Originally Posted by
map man
Matt Kirk,
Since you've thru-hiked twice already you have way more experience than I have, but working out the logistics of a hike like you proposed proved irresistable to me, so here are some thoughts:
Your first question, which towns/resupply points would be must stops? The towns with a decent number of services that the trail goes right through -- namely (in order for a south-bounder),
Hanover NH
Dalton MA
Delaware Water Gap PA
Duncannon PA
Harpers Ferry WV?
Daleville VA
Damascus VA
Hot Springs NC
A second related question would be, which towns that are normally popular with thru-hikers should I avoid because they are farther away from the trail than is ideal for a walking resupply (again going SOBO)?
Stratton ME
Rangeley ME
Andover ME
Manchester Center VT
Vernon NJ
Front Royal VA
Waynesboro VA
Fontana NC
Franklin NC
Hiawassee GA
So what would a hypothetical itinerary look like for a self-supported-no-motor-assist 60 day thru-hike?
Katahdin
117.8 miles, 3 days, 39.3 miles per day
Monson ME (2.2 miles off trail), Shaw's Lodging (bed, shower, laundry, meals, accepts mail drops)
180.5 miles, 6 days, 30.1 miles per day
Gorham NH (.1 mile off trail), White Mountain Lodge and Hostel (bed, shower, laundry, accepts mail drops)
100.6 miles, 3 days, 33.5 miles per day
Glencliff NH (.2 miles off trail), Hikers Welcome Hostel (bed, shower, laundry, accepts mail drops)
43.3 miles, 1.5 days, 28.9 miles per day
Hanover NH, Hanover Food Co-Op (food resupply)
177.9 miles, 4.5 days, 39.5 miles per day
Dalton MA, Cumberland Farms (limited grocery), multiple lodging options (bed, shower at least)
102.9, 2.5 days, 41.0 miles per day
Kent CT, .8 miles off trail to Kent Market (limited grocery), 1.6 miles off trail to IGA (full grocery)
173.6 miles, 4.5 days, 38.6 miles per day
DWG PA, Church of the Mountain Hostel (bed, shower), .6 miles off trail to Amoco (BP?) Mart (limited grocery)
146.7 miles, 4 days, 36.7 miles per day
Duncannon PA, Doyle Hotel (bed, shower, laundry, restaurant, accepts mail drops)
144.2 miles, 4 days, 36.1 miles per day
Bears Den Hostel VA, (.2 miles off trail) (bed, shower, laundry, accepts mail drops)
113 miles, 3 days, 37.7 miles per day
Loft Mtn. Campground and Store (SNP) (.2 miles off trail) (shower, laundry, limited grocery)
161.2 miles, 4 days, 40.3 miles per day
Daleville VA, (.2 miles off trail) Econolodge or Howard Johnsons (bed, shower, laundry, accept mail drops)
103.1 miles, 3 days, 34.4 miles per day
Woods Hole Hostel VA, (.5 miles off trail) (bed, shower, laundry, meals, accepts mail drops)
152.5 miles, 4 days, 38.1 miles per day
Damascus VA, Mt. Rogers Outfitters accepts mail drops, lodging, other services except grocery on trail
50.6 miles, 1 day, 50.6 miles per day
Kincora Hostel TN, (.2 miles off trail) (bed, shower, laundry, accepts mail drops)
74.3 miles, 2 days, 37.2 miles per day
Uncle Johnny's Hostel TN (Erwin) (bed, shower, laundry, accepts mail drops)
68.1 miles, 2 days, 34.1 miles per day
Hot Springs NC, multiple services including lodging and full grocery on trail
32.7 miles, 1 day, 32.7 miles per day
Standing Bear Farm Hostel NC, (.1 mile off trail) (bed, shower, laundry, accepts mail drops)
103.9 miles, 3 days, 34.6 miles per day
Nantahala Outdoor Center NC (bed, shower, laundry, restaurant, accepts mail drops)
105.4 miles, 3 days, 35.1 miles per day
Mountain Crossings Hostel GA (bed, shower, laundry, accepts mail drops)
31.7 miles, 1 day, 31.7 miles per day
Springer
All trips off trail are under a mile except for Monson, and that seems unavoidable (Katahdin to Gorham is an awful long carry between resupplies). A principle I use throughout is that it's better to get lots of services under one roof (like at a hostel or some motels), than to traipse all over a trail town for separate stops for food resupply, laundry, shower, etc.
The itinerary assumes that mail drops are in the spirit of a "self-supported" hike whether it is you or someone else at home that prepares and sends them. Reading through the FKT web site (that you linked to) distinctions between supported and self-supported hikes, mail drops seem to fall in the self-supported category. If you wanted to be a purist you could prepare and send all of them yourself before the hike (using foods with long shelf lives). Since all of the mail drops would be at businesses instead of post offices there would be no limit on how long they could be held for you.
You would want to consult a new 2012 guidebook like the AT Companion to make sure of addresses and that all the info here is still correct.