writing sample

I hated it the moment I hit "send."

Oliver Meister is a happy blend of hermit and host. Warm, with an air of mischievous rebellion, nothing about Oliver feels particularly predictable. A German man with wild, curly blond hair and a penchant for tie-dyed shirts, you can believe he once toured the world on his bicycle, exploring its most exotic reaches before settling in the tiny town of Pole Bridge, Montana and running the North Fork hostel. He welcomes guests into his house year round and shows them, with endless patience, how to live in its rustic conditions. Despite its isolated location, the air of the place is communal and calls for story-telling around its large kitchen table or backyard fire pit. Oliver started coming to the North Fork hostel 20 years ago and explains, "It was one of the few places I returned to again and again that never changed. When I bought it 9 years ago, I kept it the same, because that is how I fell in love with it."

And by that, he means he kept its old-fashioned design and homey atmosphere. Old wooden walls and an eclectic collection of knick-knacks, pillows and old gadgets gives it the feel of cozy orderliness. Its only electricity comes from solar panels and a gas-powered generator. These are used for a water pump, the occasional electric light in a shower room and two switches: one for a power strip and one for the satellite wifi. Everything else is propane, wood or mechanical: the fridge, the oven and stove, the toaster, the heaters, the little propane lanterns placed strategically on the walls and ceilings throughout the house. The only toilet is in an unheated outhouse, 50 feet from the main building and it is recommended you bring your own flashlight to move about the property at night. Every new person who comes through is taught how to use each of these technologies so they can be comfortable, and so they don't light the entire place on fire. For all that is not explained verbally, there are maps and signs and instructions posted on the walls and even in the outhouse: Changing the toilet paper roll does not cause brain damage! And if it is cleaned and prepped, you may also use the wood-fired hot tub (a large wooden barrel) in the front. Although it was not working when I visited, it looks to be quite a treat on a starry night.

You have a choice of lodging options: dorm beds downstairs or up in a shoe-free loft. There are two small couples' rooms in this same loft that fit a bed and night stand. Or you can choose one of the remote structures that surrounds the house: cabins, a small RV trailer with a porch (affectionately named the Green Zucchini) or, if the weather is warm enough, an 18 foot teepee on the front lawn. If you have come prepared, you can pitch a tent on the property and use the house for your cooking and showering needs.

Pricing:
$7 camping (if you have arrived by bike or foot)
$14 camping (if you have arrived by automobile)
$20 bunk bed
$40 couples room and Green Zucchini
$45 cabins
$60 teepees

Towels and sheets not included but personal sleeping bags are allowed inside. Linen rentals available. All kitchen, shower, wifi and outhouse use are included.

Visa/ Mastercard and cash accepted. Reservations available online at www.nfhostel.com