View Full Version : Food Questions! Do I Need Mail Drops?
GeorgiaSandman
03-29-2009, 23:19
Ok guys im going to start off the trail with some food. But what about along the way? I know some people do the mail drops, do I need to do this or can I go along the trail and get my food? Please help. Thanks so much!:sun
SGT Rock
03-29-2009, 23:21
Buy as you go.
Tennessee Viking
03-29-2009, 23:28
You can buy as you go. But there a few sections where the nearest market is a good shuttle away.
Sometimes hikers will bypass a hostel, but will pick up a mail drop along the way.
Blissful
03-30-2009, 00:27
Actually there are lots of threads on this subject. Go ahead and do a search to see the different opinions. But I do both mail drops and buying for my nutritional needs.
Lone Wolf
03-30-2009, 05:29
Ok guys im going to start off the trail with some food. But what about along the way? I know some people do the mail drops, do I need to do this or can I go along the trail and get my food? Please help. Thanks so much!:sun
buy as you go for sure. most times for most hikers as i've seen for 20+ years, mail drops are a waste of money and time. no freedom in it
garlic08
03-30-2009, 11:26
Another vote for buy as you go. A few maildrops can be good for some replacement gear and for guidebook sections and maps if you use them, but certainly not needed for food.
Unless you have special dietary needs, buy as you go is the way to go.
Glebbber
03-30-2009, 13:26
I have not hiked the entire trail but from what I understand there are no places where you need a mail drop.
there are places where a mail drop would be helpful. Like fontana where there is not much selection in food and you will need a good amount as the smokies are right after that.
My opinion: dont plan more that like 5 maildrops for your entire thru, if any. They just add a hassle.
Glebbber
03-30-2009, 13:29
......and remember, you only need enough food to get to the next resupply. So on day one you wont need more than 5 days of food. Guidebooks are helpful in planning how much food to carry.
SGT Rock
03-30-2009, 20:49
If you feel you NEED a mail drop for food somewhere, then buy it in the town before you get there and mail it to yourself from the trail.
Example: you decide you don't want to rely on the small selection at Fontanna, so you buy 4 days of food extra at Franklin and mail it to yourself in Fontanna. When you get to Fontanna pick it up and supplement with stuff from the small selection there.
The benefit to this is you can buy what you are currently hungry for instead of relying on something you bought 6 months earlier.
While I agree that you can buy supplies in most towns along the trail, maildrops come in vary handy in places like:
Fontana Dam, NC
Troutdale, VA
Linden, VA
Port Clinton, PA
Tyringham, MA
Cheshire, MA
among others. And you can save money by shopping around for the best prices for your maildrop contents. If you buy in a small town, you may have to pay higher prices. I believe in maildrops.
Blissful
03-31-2009, 20:37
If you feel you NEED a mail drop for food somewhere, then buy it in the town before you get there and mail it to yourself from the trail.
Example: you decide you don't want to rely on the small selection at Fontanna, so you buy 4 days of food extra at Franklin and mail it to yourself in Fontanna. When you get to Fontanna pick it up and supplement with stuff from the small selection there.
The benefit to this is you can buy what you are currently hungry for instead of relying on something you bought 6 months earlier.
This is good esp if you don't have family members on the home front doing it for you. If you do (like I did) you're in luck as you can tell them what to pack, and many times they have better options for different food products (like we have a mennonite food store here to buy great dehydrated products) so you don't get stuck with the noodles with chicken packets and Ramen every night, which is what food stores on the trail have and most hikers end up buying. Works out good.
SGT Rock
03-31-2009, 20:38
Yep. And if you see a place is good for short term resupply - this is code for not much good to eat. So if you can mail yourself something to that place, then go for it.