For those of you who did not use maildrops, how much on average, did you spend per month on groceries and AYCEs?
thx
Km
Cost of food - Appalachian Trail
system
#1
system
#3
impossible question to answer, for a variety of reasons. My average costs up in Maine were way way higher than those in Georgia. I, being a Chef des Cuisine in the Babylonian world, probably spend way way more attention to eating in towns than others… And if you throw in the 100 pound pig I spit roast for 35 thru hikers up in New York in 2000… oi… I bring you back to July 19th, 2000… in the immortal (or perhaps immoral) words of Pigpen and Sweep:
“This brings us to the main subject of this Journal - ASWAHFEST 2000!!! Now a long long time ago (March), in a state far far far away (North Kakalaka), we met a thru-hiker named Aswah. This thru-hiker was talking about a Pig Roast that he was going to have up north, as in NY/CT, as in so far away I can’t even imagine it. Always one to believe, Pigpen and I put the event on our calendar and kept on hiking. Towards the end of June, we received a voice mail from an acquaintance of ours - The Diddler. For me to digress and tell the Diddler story would take significant time and probably cause us to put a parental warning on this website. The voicemail was not really from The Diddler but from Aswah and he was officially inviting us to ASWAHFEST 2000 to be held on July 19th. Suddenly our fantasy became reality and we could barely control our excitement. We planned our hike accordingly and made calls for a pick up. Arriving at the designated area, we were greeted by Fausa, Bounce Truck, and Aswah. To put this in perspective, Pigpen hadn’t seen these guys since before Damascus, VA and I the last time I saw them was for two minutes in Harpers Ferry. I can’t put it in words but basically it kicked ass. We hopped in the back of Bounce Truck and started the drive to Eileen’s house. Along the way we stopped at various trailheads and picked up more and more hikers. The Festival had begun. When Aswah first planned on this party, I am not sure if really expected so many hikers to show up. At its high point,there were over 30 hikers at the party. That number might not sound like a lot but lets remember that there are only 500 hikers still on the trail. We turned Eileen’s backyard into a refugee camp. The UN would have been proud of the orderly tent arrangement and sanitation techniques utilized. We spent almost 3 full days at ASWAHFEST 2000 and a more accurate description would be to call the event Bacchanalian Fest 2000. Highlights include the following. At least 7 kegs killed, more wine than I can count, 1 90 lb pig (all gone within 24 hours), and a variety of other foods most of which would be considered unhealthy by normal humans. I was greeted by a pig’s head (sans body) outside my tent, while Pigpen
was greeted by a pig’s head in the tent. Kids, don’t try it at home, it could have been really really messy. Beers were served each day starting at 9am and I don’t remember anything stopping until the wee hours of the night. The athletic events included, frisbee, wiffleball, sleeping, eating, napping, eating, drinking, hacky sack, sitting, cards, eating, drinking, swimming, eating, and drinking and not necessarily in that order. We took a trip to swimming hole which provided additional entertainment to Amtrak train when they were greeted by a 20 butt mooning. What I would give to be on the train and to have been looking out the window when they passed. I could go on and on but I still wouldn’t do the event justice. ASWAHFEST 2000 was the best set of zeroes that I’ve had on the Trail. Thanks to Aswah, Eileen and Samantha (Eileen’s daughter) a huge bubble of hikers were united (some reunited) together for several days of fun with friends. I cannot thank Eileen and Samantha enough for all they have done! Putting up with 1 hiker can be tough, 5 difficult, and 10 or more downright impossible but somehow they did it. Thank you for opening up your home and hearts and letting us in to both. Aswah - what can I say -;If you build it, they will come!” Thank you for being the father of ASWAHFEST
2000 and giving us an opportunity to reconnect with old friends and connect with new ones. You are a great Man and a Trail Legend. Not to forget Fausa. Without you and Bounce Truck, very few of us would have been at the party. You are a Trail Legend in your own right and I continue to look toward every roadcrossing for Bounce Truck and your grin. 
ASWAHFEST 2001 - I can only imagine what will happen. Life is great on the Trail and we are currently in Hanover, New Hampshire.
Sweep and Pigpen
aswah
system
#6
I’d plan on an average of $10 per day for food and $1 per day for other supplies. That $1 per day adds up and can be used for fuel, batteries, etc.
If you plan on staying at hostels every so often, maybe $20 per stay for accommodation. Think that should cover most places okay.
Unless you have a debit/credit card, I’d suggest carrying 3/4 of your money in traveller checks ($20 denomination) and the rest in cash.
If you have a bank card it might be good to print out a list of any reasonably close branches along the trail - in case you really need their services. ATMS are pretty common.
Brutus
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#7
just hoe much money SHOULD you be carrying at one time…i’ll have a credit card, but how much in cash and traveller checks?
C-Giddy