could you all list the easiest maildrop locations…proximity to the trail. I have heard of one that is basically a few steps away from the trail, just can’t remember where and I assume Damascus would be right there, but I might as well use those locations as quick resupply, and then use other areas of interest since I might see a grocery before a post office.
i’m trying to avoid hitching 20 miles to a post office, when 5 miles down trail one is right there to grab and go.
burn
There are plenty of Post Offices on the trail and many others within 5 miles. I resupplied my thru hike with 30 mail drops and the farthest I hitched was 9 miles. There are also businesses on the trail who accept mail drops either by US Mail or UPS. I can list the Post Offices I used here, a complete list is in The Appalachian Trail Data Book available from the ATC or check out ALDHA’s online version of “The Companion” at
http://www.aldha.org/comp_pdf.htm
Suches GA 2m W, Fontana Dam NC 2m W, Hot Springs NC on AT, Erwin TN 3.8m W, Damascus VA on AT, Atkins VA 3.2 W, Pearisburg VA 1m E, Troutville VA 0.8m W, Waynesboro VA 4.5m W, Linden VA 1m W, Harpers Ferry WV 0.5m W, Boiling Springs PA on AT, Port Clinton PA on AT, Delaware Water Gap 0.1m W, Unionville NY 0.4m W, Bear Mountain NY 0.3m E, Kent CT 0.8m E, Tyringham MA 0.9m W, Cheshire MA on AT, Manchester Center VT 5.5m W, Killington VT 2.2m E, Hanover NH on AT, Glencliff NH 0.5m E, Gorham NH 3.6 W, Rangeley ME 9m W, Stratton ME 5m W, Caratunk ME 0.3m E, Monson ME 2m E.
Not all of these towns are good places to find stores. Tyringham has nothing and Caratunk has a hiker B&B and others the stores may not be as close as the P.O. I’ll leave those details for others who remember better than myself.
Celt
Towns with PO’s that you walk right past include: Hot Springs, Damascus, Boiling Springs, Duncannon, Port Clinton, Cheshire, and Hanover. For all practical purposes, Fontana Dam because the store doesn’t stock much, Glencliff PO is on the trail, because it’s the final resupply place before the Whites, Gorham, because you are going to need a break after the Whites, and Monson, because it’s the final resuppply place before the 100 miles of Maine.
For additional details, see the ALDHA Companion or Wingfoot’s Handbook.
Peaks
Hey Burn:
For me, this year, I am doing a combination of maildrops and instore shopping. I would advise you to think twice about getting a lot of maildrops. I tended to get very tired of what I sent myself. I only get maildrops where a store isn’t an easy option. The fact of the matter is there are so so many services geared towards thru hkers that it is very easy to get to supplies anywhere on the trail.
Aswah
Aswah
preciate the help folks…after talking with many people at the ruck, and Jan about maildrops, i fill like a dope for buying all this food. I’ll probabbly be eating ramens when I get back, and toting in fruit and whatever hits me at the Piggly Wiggly on trail, good news is, even with all the gatoraid i bought, i only spent like $200.
burn
Burn,
On my 02’ Thru I was concerned about traveling far off the trail for mail drops. Check out the mail drop schedule that I used, maybe it will help you.
http://www.geocities.com/joegamehike/mail.html
I found something very similar to this while preparing my thru hike and it helped me a lot.
Jersey Joe