Hiker registers at POs, etc

imported
#1

Are there any hiker registers at the POs or other establishments along the trail?

Thanks.

Fireweed

Fireweed

#2

I don’t remember seeing anything in '09, except a very small hiker box at the Rimside Grill in Pine. I didn’t do any mail drops, though so I didn’t look in POs. There are a few trail registers at USFS and NPS trailheads. The AZT just isn’t that organized or crowded yet, and that’s one of the enjoyable parts of it.

Garlic

#3

One of us could buy several school composition books, put an AZT sticker on the front and mail them with a cover letter to the POs along the trail. The cool part is putting your name and address in the back with a note to return to you when it’s full.

I sent composition books to town stops on the Idaho Centennial Trail and they’re in use now. No PostMaster voiced an objection.

Any volunteers?

GottaWalk

#4

On our hike, we have encountered three registers so far. The first was near the kiosk at Montezeuma Pass. The second was in Saguaro NP at Manning Camp. And the third was at the entrance to Oracle State Park. They are not officially related to the AZT but just a few notebooks where you can sign in and put in a note or two.

Desert Nomad

#5

I called the POs at Patagonia, Oracle and Superior. They all have registers now. You can ask for them at the counter. One clerk said that the last entry was 5/10 so the registers aren’t used frequently.

Hikers use motels for mail drops in Superior and Flagstaff and don’t stop at POs in those towns.

GottaWalk

#6

The PO in Superior is certainly familiar with AZT hikers. Also, the Copper Mountain Motel in town is under new ownership (again) so probably best to call ahead if planning to send a maildrop there.

The post office in Patagonia has a rich legacy of hosting an Arizona Trail register. How many hikers actually ask for and sign it, though?

blisterfree

#7

In '09 I suggested to the guy at the south rim post office to have a register, he didn’t even know about the AZT, seemed stoked on it, check in this year!

She-ra

#8

The south rim post office is right next to an excellent grocery store with a great little camping section. Unless your looking for a prescription, or ultra light gear, this store defeats the necessity of a mail drop at the GC. I used to work at the general store there, and they really do have everything you would want to go the 25 miles or so to the next store on the North Rim (open after May 15th) then it’s only a 65 mileish stretch to the store at Jacob Lake, then only a couple of more days to Utah from there.

The south rim grocery is run by some real whack jobs who wouldn’t be able to figure out a register, the post office would be a good place because those guys seemed responsible.

Jacob Lake would be a good place for a register, everything there is the same business, and there is a front desk in the restaurant, general store building. The place is run by mormons, with a bunch of local mormon kids working there. Everyone is really super nice there and after spending two nights there (hitched in spent a night, hitched back south, then walked back north again) my faith in humanity was renewed. It was amazing how nice everyone there was. They even let me and my hiking partner take free showers in a hotel room that wasn’t cleaned yet. We camped in the woods behind the place, and we’re welcomed by the manager to do so.

Guino