURDAY 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. Great deals on flooring, Pittsburgh paint & now cabinets and counter tops by Kiser Supply, Inc. Kitchens & Baths. "Come See Us!" & have hot dog or two. Going to be great fall weather weekend! [Call 423-639-7160 or 423-538-8491 for FREE estimates] ~ Support your LOCAL business. "Invest In Your Nest!" ~ Thank you Hemlock Hollow Inn & Paint Creek Cafe!!! ” 09-29-11
- “One of these Saturday nights we will get up there for dinner!! ” 09-25-11
- “Hi Hattie, What a fantastic article yesterday in the Accent section of the Greeneville, Sun. Wonderful!! Great write up and you folks are so deserving. Phyllis and I are looking forward to playing next Saturday evening. Can’t wait for those Cuban Sandwiches!! Yum! We think you serve the tastiest food with the best ambiance in town.” 08-26-11
- “Hattie, the rib eye was "the best I have ever eaten" is what Blake said tonight!! :-) It was so relaxing out there tonight and the ladies of Pickit Fence did a great job as always. My BLT was perfect and of course Steve and Brandon were pleased with their favorite.... the catfish and hushpuppies. Oh and the cookies and ice cream topped it off just right!!” 08-21-11
- “We celebrated my mom’s 70th birthday at Paint Creek Cafe. She LOVED it and the band Pickit Fence that was performing there that night sang Happy Birthday to her. :-)” 08-15-11
- “If you want a restful peaceful rustic weekend, come stay at Hemlock Hollow Inn!” 08-15-11
- “Great Place to set and enjoy the music and good food.” 08-15-11
- “Wow, Steve and I were stuffed after eating here Saturday night. I had the Chicken Cordon Bleu and Steve had their famous catfish and homemade hushpuppies!! Oh, and the chocolate caramel brownie was the perfect touch!!! We loved watching the hummingbirds and listening to the creek flow by. What a great place to enjoy a Saturday evening!!” 08-15-11
Tennessee Viking
Join Date04-10-2007
LocationRaleigh, NC
Age35
Posts2,840
Images241
AT wise: There is not a whole lot of opportunities near Chuckey that are easy or with short distance hikes. A lot of that area is rugged and steep.
Probably Beauty Spot on Unaka Mtn Road above Erwin. Or even Roan Mtn.
The closest viewpoint for the AT would be Jones Meadows on top of Camp Creek. Open views at the top. TN 70 toward the stateline. Turn up Upper Paint Creek Road/Viking Mountain Road. Stay on the main road; it will turn into gravel. Travel to the top of the mountain. The AT is located on a blue blaze from the lower parking area. You hike to the exposed rock trail in just a mile or so. Also stop by Hemlock Hollow Cabins for a meal.
If you want easier hikes in that area. Try Margarette Falls from the Shelton Mission Road trailhead. Or Sill Branch Falls in the old Clarks Creeks Road Rec area.
There are Horse Creek, Old Forge, and Paint Creek Corridor Rec Areas just for picnicking.
'The Tennessee Viking'
FMST (MST) & TEHCC (AT) Maintainer
Falls Lake Trail: 2011
Just have three little words..."Go Hike It"
LocationRaleigh, NC
Age35
Posts2,840
Images241
AT wise: There is not a whole lot of opportunities near Chuckey that are easy or with short distance hikes. A lot of that area is rugged and steep.
Probably Beauty Spot on Unaka Mtn Road above Erwin. Or even Roan Mtn.
The closest viewpoint for the AT would be Jones Meadows on top of Camp Creek. Open views at the top. TN 70 toward the stateline. Turn up Upper Paint Creek Road/Viking Mountain Road. Stay on the main road; it will turn into gravel. Travel to the top of the mountain. The AT is located on a blue blaze from the lower parking area. You hike to the exposed rock trail in just a mile or so. Also stop by Hemlock Hollow Cabins for a meal.
If you want easier hikes in that area. Try Margarette Falls from the Shelton Mission Road trailhead. Or Sill Branch Falls in the old Clarks Creeks Road Rec area.
There are Horse Creek, Old Forge, and Paint Creek Corridor Rec Areas just for picnicking.
'The Tennessee Viking'
FMST (MST) & TEHCC (AT) Maintainer
Falls Lake Trail: 2011
Just have three little words..."Go Hike It"