WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, JANUARY2018 • INTER-COUNTY 17, 2018 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER LEADER NORTHERN - NORTHERN CURRENTS CURRENTS, SEC • SECTIONTION B - PAGE B 1 N C O U R R T R H E E N R T N S STORIES fROm THE NORTHWEST WISCONSIN COmmUNITY • INTER-COUNTY LEADER • LEADERREGISTER.COm

Erik Barstow is now owner of Rattle River Lodge and Hostel on the in

Caroline Hafey | Special to the Leader SHELBURNE, N.H. - The group of disheveled men and women are clustered to- gether, taking items out of their worn packs. A long-bearded man, whose collarbones poke through his frayed T-shirt, begins lining up the remaining food he has for the week. The group’s clothes, unapologetically mismatching and shabby, collectively emit a malodorous scent. The long-bearded man is from Alabama. His companions, with whom he has kept company for the past 15 days, are from Florida, Virginia, and California. He’s not sure what their frst names are, let alone their last names. Instead, he calls them each by a unique nickname. Five men and women from fve different states are sitting on the back porch of the Rattle River Lodge and Hostel waiting for the owner, Erik Barstow, to see to it that they have a shower, a clean bed, and a ride into town for food. This ragtag crew of misfts has found themselves in the middle of Shelburne, New Hampshire, a sleepy town of no more than 375 people. Like many towns in the White Mountain National Forest of northern New Hampshire, the economy, which was once propelled by the paper mills and logging, is now driven by the outdoor tourism industry. The inhabitants of Shelburne rely on the neighboring town of Gor- ham to supply them with gas, groceries and restaurants. The unlikely bunch from fve different states would very likely never fnd them- selves in Shelburne, New Hampshire, but for one unifying factor: The Appalachian Welcome to the White mountains! St. Croix falls native Erik Barstow welcomes hikers on the Trail. Appalachian Trail to the White mountains of New Hampshire and the Rattle River Lodge and Hos- The Appalachian Trail is one of 11 National Scenic Trails, stretching approximately tel he now owns. Barstow is well-known for his breathtaking photography of the St. Croix Valley 2,189 miles from Georgia to Maine. Over 1,000 miles to the west, the Ice Age Trail, and now he uses that talent in the surroundings of his new home. A 1997 graduate of St. Croix another long-distance National Scenic Trail, weaves throughout Wisconsin. Each falls High School, he served in the marine Corps for four years, then as a Rush City correctional year, thousands of hopefuls begin the trek north from Georgia, with the goal of officer and attended the minnesota School of Business before moving to New Hampshire in April earning their title as a “thru hiker” of the Appalachian Trail. Due to its proximity to of 2014. - Special photo Maine, the “fnish line” for many, Rattle River Lodge and Hostel plays a critical role in helping hikers achieve this goal. The Rattle River Lodge and Hostel isn’t your typical hostel. It’s not your typical Photos by Erik Barstow unless noted otherwise noted lodge, either. It’s a fnely run machine that boasts warm breakfast, quick trailhead pickups, hot showers, and clean, cozy beds. The lodge sits on 7.4 acres of mostly wooded land abutting the bubbling Rattle River. It is located directly on the Appa- lachian Trail and so thousands of hikers pass by the lodge during their journey. In It takes a specifc type of person to be able to handle the whirlwind that is thru the backyard sits a small pond, just big enough for a couple of kayaks to foat around hiker season. Hundreds upon hundreds of hikers with different personalities, needs, on, with a large fre pit toward the back. goals and wants shuffe in and out of the lodge weekly. Some are there to stay for a night, others are there for a week and some for just a few hours to collect themselves. Each person who enters the threshold is given a towel, a clean set of “loaner clothes” and is guided to the showers upstairs. They leave their dirty laundry in individual bags and staff make sure that they are clean and dry by the morning. Even with a full staff to clean, cook and check in guests, Barstow can still be found gliding in and out of the house. As owner and manager, he ensures that each bed is made to standard, the foors are dirt-free, breakfast is consistent, and customers are satiated and feel at home. There is no typi- cal day, or typical week, at the Rattle River Lodge and Hostel. The only constant is the high quality of service Barstow and his staff give to each customer. The Rattle River Lodge and Hostel stands out as one of the best on the trail. It A view out of the lodge/hostel’s cottage was voted in the top three hostels on trail window. in 2017 and will undoubtedly stand out as a fve-star hiker retreat in years to come. In 2014 when he frst moved there, he began working at the lodge, which was formerly known as the White Mountain Lodge and Hostel. On May 1, 2017, Barstow, The Rattle River Lodge and Hostel has seen its share originally from St. Croix Falls, purchased the lodge and since then has worked tire- of snow this winter season. A marine Corps flag is lessly to expand and improve it, while streamlining the services and goods offered. shown sticking out of the snow. The charm and warmth of the New England Colonial house entices people to stay longer than intended in a phenomenon referred to as the “vortex.” Running a hiker haven is no easy feat, but Barstow has managed to transform the lodge into a place that even nonhikers want to return to. Last summer he crafted a During peak season, the house surges with more than 25 guests and a crew of four homemade waffe recipe and is currently working on developing other breakfast op- to fve workers at any given time. The main house, which has undergone numerous tions to keep customers happy and satiated. He strives to meet all dietary needs and renovations, provides guests with plenty of space to relax, eat and stream movies. so gluten-free and vegan options are always made available. He provides highest The cottage, which sits a few yards away from the main house, provides additional See Appalachian, page 2 overfow space for the throngs of thru hikers.

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PAGE 2 • INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B • JANUARY 17, 2018 Appalachian/from page 1 quality coffee options and the fastest fber internet on the Appalachian Trail. His job is multifaceted. He has immersed himself into his small community, team- ing up with local restaurants and stores to bring them customers. In small towns, long-distance hiking trails can provide an economic boost through an underrated form of tourism. While they may appear homeless, these hungry hikers often have heavy pockets and seem willing to spend unlimited money on food and goods while in town. National Scenic Trails, like the Appalachian Trail and Ice Age Trail (of which 7.8 miles passes through St. Croix Falls), are becoming economic driving forces in small towns throughout America. As hiker season tapers off, the fre at the Rattle River Lodge and Hostel still burns hot. The doors are open to worn-out skiers and bold winter hikers. In an unsuspect- ing mountain town, Barstow has cultivated a place that has become the second home for many outdoor enthusiasts from up and down the East Coast.

This is a view of the Peabody Brook, near the Rattle River Lodge and Hostel.

Photos by Erik Barstow unless noted otherwise

The White mountains of New Hampshire live up to their name in the winter (below) and provide a hiker’s paradise in the nonwinter seasons (left).

Barstow finished hiking the Appalachian Trail June 12, 2017. “I completed the trail in four sec- A snow coach takes travelers into the White mountains safely. - Special photo tions over two years,” he noted. “Thousand-mile section to the finish at Kahtadin, I weighed 144 pounds when I finished” - Special photo