View Full Version : Bounce Box
kittyrock13
03-07-2006, 20:31
ummm... what is a bounce box? I have seen several references to them.
You first mail, general delivery, a box with supplies somewhere on the trail. You reuse the box by buying stuff at a trailside store and bounce (or mail) the same box ahead of you to another PO. Saves having to carry so much along with other reasons.
I use a 5 gallon plastic paint bucket. Inside go things that I need to restock on from time to time and are not necessarily available easily or cheaply in trail towns. For example, slide film. Or, if I'm shooting digital, battery charger and portable CD burner. Maps, nail clippers, running socks, a spare stake or two, are other examples. I tend to mail it about 7-10 days in front of myself.
If I go with a bounce box.. and hike past the town that I sent the box to.. could I just go to the next town and call the previous post office and have them forward it up? Or does this obligate me to absolutely get off the trail to get to that post office?
David
digger51
03-08-2006, 12:29
The post office will forward it for you, but be sure to have them send it far enough ahead that you wont miss it again.
If I go with a bounce box.. and hike past the town that I sent the box to.. could I just go to the next town and call the previous post office and have them forward it up? Or does this obligate me to absolutely get off the trail to get to that post office?
David
The post master isn't supposed to, but almost always does, especially along the AT or PCT where hikers are common. This is a problem that happens frequently enough (though never to me) that it shouldn't cause problems. At the very worst, they'll have you fill out a mail forwarding form. It has happened to me, though, that I've gotten to a spot and my bounce bucket wasn't there, or they couldn't find it. I ended up leaving a trail of mail forwarding forms from Pearisburg to Manchester and finally got my bucket back after 1150 miles of hiking.