mail drop in Smoky Mountain National Park

[takethisbread]

I am looking for the best place to get a mail drop in the Park, without leaving the trail too far. Or even if it's feasable.

I plan to resupply at Walasi-Yi (mail drop)
And then again at Fontana Dam (hitch into Bryson City)
I will want to resupply about halfway in the park if possible, and I hear this is problematic.

I was hoping someone might share some of their strategies with me.

Thanks

[Hikes in Rain]

IN the park...no, I don't think there's a place. About half-way is Newfound Gap, which is a wide spot in the road swarming with tourists. (You'll be a major attraction as you hike out of the woods, take a few pictures, fill your bottles, then hike off again. "Look, Agnes, there's a real hiker. No, wait, he's one of the homeless people. I didn't know they came up here. Let's give him a handout to prove we're good people.")

You could turn that around by showing them your Gortex, thus proving you're a hiker, and then bum a ride to Gatlinburg or Cherokee. But a mail drop? No place to do that.

[Lone Wolf]

I am looking for the best place to get a mail drop in the Park, without leaving the trail too far. Or even if it's feasable.

I plan to resupply at Walasi-Yi (mail drop)
And then again at Fontana Dam (hitch into Bryson City)
I will want to resupply about halfway in the park if possible, and I hear this is problematic.

I was hoping someone might share some of their strategies with me.

Thanks

hitching to bryson city to resuppy is a lousy idea. it's a very hard hitch. you can buy resupply at fontana or do a mail drop. you're best option in the smokys is hitching to gatlinburg which is very easy

[ShakeyLeggs]

Just be prepared for some major culture shock. The lights of Gatliburg will be a shock to your system after many days on the trail.

[Tennessee Viking]

I am looking for the best place to get a mail drop in the Park, without leaving the trail too far. Or even if it's feasable.

I plan to resupply at Walasi-Yi (mail drop)
And then again at Fontana Dam (hitch into Bryson City)
I will want to resupply about halfway in the park if possible, and I hear this is problematic.

I was hoping someone might share some of their strategies with me.

Thanks
The Smokies are remote. No civilization around except for tourists.

When are you planning to walk it? During winter time, there is a chance that 441 can be closed due to ice and snow.

Best thing to do is to resupply in Fontana, if you think you are running low, jump off at Newfound and hitch into Gatlinburg. Have your maildrops waiting and resupply at Standing Bear Farm.

[garlic08]

I got an easy ride into Robbinsville from Stecoah Gap and there's a great supermarket there. Some hitch there from Fontana if they don't do a maildrop at Fontana. Since the ride was there, I resupplied for the Smokies 15 miles early and it worked out great.

I was able to skip Gatlinburg, but it is an easy hitch if you need it. Then, Standing Bear Farm has some good supplies to tide you over until Hot Springs.

[Doctari]

NO place to mail drop in the park.
If you are doing a thru hike, by the time you get to GSMNP its an easy 5 - 7 days from Fontana to Standing Bear. Even as a section hiker, it only took me 7 days to get through, so you should be able to carry enough food to do that.
IF you really MUST supply mid way, Gatlinburg is trail west & as stated it's an EASY hitch to & from Newfound Gap. At light #10 (the first one you come to from Newfound gap) go left, then left to the Happy Hiker a nice outfitter. There are AMPLE places to supply, and a PO, in G-Burg, but brace yourself, the culture shock will blow your mind.
Also as stated: Standing Bear has enough supply to get you to Hot Springs, about 2 days further on.

[Blissful]

We skipped Gatlinburg too. You can get through the park in good weather in five days or so.

[ShakeyLeggs]

Two things that were great about Gatlinburg when I was there in 01 were The Happy Hiker and the Smokey Mountain Brewery.

[Hikes in Rain]

Not hiker related and a bit far from the trail on the other side of the town, but the Smokey Mountain Winery make excellent wine. We bring back a mixed case or so every time we go up that way. My favorites are the Mountain White and LeCompte Red.

[Chaco Taco]

You can in and out of Gatlinburg in 2 hours if the weather is good. If the weather is bad, call Curtis and pay for a shuttle to and from Gatlinburg. Will be pricey.

OR, you could make arrangements with someone and do a food cache. Hide it in the woods

[takethisbread]

I guess I will mini supply 1 night at NOC then again at Fontana and plan to get out of the Park in about 5 days supply till out of the park and mini supply at Green Corner RD. Then a full supply in Hot Springs. Probably 7/8 days out of Fontana.

[Jack Tarlin]

If i were you, I'd make sure and bring more than 1 day's re-supply out of the NOC, as it's close to 28 miles between there and Fontana Dam. You are NOT going to do this stretch in a day.

Also, most folks take more than 5 days to get thru GSMNP. If you do not plan on leaving the Park at Newfound Gap (and going into nearby Gatlinburg for supplies), I'd bring 6 days worth of food out of Fontana as opposed to 5.

I also think that for most folks, it will take longer than 7-8 days to get from Fontana to Hot Springs, so don't sell yourself short when you leave Standing Bear Farm; it's close to 34 miles between Standing Bear (Green Corner Rd.) and Hot Springs; you will not do this in a day, and in all likelihood, you will not get all the way from Fontana Dam to Hot Springs in just a week.