Anyone hike the CDT without using maildrops? I prefer not to use them, or at least keep them to a minimum.
Would you say the frequency of small convenience stores is about the same as the PCT?
Do It Yourself
Mail drops necessary?
system
#1
system
#2
You can do most of the CDT without maildrops. Even the places where maildrops are, to my mind, necessary, you can skip if you are willing to do very long carries (i.e. 10 days or so.) The main places where drops are a good idea are the wildnerness areas where it is a very long way out to a town - Benchmark in the Bob Marshall and Big Sandy in the Wind River Range. The other places where they may be helpful (to avoid long carries) are Pie Town in NM (no grocery at all and a long stretch between Reserve and Grants) and Twin Lakes, CO (which can be skipped if you go to Leadville, which is a nice hiker town but a bit of a pain to hitch). Otherwise, you can get by with the local grocery or gas station fare.
Ginny
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#3
No reason to drop at Benchmark. Just keep going to Lincoln. I’ve made the hike between East Glacier and Lincoln twice now and the distance is quite manageable. Basically 7 days and a wake up. Why bother with a drop?
I don’t think Big Sandy is taking drops from hikers any more. Even if they were, why bother? Load up with 7-9 days of food and haul to South Pass City, where you’ll want to send a drop.
Suge
system
#4
No reason to drop at Benchmark. Just keep going to Lincoln. I’ve made the hike between East Glacier and Lincoln twice now and the distance is quite manageable. Basically 7 days and a wake up. Why bother with a drop?
I don’t think Big Sandy is taking drops from hikers any more. Even if they were, why bother? Load up with 7-9 days of food and haul to South Pass City, where you’ll want to send a drop.
Suge