John Shores

As an Eagle Scout and a Brotherhood in the Order of the Arrow, John had an intimate knowledge and understanding of the Southern Appalachians long before building the Nolichucky Hostel. But his youth was not all scouting. He learned carpentry skills working with his father’s construction crew. He studied music from an early age. Small, but strong and athletic, he surprised his coach and chose trumpet over football, winning a chair in the Alabama All-State Band. Joining the Army after High School, John was assigned to the 282nd Army Band stationed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. After leaving the Army, he attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham while working for the telephone company. He became South-Central Bell’s youngest marketing sales manager. Recruited by his largest account, the Birmingham News, he became their Human Resources Director, managing the careers and creating opportunities for over 1000 employees. Along with three partners, he owned a dive shop, and was a certified diving instructor for both the Professional Association of Diving Instructors and SCUBA Schools International. John dove dozens of ship wrecks, and most of the popular dive sites in Australia and the Caribbean, including Cuba. In addition to all of this, John was an avid outdoors man, hiking the AT as often as he could, whitewater canoeing, kayaking, and rafting rivers in California, Oregon, West Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee, and North Carolina. During the year in which this book was written, they enjoyed the busiest period in their 18-year history. Many nights the nine-bed hostel was full; no vacancies in the eight cabins which accommodate 22 hikers, and the camping area was filled to capacity with over 20 tents and hammocks. The big bathhouse continues to provide an endless supply of morale boosting hot water.John and Charlotte remain deeply in love and happily married. Claire, their daughter, has now joined them in the family business. ALL IS WELL!!!