Whereabouts are hiker boxes usually located? Do you come across them often, even in the North? Are they pretty well stocked throughout the trail? Not that i would rely on them…but i’m just curious.
C-Giddy
Hiker boxes... - Appalachian Trail
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#2
I once found the most used looking pair of NB’s in a hiker box. Sort of put me off looking for the food !!
Ross
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#3
Hiker boxes tend to showup anywhere hikers get maildrops. It seems that’s where almost everything in a hiker box comes from. People decide they don’t want, don’t need, or can’t stomach what’s in their maildrop. I’ve seen boxes overflowing with good stuff and I’ve seen them almost empty. I do know a “few” hikers who have do a lot of resupply from hiker boxes. Just don’t be to picky.
Moose
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#4
If you aren’t picky, and are not too concerned about people picking over food, you can get some good stuff. I once scored some grea Luna bars, got some fantastic packaged veggie soup, etc… just make sure they are still in a package… I never took anything that could have been opened. :girl
Windex
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#5
A couple of places I scored tuna and beef jerky…it’s about being in the right place at the right time. Often, there are mystery items (pancake mix or chafing powder?), so be sure that you are able to identify before you attempt to eat. Do check the boxes, however, for bugs. While they may add extra protein, I know I passed over several items that contained this added “ingredient!”
Woods Dragon
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#6
Hiker boxes are almost always in the Post Offices of the towns close to the trail, also almost every hostel has one. You can find them in the north as well as the south. One thing about them is that they tend to be fullest at the ends of the trail ie… the boxes at Neels Gap in GA, and the box at Shaws in ME are going to be over flowing while the boxes in PA are not. Hikers tend to learn early what they like, and don’t like and how much they can carry early. It is however a chance game, sometimes you can get great stuff and save a little on resupply.
SweetAss
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#7
Hiker boxes are most often in hostels. Some PO’s in town will have them, and some motels, as well.
I got a pair of of patagonia thermals in one.
nobody
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#8
The most useful thing I found (and left) in hiker boxes was extra white gas. This was at hotels and hostels that catered to hikers. Several times I needed white gas and found a partial can at the place I was staying. Twice I had to buy fuel by the can and left the extra for anyone behind me.
Big B
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#9
I’d say that the further north i hiked, the worse the boxes got. I barely recollect any after Damascus at the Place. By this point people have stopped getting ridiculous maildrops with twice the food they need and tons of superflous supplies. Also everyones got an appetite, so any food left is not gonna be sitting in that hiker box too long. The boxes I recollect further north were usually miscellanous supplies, many kinda nasty (extra matches, pack towels, Deet, headlamps, TP etc). Of course this stuff will look like gold if you need it.
You can completely resupply from the box at Neels Gap. I’ve never seen more food!
A-Train
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#12
i shaved my wooly hiker beard in duncannon, and continued to do so up the trail whenever i stayed at a hostel, because every hiker box seemed to have a supply of disposal razors among the odds and ends that no one wanted.
yeah, and there are also a lot of suspicious white powders in baggies in those boxes!
mindlessmariachi
