First Resupply - Pacific Crest Trail

imported
#1

Where do most hikers do their first re-supply after entering the Sierras while hiking the PCT?

Miguel

#2

I’m guessing that you mean northbound? After Kennedy Meadows heading north, my first resupply was a bit out of the way (13 miles round trip). I hiked up and over Kearsarge Pass and down to Onion Valley Trailhead and Campground. Then it was an impossible hitch out of the closed (6/13) camp area to the towns of Independance and Bishop. I bet most hikers don’t attempt this resupply because hikers hate walking off trail miles and carrying full packs over passes. But I liked it because I never had a pack with 10+ days of food, and it broke up the snow nicely. Plus, I got to see “Batman Begins”.

jewel thief

#3

I also “wimped out” and hiked out over Kearsarge Pass. The TH was open for me and the hitch was simple. I also did not want to attempt 10 days of food at the time, though I would now with more experience. It seemed about half the hikers I met went out at Kearsarge, the other half stopped at Vermillion Valley Resort (VVR) and dropped lots of money there. I was glad I was able to skip VVR, after hearing about the $200+ tabs people were running up there. I enjoyed the resupply in Bishop, and I bought my bear cannister there, too, so I didn’t have to carry it all the way from KM.

I heard it’s also possible to hike into Lone Pine somewhere, but I didn’t hear about anyone doing that when I hiked.

Garlic

#4

Thanks Jewel Thief and Garlic,

There doesn’t seem to be any easy “in and out” resupply point. Every option seems to be a trade off of one thing or another.

I’m leaning towards getting off at Kearsarge Pass but I’m not looking forward to the long hitch. VVR sounds to be nothing but a big ripoff.

Still don’t know what to do yet. :oh

Miguel

#5

Theres also Muir Trail Ranch (MTR) which is a day or 2 before VVR. You can mail a food drop there and pick it up for a wee $50. It’s only a mile off the trail and they often have some hiker boxes to sift through as well ( and a hot spring across the very sketchy river). After my $200 bill at VVR in '07, I decided this would be cheaper when I went through in '08.

I really liked VVR though. It is a cool place to be able to go after the remoteness of 10 days in the high sierra. The store is pretty well stocked with hiker staples. Theres a great restaurant where you can get a big steak and beer. Hiking out of MTR in '08, I STILL decided to stop in for a steak and beer the next day (those who know me will attest that I cannot pass up any opportunity for meat and beer).

CanyonMan

#6

I should mention that if you do want to send a package to MTR, they have some strict guidelines, and you will need to plan this pretty far in advance. Check out their website for more info, http://www.muirtrailranch.com/resupply.html

CanyonMan

#7

MTR may open a little late for many PCT thru hikers. This year it opened on June 19. It was closed when I hiked past there in early June 2004. Nice idea, though, if you’re on a later schedule or section hiking.

Garlic

#8

It’s worth mentioning that the long trail over Kearsarge Pass to get to the hitch to Independence is extremely scenic. It’s one of the most beautiful parts of the whole PCT experience. So it might make it see like less trouble.

If you’re early in the season, MTR may not be open yet. We had a fairly light snow year, i came through around June 15th, and they still hadn’t opened. They’re a more viable option for JMT hikers, since they’re open by then, the hiker boxes are full, and the river crossing to the hot spring is easy by August.

VVR…all the bad stuff i’ve read about them on here has turned out to be true the 2 times i’ve been there.

markv

#9

I believe there is a post office in Mono Hot Springs too. It is a day’s side trip to get to, but for the frugal, you just pay for the standard shipping costs. I was interested this year in using it for a resupply but my partner did not want to hike the extra mileage. Here is the lesson we learned this year. We brought too much food. Did not eat as much as I thought I would. Got by with a hot cocoa and granola bar in the morning and a few candy bars and kool aid in the noon and for dinner only needed to eat half of the two-person freeze-dried meal to feel full. We could of skimped on dinners and concentrated on snacks and powdered drinks more. Basically could of cut our food drops in half then also. If I could do the trail again next year, I’d probably split the hike into 2 ten day supply segments and use the post office mentioned for resupply and skip going to JMTR and Independence for packages. I’d also not bother bringing a water filter next time and just use Aqua Mira on rotation to treat water from creeks. Many water sources high up I drank untreated after the first week without problems. Also, I’d seriously consider bringing a Sierra Zip stove next time to cook with. I hated having the butane canister start sounding empty after a few days use. Would of been easier to have a wood-burning stove as back-up in case the butane ran out.

JMT2012