Far Not Fast (Elizabethton, TN) – Hostel Review

A Hostel More Like a Nice B&B

In my time, I’ve stayed in enough hostels to know that some are nice while others are , well, let’s say more basic or rustic. That is polite talk for being a dump.

Far Not Fast is run by AT backpacker Daddy-O and his family. He is a fairly new retired veteran who served our nation in many roles including in the infinity in the Middle East.  He and his wife also spent months backpacking on the AT with their five children a few years ago.  I can’t imagine the logistics.

Far Not Fast falls into the category of what I call a 5 star hostel.  The bottom floor of the house has room for 6.  It isn’t like being stuck in the basement.  This is a big and newly furnished room with big windows looking out onto acres and acres of pasture.  There is laundry, hiker clothes, a ping pong table, darts, and a big honking TV.  Daddy-O includes a shuttle from Wilber Dam Rd, Hampton, TN in the basic fee.  Shuttle to Elizabethton, TN for dinner and resupply at Wally World also included.  My breakfast, also part of the cost, was 3 eggs made to order, biscuits and jelly, and LOTS of coffee with half and half.

Far Not Fast sits on 20 acres of rolling hills.  There are two cows (one is very pregnant and loved it when I scratched behind her ears) and a flock of colorful chickens.

Staying at Far Not Fast felt like I was staying at a fiend’s or with relatives.  It definitely is what one hiker called it – the platinum plan.

Daddy-O also provides shuttle service.

Trail Correspondents Podcast and a Shout Out to Panther on the PCT

I want to give a plug for The Trek’s Trail Correspondents podcast.  It is a fun podcast covering hikers on the big three trails this year.  It also happensthat my friend, Panther, is a correspondent from the PCT this year. I had the fun experience of dropping Panther off at Campo to start her thru hike at the end of last month.  So be sure to subscribe to Trail Correspondents for the 2023 season.