Kimberly and Jarrod Hester, known on the trail as Hippie Chick and Poet, are the current owners of Shaw's Hiker Hostel in Monson, Maine, which is located about 2 miles from the Appalachian Trail. Together they thru-hiked the AT from Georgia to Maine in 2008. After working as schoolteachers for a few years they decided to change their lifestyle for the betterment of their family and purchased Shaw’s in 2015.Shaw’s Hiker Hostel has been a central location for the community of Monson, Maine since the late 1970’s. Monson is the first town southbound that Appalachian Trail hikers reach after crossing the 100-Mile Wilderness. In the 1970s, Monson had no restaurants available. In 1977, Keith and Pat Shaw began preparing legendary breakfasts for thru-hikers at their home near the trail. Over time, “Old Man Shaw” and his hiker hostel became well-known among hikers up and down the AT.We sat down with them to discuss their thoughts as they approach the 10-year anniversary of owning Shaw's. They discuss their future goals, how they have integrated their family and lifestyle into the hostel, how they get excited as each new hiking season rolls around, and what they still love about it even 10 years later.http://www.shawshikerhostel.com/home.html@shawshikerhostel #shawshikerhostel #at2025 #atnobo2025 #atclassof2025 @HyperliteMountainGear @altrarunning #monsonmaine #trailtown #100milewilderness #poetsgearemporium #applachiantrail #at2024 #hikemaine #hostellife #pancakecairn #hikersessions @senchidesigns #senchidesigns #thruhiking #thruhike #sloggyhikes