Has anyone had any experience successfully mailing solid stove fuel to "General Delivery c/o (Hiker)" after designating the box with the requisite "Consumer Commodity ORM-D" label? My specific concern is that the USPS won't deliver "Flammable Solids" to General Delivery. I'll find myself in quite a pickle if all my maildrops get intercepted by Big Brother at USPS HQ!

-- BookBurner
www.enlightenedthruhiker.com

this topic has been discussed recently....


BUT, never-the-less...you can try to get around the system...(w/ the USPS)...but the "BLACK & WHITE" facts are:....



YOU CANNOT SHIP FUEL CANNISTERS THRU THE MAIL!


NUFF SAID! :D

I'm looking to ship Esbit tablets which are classified as a Division 4.1 Flammable Solid. They can be shipped via surface transportation as long as the packaging complies with USPS Packaging Instructions 4A. My specific concern is the general delivery address. In today's day and age, will the USPS allow hazardous material to be shipped to a non-specific delivery address?

-- BookBurner
www.enlightenedthruhiker.com

I'm looking to ship Esbit tablets which are classified as a Division 4.1 Flammable Solid. They can be shipped via surface transportation as long as the packaging complies with USPS Packaging Instructions 4A. My specific concern is the general delivery address. In today's day and age, will the USPS allow hazardous material to be shipped to a non-specific delivery address?

-- BookBurner
www.enlightenedthruhiker.comNot sure what Jaybird is talking about, but Esbit tabs can be shipped via USPS. Unfortunately, I don't know about the General Delivery Question. Common sense says that if you can ship to a PO Box, you ought to be able to ship Gen Del. But common sense doesn't always apply.

Best bet is to check with the specific Post Office, to make sure that your local one will send them and the destination PO will accept them. A couple phone calls should do it.

YOU CANNOT SHIP FUEL CANNISTERS THRU THE MAIL!:D=========================================== ===
Not true. Can't speak for Esbit, since I've never inquired to tried to mail it anywhere. Howerver, if properly marked the USPS will accept and ship boxes containing propane/butane cannisters. I have personal experience with this.

'Slogger
AT 2003

YOU CANNOT SHIP FUEL CANNISTERS THRU THE MAIL!Not ture. Check out our Canister Fuel FAQ for details. I would be willing to bet the same pubs52 applies to solid fuel as well.

Actually I took a box of esbits to the post office, and asked the fella at the counter. He looked at the box, read all the warnings on it, and told me that it would be no problem.

I got two maildrops, including esbits before my knees went out, and I had to throw in the towel for the season.

I just dropped the Esbit tablets off at the post office and the clerk took them after asking surprisingly few questions. So as long as no one flags them during the distribution chain between Atlanta and Denver, I should be all right. The paranoid lawyer in me though, still thinks something is bound to go awry. If it does, I guess I'll earn my trailname all over again!

-- BookBurner
www.enlightenedthruhiker.com

this topic has been discussed recently....


BUT, never-the-less...you can try to get around the system...(w/ the USPS)...but the "BLACK & WHITE" facts are:....



YOU CANNOT SHIP FUEL CANNISTERS THRU THE MAIL!


NUFF SAID! :DExcerpt from USPS Pub 52:

"The following are examples of mailable gases:
a. Butane. Butane (UN1011) and Receptacles, small (UN2037) with butane or butane mixtures are Division 2.1 flammable gases. Butane gases that can qualify as ORM-D materials are acceptable only in domestic mail via surface transportation when properly prepared under 342.3 and Packaging Instruction 2A in Appendix C."

So as long as no one flags them during the distribution chain between Atlanta and Denver, I should be all right.Be aware that not all PO accept General Delivery packages unless the recipient has a "General Delivery Account" setup with that particular PO. I was told by my local PM that they do not accept General Delivery packages unless an account is setup prior to the package's arrival.

Obviously, the PO along the AT don't have this policy, otherwise we'd have some very angry hikers.

Well, I learn something new every day! Thanks for the tip. According to the USPS, not all post offices are set up for general delivery. But you can call them and they will tell you what P.O.'s in the area you are visiting are. If a P.O. is set up for general delivery, you do not have to set up an account but only provide a photo I.D. in order to recover your maildrop.

Man, venture off the AT and it feels like you're reinventing the wheel all over again!

-- BookBurner
www.enlightenedthruhiker.com

a 3.5oz canister will last me 10 days cooking 2 times a day in my jet boil
so i will pick up a new one when needed at local outfitters along trail
so if i carry a 7 oz canister i am good for a 2 and a half week section hike no problem,i tried esbit and alcohol,not my cup of tea,but they do have a cult following:cool: neo