is there a list of hiker-friendly businesses that accept mail drops, on the AT?
tvric
List of mail drop businesses
system
#2
tvric,
Although this doesn’t directly address your question, I found the following thread very helpful planning my maildrops for my thru-hike.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=7754
All the parts are there, just scroll down when you get there.
I used maildrops extensively during my thru - 31 of them! Worked like a champ. I see a lot of threads bashing the use of the US Postal Service, but I actually used them as much as possible. Love 'em. I often didn’t stay at the exact hostel/place I had originally planned since word would spread along the trail of a cool place to visit. So I didn’t have to go to a hostel I wasn’t planning to stay at to get a package.
Only once did I have to get up early on a Saturday to rush to the Post Office before closing. Just some thoughts. I totally understand the thought process behind those that don’t like the USPS. HYOH.
Good luck on the hike. Have fun! Wish I was going with you!!
Bison
By the way, my maildrops are listed at http://www.trailjournals.com/markallen
under Maildrops.
Bison AT '09
system
#3
Thanx Bison. No issue w/ USPS. Motive was to stay w/ drop locals that are right on the trail. There are only about a dozen PO’s. Thought I might be able to supplement w/some businesses right on AT. Just haven’t found a list. I will check the site you suggest.
tvric
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#4
Tvric, I can send you a list of mail drops that I used in 2009 if you are interested. However, there are a few places as you get up in New England that have to go to the Post Office. NedtheFed 09
Ned
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#10
Art, Ya, closest is “Hostels, Camping & Showers”. But not specific as to drops,nor including contact info. May have to do look up thing from that. Thanx
tvric
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#11
Tvric, email me at nedhamara@att.net and I’ll send you my 09 AT itinerary that has all the business and motel locations where I sent boxes. Ned
Ned
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#12
You need very few mail drops. You can (and are probably better off) just rely on resupply along the trail. You WILL get sick of the pre-made meals you make yourself and send yourself. If you resupply along the trail, you can decide what kind of food you’re feeling at the time. (That being said, sometimes your selection won’t be great, but it’ll be there)
There were only three places I would, if I could remember them, advise you to mail drop. Fontana Dam was one of them. If you arrive before that store opens, you’re screwed cause there is NOTHING nearby. Even afterwards, I hear that store has very little and is often empty of the food you’d want.
There was also a town in New Hampshire that a resupply would’ve been helpful, and a third mail drop that I can’t rememeber that would’ve been good. Perhaps someone else can assist here?
Leki-Less
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#13
Fontana Dam is likely my last PO mail drop. Those long stretches NH,ME sort of concerned me.
thanx, Ric
tvric
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#14
Couldn’t agree with Leki-Less more! pre-made/packaged items get real old… real fast! Unless your a wizard with Beef Jerky or something. Besides, even though all those resupply stops add up (especially to a lot of miles)… It also gives one a chance to reconsider their health, connect with loved ones, chose a larger variety of foods–which is important–as your body will pick and chose whatever it needs along the way–given that it is a highly regulated machine! The only times I would recommend Mail-Drops, are when your gaurenteed to be in a town like Damascus for one thing or another, and then, mostly to resupply on mail from home, ship things to and from etc… There are enough resupply points along the route (unlike the CDT), that one can actually get choosy if you’d like! Good luck! Remember… “Failure is NOT an Option”!
MOJO