I’ve heard rumors that there are ways to send fuel in maildrops as long as you send them via ground transportation. Has anyone had experience with this and know the requirements and procedure?
Flynnie
Fuel in maildrops?
system
#2
People that use esbit typically use mail drops for it. There is ample white gas and alcohol along the trail so no need to mail that. Cylinders can be tough to get if there is not a outfitter nearby, expecially up north. So, you might want to ground ship them if you are using that type. If you have questions about how to ship, talk with the UPS shippers.
Peaks
system
#3
Whoa there! It is absolutely forbidden to ship haz mats by the U.S. Postal Service. In fact, if you are caught, I think it is probably a felony at the very least. UPS says “no” as does FedEx. Outfitters have some special arangements to get their supplies in bulk. Don’t even think about it because you might be labeled as some kind of terrorist. :eek:
Lady Di
system
#4
Last I asked if you declare a butane can for ground delivery it gets a special Haz-mat label and your good to go. Di is prob right; don’t declair and get a roomate named Bubba. When Monty of '01, worked at an outfitter and got pro-dealed fuel, its was as easy as that. He mailed all his cans. But the stuff is everywhere. But if you mail it, declare it! Regs prob change daily.
Bushwhack
system
#5
During my brief stint with Federal Express Ground, I saw a plethora of Haz-Mat packages on my belts. The key word here though is “ground.” Fed Ex has a strictly ground division that should ship flammable liquids, flammable gasses, etc (certain D.O.T. classifications). You would have to verify exactly what you were shipping with them and see if it fits their criteria for allowable substances…then packaging, paperwork…
Nevertheless, regulations do change all the time…when I worked there you could send certain radioactive materials also. twitch
Fut Yo
system
#6
I think the question has been sufficiently answered enough to ask another question, that is why would anyone want to? Fuel is abundant along the AT, Coleman fuel, you can get it hundreds of places. Now why carry some stove that need a special type of fuel, which can’t easily be found—and that you have to ship in mail drops? Don’t make a lot of sense to me. The way I kind of look at all things hiking is that if it can’t easily be found and easily be replaced, then you are hiking with the wrong thing or wrong piece of equipment. 
Maintain
system
#8
We shipped alcohol in the US mail and Fed Ex. We went in and told them it was the same as rubbing alcohol and our local post office said OK, “just double bag it in baggies.” We did and no problem. There were a few times I’m glad we had a coke bottle of fuel in our mail drop. We did have a few places where getting fuel was a problem. Getting into town on Sunday and all of the stores that carried fuel would be closed. Most of the hostels had free fuel left by other hikers. Fuel is not “every where” but usually there are hikers with some fuel that will share. It seemed like we were giving away fuel about once a week on our thru hike last year.
Papa Smurf