For those of you who know and those of you who don’t, Jeff and I have made up our minds to move to Washington, specifically to the Upper Olympic Peninsula, in 2020. This is a major life change for both of us, and to say we are excited about all the new discoveries and experiences to come when we move is an understatement.

It does however affect many more people than just ourselves, specifically several thousand PCT hikers due to arrive in Agua Dulce next spring. The question that needs to be asked and answered is, “What will happen to Hiker Heaven in 2020 and beyond?” Please note: Sobo season 2019 is unaffected; we will be open for sobos September 1 – November 30, 2019.

It is our hope that someone from within the hiking community would buy our home – and the Hiker Heaven hosting service with all its hosting infrastructure – and carry on the tradition of hosting hikers here. I have informed our seller’s agent that there might be someone (as crazy as us) that would be interested. The caveat is that this would have to occur by the end of this year. If you have a serious interest, please private message me for more information.

If no one steps forward to buy this place by year end, after the first of the year we will have to clear out the hosting infrastructure (such as but not limited to the old RVs used to house hikers and volunteers) in order to market the property to a different audience. Obviously, we will not be able to have hikers here while we are trying to sell the house, though it does conjure up some humorous possible scenarios.

So, the bottom line is that if someone steps up and buys this place before year end, and wants to host hikers in 2020 and beyond, Hiker Heaven will be open at their discretion. But if no one steps up by year end, Hiker Heaven will be no more, and the hosting infrastructure will be dispersed. An announcement will be made at year end (or hopefully before) letting hikers know.

We have had a wonderful run hosting hikers since ’97. It’s been life-changing to say the least, and our universe is filled with countless friends, the best humanity has to offer, because of our association with the hiking community. It is a wonderful thing to walk away from hosting with love in our hearts and nothing but good will toward the overwhelming majority of those who have stayed and rested a while here.

Fingers crossed,

L-Rod