Minimal Planning Walk

imported
#1

G’day

I have been looking at planning for next year, and not having local contacts and coming from Australia, I’m looking at a no advanced planning walk. Getting there and starting after taking a day or so to get the first load of food and gas, and then playing it by ear. Have to set up a bump box as well as I will need to get rid of any winter gear and store the odd extras. Buy any replacements gear, food etc along the way and/or mail it to myself further up the trail.

I don’t want too long in country before the start as I will only have a 6 month visa and don’t want to go through the process of asking for an extension. 1st of April start so from the start of my Autumn to your spring, doesn’t seem like much but I’ll be coming from around 86+ degrees in Queensland to whatever the temperature is in Georgia at that time (COLD).

Feasible? Any suggestions gratefully accepted.

JJ

Jim

#2

The vast majority of hikers who start off with major planning will end up tossing out the plan within a week anyway. The reality of the trail will always be different than what they were thinking. So my thoughts are that your plan is quite feasible. I have noticed many times hikers who are delayed awaiting the arrival of a package or delayed by the odd operating hours of the Post Office or the amount of hassle it is getting from the trail to the Post Office. 20 years ago hikers relied on the US Mail for the majority of resupply food and augmented that with locally available sources. Today, due to the explosion in the number stores near the trail the majority will purchase all food along the way. Another interesting trend related to resupply is a social trend. 20 years ago the majority of thru hikers were alone. They hiked alone and made only a few friends. Today, you will discover that you are on a team. You will first meet your team mates at the first few shelters and become well associated with those on your pace. They have I-phones and they have friends and relatives along the trail and many times when they get support, the whole team get’s support.
For most hikers with an April first start date they will mail the cold weather items from Damascus Virginia to the Post office in Glencliff New Hampshire at the start of the White Mountains.
Good Luck

Francis

#3

Feasible? Yes. But you need to be flexible. Don’t expect Foster’s at every resupply when Bud Lite will do.

bowlegs

#4

If you can be flexible each day, accepting the trail for what it is, you will do fine. Last year I never found resupply to be a problem. If you need to follow a detailed plan and get frustrated when things deviate from that, you will be less than happy. I totally agree with Francis, we hikers tend to take care of our own. Enjoy

GRRRR

#5

That’s pretty funny, Bowlegs. “Australian for beer” (not!)

And Francis, I thru-hiked 18 years ago and the trail was about as social then as it is today. The big difference is all the trail magic now vs then. Also the support industry in the towns along the way is much bigger now.

You have to go all the way back to the 80’s to find much “alone time” as a northbounder. Of course the herd still thins out along the way, but way back then there wasn’t much of a herd to begin with.

hoch

#6

Bring money, the town guide, your gear, and a flexible attitude and you should be fine. Did I say bring money?? If you don’t resupply it may cost you a bit more and you will want money for lodging and restaurants. I say just do it.

Marti /Swannee

#7

Who drinks Fosters? I want to try some moonshine!

Francis
“For most hikers with an April first start date they will mail the cold weather items from Damascus Virginia to the Post office in Glencliff New Hampshire at the start of the White Mountains.”

How long will they hold a parcel at the post office?

Jim

#8

The rule from the US Post Office is:
“General Delivery is a mail service for those without a permanent address, often used as a …General Delivery is intended to be used for: …Limitations on the amount of time you are able to use General Delivery, if any, are determined by the postmaster.” So what they are saying is that it is up to the postmaster at the Glencliff Post Office.
This postmaster receives hundreds of packages each year addressed something like this:
TO; GENERAL DELIVERY
Hold for thru hiker
Ned Kelly (ETA 24 July 2015)
Glencliff, NH 03238

If you are worried give him a call when you get to the States at 603-989-5154.
It will work fine.

Francis

#9

Last I checked USPS national policy is 30 days, though some post offices might try to tell you 2 weeks. In any case, the best approach is to include “Hold for Hiker” along with an EDA (estimated date of arrival) alongside the address. As long as your EDA is within 30 days of package arrival at the PO, they should have to honor it. Maybe include a phone number on the pkg too, just in case. In general, calling post offices individually is tedious and unnecessary. All of these AT trail town PO’s are fully aware of what you’re doing and what you expect from them.

hoch

#10

This is interesting, quoted below.

How to trick Amazon into Shipping USPS to General Delivery

 You normally can't get general delivery service from Amazon, because general delivery can only be delivered by USPS, and Amazon can't/won't tell you which shipper they will use (and it is usually UPS anyway).

In Amazons FAQ’s, it says that if you write out the words “Post Office Box” in the shipping address, their system will pick it up and automatically ship the package by USPS.

 Maybe a lot of you already know this, but to trick Amazon into shipping USPS, just write your address like this:  Your Name, Post Office Box General Delivery, City, State Zip-9999.  I just tried it, and it worked.

John Parker

hoch

#11

Thank you all, loving the advice.

JJ

Jim