A. T. Re-Supply 2009

[Jack Tarlin]

As some of you know, for several years I've had an extensive article printed here on Whiteblaze dealing with food, shopping, and Re-Supply options on the Appalachian Trail. I've updated this article several times, and over the years, I've received some very positive feedback from folks who've found it useful.

The article was last updated in February of 2007, almost two years ago, and while a great deal of it is certainly accurate, it needs some revisions, corrections, and additions of new places, facilities, and services.

I address this post in particular to folks who hiked on the Trail this past year, and in particular, to folks who hiked from Harpers Ferry to Hanover, as there are some great big sections in here that I haven't personally hiked or visited for several years now. I'm especially interested in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.

If recent hikers could have a look at the present Re-Supply article and then reflect on their own recent hiking, it'd be great if they could pass along any mistakes, omissions, new businesses and facilities, etc. In short, if there are stores or other Re-Supply options in these sections that the 2009 folks should know about, please let us know.

Sometime in the next few weeks, I'll be up-dating the Article and fixing some obvious mistakes or out-of-date information, but in addition to this, it'd be a great help to hear from 2008 hikers about places they visited or re-supplied, especially if these are "new" places or places not listed elsewhere.

The Re-Supply article, which has always and will always be offered free to anyone who's interested in it has been around for awhile, but there's always room for improvement, and this means sharing current or recent information, and it's you 2008 guys who are in the best position to help out here, so if any of you want to take a few minutes and read the present Article and then pass along criticisms, corrections, mistakes, and especially omissions of recent places and facilities, I'd be very grateful. The new version of the Re-Supply article will be out before the end of February, i.e., before most folk depart from Springer.

Thanx in advance to anyone who wants to help with this.

[Dogwood]

I know U don't always like to hear it, but great job putting the resupply info together and updating it. Well done! THANX JT. Appreciate the time and energy U invest in getting this info available to the AT community.

[Jack Tarlin]

Hell, I don't mind hearing it at all, in fact, I really enjoy meeting folks who've used the Article over the years; it's sort of a vindication that some of my time here is well spent.

But that being said, the piece hasn't been played with for almost 2 years. Like the Springsteen song says, hell, a litle touch-up and a little paint can't hurt.

So nice as it is to hear about the current article, I'm looking forward to putting out a better one, and for that, I need help. Thanx in advance to anyone who wants to help with this.

[KG4FAM]

You need to change the information about Caratunk, ME. No more Rivers and Trails store. Northern Outdoors will hold mail drops and is a more convenient option than the Caratunk PO since almost every other car on the main road is a river guide and they give hikers rides like we are their best friends. I don't know if there are any fees for holding boxes there.

[Lyle]

Hey Jack,

Thanks for again taking this on. Your article is a godsend to us section hikers.

If anyone has been hiding out under a bushel for the last few years, check out Jacks article - a wealth of information, not just of re-supply, but some good estimates of typical hiking pace through each section.

[Johnny Thunder]

Hey Jack!

Let's see...

I left with food out of Harper's Ferry and didn't need to resupply in Maryland.

The Dog-something-or-other-Bar just off the trail in Maryland (right before Annapolis Rocks) is a trip.

Waynesboro, PA (2 miles after crossing into PA) has a number of resupply options including the Super Walmart and some local chain. I think it was a Giant. Also, in the same shopping center there was a Home Depot or Lowes, a Chinese Buffet, an Applebees, and a generic sporting goods store which should have some footwear and basic athletic clothing. This is where your guide references going into Blue Ridge Summit. Waynesboro is a better resupply. Rock, Roll, and Happy ended up finding a laundromat there next to the Elks lodge.

At PA30 there is a good pizza and sub place West of the trail and on the way to the market. Hikers might want to go there instead of the snack bar which is overpriced.

The market at PA34 is still there and does breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Hikers could do a short resupply into Duncannon from here.

In Duncannon the 7-11 deserves a mention since hikers can go in/out of town using this as their only resupply. I wouldn't recommend it b/c there's no real resupply until Port Clinton.

To my understanding the market at 501 is closed. Vegas and Animal went down and found nothing. Also, the pizza that gets delivered there is GARBAGE!!!

The outfitter in Port Clinton is now actually IN Port Clinton. It moved to next to the trail from about 10 miles away last summer.

Wind Gap might be worth a trip for hikers looking to avoid a maildrop or convenience store resupply in DWG. Hitching was "difficult" since the trail is just outside the town's residential area. I actually had a woman in a late-model Corvette pull over and ask if I knew where the car wash was. Man, that was funny.

That wraps up PA...on to NJ

[Jack Tarlin]

Thanx, John, this is EXACTLY the kind of stuff I was hoping to see. Keep it coming, and please re-read the first half of the article as well. It's the 2008 folks who have stuff still fresh in their minds that will be REALLY useful here.

[Skyline]

Jack,

•Luray now has two full-time, full-service outfitters—Evergreen Outfitters and Appalachian Outdoors Adventures. They are around the corner from each other. What brand(s) one may not carry the other often does.

•What used to be Terrapin Station Hostel at Chester Gap will be renamed Front Royal Hostel, and according to owner Mike Evans, he plans to be open April 27 > July 12, 2009.

•SNP facility opening dates can be found at: http://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/facilities-opening-schedule.htm
However, since published one change has been made: Big Meadows LODGE will delay opening until May 22, 2009 due to the economy and reduced advance reservations.

•It wouldn't hurt to remind those hiking with old guidebooks that there is NO restaurant or gift shop any longer at Panorama (Thornton Gap). It closed as a restaurant in 2001, the gift shop closed in 2004, and the building was torn down in 2008. Still, every year we get a significant number of hikers surprised and disappointed to find it's closed. Right now, the whole area is fenced off so new restrooms, parking, and a backcountry permit office can be constructed. These are "scheduled" to be open sometime in 2009.

•The ATC office in Harpers Ferry is now open seven days year-'round, not just during the Summer—according to a blurb in the recent PATC newsletter. Good news for section hikers and others hiking "out of season."

—Skyline

[Johnny Thunder]

At Culvers Gap hikers can hitch to a proper store East of the trail about 4 miles. Hitching wasn't tough here either. Also, East of the trail and along Culvers Lake is an awesome bar with possibly the BEST CHICKEN SANDWICH I had on the entire trail. Jack, you know me well enough to know how serious that is. T picked me up here for a weekend at her mother's in Milford and I met her at this bar. Locals had never seen a hiker and I was bought a few drinks. You can blue blaze to the Bar's parking lot by taking a right on the Jeep track that you'll cross on your way down into Culver's Gap....I'll try to get back to you with the name of the grocery store since it wasn't a chain.

There's still a Shop Rite or Stop-and-Shop on your way into Port Jervis.

I resupplied in Warwick by way of the Warwick Turnpike (just after Wawayanda Park). But, mostly b/c Orion picked me up in his mother's fancy car. Also, there's a drive in movie theater there.

At NY52 the Deli and Pizzeria are both still there. The counter dudes at the Deli even offered for a large group of us to camp behind the place. I'd heard rumors of a nearby garden center offering short-term jobs to hikers in need of cash.

The Deli at NY22 is still there. Sandwiches were cheep but all the stuff on the shelves was past date.

It's worth noting that the woman who runs the laundry facility in Kent was openly hostile to hikers while I was there.

I road walked almost all of Connecticut...Ended up eating lunch in West Cornwall and felt uninvited. Also, Sharon was a trippy little burg with an awesome sandwich shop within .5 of the trail that offered to let us camp out back. Holler and I ended up buying beers and night hiking to Salisbury in time to make last call.

Salisbury was friendly by night but not so inviting by day. The large white Swan (I think that's what it was called) INN had great food and a Chicken Sandwich that was second only to the one at Culvers. Market is still there and awesome.

The market before Great Barrington is still there and has a laundry facility in the same lot. One can get into the other side of Great Barrington by hiking another half-day north and hitching in. There are more food options on that side of town and I believe there is another market.

All the services in Lee (US 20) are still there but it can be a long walk in and around town since most drivers would drop you off before getting on the Mass Pike (about a mile from the town center). I had no problem with rides in/out of Lee but I'm young and good looking...ok, that sounds like bull...but, both rides were with women my age.

Dalton and Chesire are as described.

The Stop and Shop in Williamstown is still there as is the Laundry facility to the East of the trail (not too far). Williamstown has an outfitter which allows a few hikers to camp and an awesome Thai restaurant.

The large market in Bennington is too far to get to without the bikes, but, there is a better-than-decent deli/corner market on the way into town and near the laundry facility.

Rutland and Inn at the Long Trail are as described. It might be worth mentioning the Rutland Long Trail Festival. This was probably my favorite annual event on the trail.

The Deli/market in West Hartford is there, open, and awesome. I ate two sandwiches. Chicken, of course. There is a small library with internet access and a local that allows hikers to camp.

That's pretty much it for the section you asked about....I'll scan the other sections just in case.

[Johnny Thunder]

Obviously, you have Hanover on lock-down.

Glencliff, too.

I'd hike the extra 1.5 days from North Woodstock and resupply in Lincoln by way of Franconia Notch. North Woodstock is good for bars and such but since Blister's not there anymore what's the point. Plus, I had a chicken sandwich at her bar and it was alright. The big micro-brew across the street was a fun place to see early season college football.

Lincoln has a grocery store, hostel, and more expensive tourist restaurants than you could eat at in 3 days. It also had a decent hiking/ski outfitter with a few tents and packs as well as footwear and a number of lesser outfitter (I can remember another 3 off the top of my head).

There are two outfitters in town (conveniently across the street from each other). The Shaws is good but closing...there is an easy and cheep shuttle bus service that gets you to the further markets and Walmart.

Andover was a fun place but I really consider the markets there to be more convenience stores. One did have a lunch counter that was good.

Rangley is as described with easy, peasy hitching in and out of town. Chaco, Wak, and I were offered a half-dozen rides just sitting in the Super Market parking lot dividing our food. I was singing the "super cool to the homeless" song from South Park so maybe that helped. There is a laundry facility that is highly accomodating to hikers. They even had spare clothes to borrow. Also, don't get excited when you see "outfitters" in town. They're not outfitters, they just look like them. The Sports bar was an awesome place to watch the Giants whoop on the Rams. The bigger place across the street (where Superman and Squirrel work) is a lot of fun, too.

Stratton is as described and I had even more great interactions with locals. There's laundry, a market, and two or three restaurants.

Since Steve's not the river man he no longer has the camp store. His replacement had some Liptons to sell to hikers. A large group of us hitched West to the rafting center/microbrew and had one of our most memorable nights on the trail. Food and booze was expensive but this was a great place to celebrate everyone being together for one last TOWN DAY!

In Monson there's the general store and a convenience store on the other side of town. If you're not picky, or are planning on resupplying at White House Landing, it wouldn't be impossible to resupply given the options in town. You're right about the hiker box at Shaw's. I added an extra food bag of just bars since everyone was already sick of the one's they been mailing themselves since Springer.

The Abol store is enough to get you up and down Katahdin.

[Johnny Thunder]

I wonder if the Pizza delivery at VA 16 will stop once they take down Partnership shelter. You can hitch into Marion from here; however, you end up on the wrong side of town in relation to the markets. It's worth a stop for footwear b/c there's a cheep shoe store near the Walmart. Got some NB runners for $20.

In Atkins (US 11) you can hitch past the store mentioned and into the right side of Marion. Also, I'm not sure the market you mentioned is there anymore. Also, there is a great and cheap restaurant there within view of the trail.

There is no hostel in Bland but the motel near the highway is cheap and hiker friendly. It's within walking distance to a few fast food places, too.

Trent's is still there. Don't bother camping there or using the "shower". I wouldn't wash my roomate's dog in there.

Woodshole was closed this summer but should be open for this season.

Wades in Pearisburg is closed which means the liquor store is probably closing, too. Groan. John and Kelly from Philly (who are foodies) really loved the something-station or other railroad sounding restaurant in Pearisburg.

The convenience store at VA624 is still there and you can road walk into Catawba if your schedule warrants a hasty flight into Catawba. Also, it's possible to hitch back to Catawba from Daleville where the outfitter often runs shuttles for section hikers. There's no reason to miss out on the Homeplace. Seriously. No reason.

I almost moved into Daleville so if you want expanded information let me know. Chaco and I visited every restaurant while staying at the Howard Johnson's and could give you the skinny. The shopping center has a friendly outfitter, liquor store, and a FedEx center if you need to send anything home.

Buchanan was a tough hitch out but we got lucky going in. There's a convenience store attached to a Burger King. The local canoe outfitter let us hang out in the shade near the river since it was 100+ degrees.

Glasgow has "lodging" but the rooms only really fit one person so it's not cheap. The lunch counter is good...there's a laundry facility and a number of small markets and a dollar store.

Luray is tough to get in/out of without a car since it's about as far as Gattlinburg from the trail (it considers itself to be the Gattlinburg of the SNP). The outfitters were good and there was food.

I liked Front Royal. Without heading into the town you can eat and resupply. Plus, the hitch was easy.

[Gaiter]

Port Clinton: has an outfitters now, in the location where there was once another outfitters... www.yeoldebackpacker.com they have some food (mtn house type stuff) hot showers and laundry, equipment and equipment service...the guy that runs it is very familiar w/ the trails in the area and a emt, he was very helpful when i got a spider bite and needed advise (biggest of several reasons why i'm a fan)... they were down the road from port clinton when i hiked through the area in fall 07 they had a few bunks then, their site doesn't mention those so not sure if they are still doing that

[Gaiter]

mt. holly springs also has a pharmacy good for snacks and medicine

[A-Train]

I sent you a PM awhile ago re: DWG. Nothing seems to have changed, but I'll try and find out the status of the motel which has been closed. The small outfitter is about a yr old and is very hiker friendly and has enough to get you by in a pinch, certainly can get you to the shop in Kent.

As mentioned in other threads there is a fairly new gas station/market at Rt 403 and Rt 9 just south of Graymooor. It has enough snacks and things to get you to NY 52 and maybe Kent if you're not picky. The beer selection is impressive.

Graymoor stopped serving meals, but does have a pizza menu for delivery.

[Johnny Thunder]

The Motel is still closed as of late July with no signs of renovation since the flooding closed it YEARS ago. Chaco flipped a **** when the app pages had it listed. It had been closed since 2005 or something.

The new store at 403 and 9 was under construction when i passed it this summer so it must be really new.

[Jack Tarlin]

This is all great stuff, folks; thank you and keep it coming.

[Johnny Thunder]

I suggest a Chicken Sandwich section of the resupply rating, in descending order based on merit, the quality of the top 10 Chicken Sandwiches I encountered on the trail...

Off the top of my head it would be...

1. Blue Ribbon Bar. Culvers Gap NJ (Buffalo Chicken)
2. White Hart Inn. Salisbury, CT (Buffalo Chicken)
3. Smoky Mountain Diner. Hot Springs, NC (Chicken Bacon Cheddar Melt)
4. Bojangles. Daleville, VA (Spicy Chicken Sandwich)
4.5 Wendy's. Daleville, VA (the Spicy Chicken Sandwich I ate to confirm that Chaco was right)
5. Chicken BBQ across from the Saphire. Franklin, NC (Smoked Chicken Sandwich...it was new and interesting but challenging in a way that I don't like in Chicken Sandwiches)
6. Sarge's Sports Bar. Rangeley, ME (Grilled Chicken Club)
7. Dot's. Damascus, VA (Grilled Chicken)

Honorable Mention...the dozen-odd Chicken, Bacon, Ranch Subway Sandwiches in various towns including the 10 I ate at Trail Days.