Bounce box - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1

This is kinda late in the game to ask this question, as I’m leaving for the trail in a month, but I need to cover my last-minute bases…

What, exactly, do you keep in your bounce boxes, as opposed to maildrops?

Susan

#2

All the stuff you can’t get on the trail. Prescription refills, spare gear, film, contacts?, batteries, anything you can’t do with out that you can’t get on the trail. Extra fav sun glasses? The trick is to send it far enough ahead to where you think you’ll need it. Sent priority mail, you can ask the PO to bounce it ahead and at no extra charge as long as you haven’t opened it. Bounce a water filter to HotSprings so it won’t freeze in the hills. You may not need one at all or you can make it up as you go. Bounce extra food ahead.

Bushwhack

#3

Its never to late in the game. Your plan makes it more amazing just the same. You might want to get one of those, you know you twist them in the wrists and they go … blobolboblblboblbobobl just keep the skin tight and you’ll be alright. The only place I might suggest a mail drop is Fontana Damn.

easy

#4

Some use them. Some, like myself, don’t.

I had boxes shipped from home that contained the next set of maps, film, pages from Wingfoot, etc.

Postage adds up. Plus, a bounce box means that you need to go to the post office twice. Once to pick it up, and again to send it ahead. And post offices typically are not open Saturday afternoon and Sundays, and holidays. Depending on your situation, might not be worth it.

Most thru-hikers say that if they were to hike the trail again, they would reduce the number of mail drops.

Peaks

#5

I put my extra AquaMira in the bounce box along with some socks. Sure, I can get them along the way …but not the ones I like. You can get lots of stuff along the way but it may not be what you really want or are used to. If there is a piece of clothing or gear or a supply that you particularly like I would say the bounce box is the right place for it

Footslogger

#6

I forgot, we bounced shorts and t-shirts so we could wash all our clothes at once. Having something immediatly clean after a shower was heaven and really speeded town stops up. Going to dinner in your funky Precips wasn’t fun.

Bushwhack

#7

I bounced extra food, soap (double bagged) deodorant, and some extra socks. Just bounce what you’ll need for a town stop. Priority mail is the way to go. I missed some mail drops because I didn’t send it priority. Another thing, if you know you won’t have a good resupply at the next town get food and forward it.

Arrow