Hi all,
I’m trying to work out the re-supply logistics for my first long-distance AT hike. At face value, this seems to me to be the most complicated aspect of the trip, but it’s probably easier than looks. I’ve checked out the re-supply articles at whiteblaze.net, and I was wondering what you guys think of them. And of course, any tutorials and/or advice you may have is greatly appreciated.
BigRig
the whiteblaze article is great, it just depends on what you prefer. i was happy enough with zero maildrops on my hike, but friends liked to get special food in their boxes. it’s pretty easy either way. if you don’t have any special diet restrictions and can be fine with Ramen for a week if needs be, then don’t bother with maildrops.
0101
It is alot better to just buy in town I have been told by several folk because if you are in a town when the post office is closed you have to stay until re opening.I find it alot easier to buy what I need in town and if you have pleanty then you have to pick the package up and now you have to much…You will have to decide what(( you))prefer…Tambouirne
Tambourine
I used mail drops when I hiked in '03, but if (when!) I go out again, I would resupply along the way. Not only did I run into the problem of having too much food at times (and I was never an ultra light hiker to begin with!), my tastes changed as my hike went along. For instance, I NEVER wanted to see another cereal bar again after about two months…but they were in every drop box that I had packed before I left. I was able to have my sister (who was my primary mailer) take some things out, but then you’re stuck with that food when you are done.
Others that I hiked with who resupplied along the way had no problems finding food and were able to add great stuff to their diet, such as cheese, flour tortillas and other fresh foods.
Woods Dragon
I thru hiked last year and hind sight is 20/20…when I do it again, there will be no mail drops. I did about 50/50 and the drops were really just a pain in the A#! I spent a lot of time waiting at post offices,chasing packages, lost two very very important packages…photos gone forever for two large chunks…anyways, what ever works for you will work for you…you will figure it out soon. Good luck!:girl
Caboose
We hiked in 2001 with mostly mail drops. As other have said - Huge mistake.
We hiked in 2005 with just a few mail drops. It was great! We did have a number of mountain house meals we had gotten as gifts and we put them in our bounce box. We just picked them up as needed. The great thing about the bounce box is that you can just call the post office and have it forwarded if you miss it at the expected location.
Gravity
Gravity
i would love to hear more about bouncing…paw-ee and i did maildrops on our thru in ‘03 and loved it so much, we decided to do the same thing again last year (we found we had more energy with our homemade food, after an “experiment” on the trail comparing store-bought to ours)…but i would love to try another system…i’m thinkin’ about it anyway…it does seem like re-supplying would free you up in many ways…but i can visualize it limiting you as well…let’s hear some more on this subject…i need more education concerning re-supply…
maw-ee