what do people usuually put in mail drops besides chow

[kritter]

I started planning my maildrops but haven't figured what I need too send in them besides fuel for my jetboil stove, viatmins and protien powder. I plan on buying all of my food along the way because it seems easier then planning out elaborate meals so far ahead of time. Everyone makes it seem like maildrops are so important, what else do you guys send to the trail?

[EWS]

Maps are the only thing that I may drop, though I'm still trying figure out a work around for those too.

You can get canister fuel along the way.

[Peaks]

Mail drops for items that are hard to get along the trail:

Maps certainly are a major item. Why carry maps that you don't need right away.

pages from Companion: same reason as maps

Prescription medications, if you need them.

Film, but not so much with digital. but you might mail SD cards back and forth.

special foods, if you can't rely on normal grocery items.

Pick up summer gear at Pearisburg. (mail back cold weather gear)

Pick up cold weather gear in New Hampshire (mail back warm weather gear).

[Flush2wice]

...and the important things like whiskey and cigars.

[johnny quest]

im considering a bounce box for things i will use periodically. would that idea help?

[EWS]

Film, but not so much with digital. but you might mail SD cards back and forth.

2GB Micro SD cards are now $13. Link They weight less than an ounce and a few should last you the entire trial if you don't go jappy.

...and the important things like whiskey and cigars.

If you can't get whiskey along the way, I ain't goin'

[EWS]

im considering a bounce box for things i will use periodically. would that idea help?

If it isn't worth carrying, it isn't worth trying to play keep up with in POs.

[Smile]

Spare odd size batteries, Alternate clothing, socks, bottle of Vitamin I ( for refilling your regular stash if you carry it) baby wipes to refill your stash, extra stakes, bottle of basic spice/salt for foods, list of names/addresses/ phone numbers, and like Peaks said: SD cards and specialty foods.

I don't know what other people did out there, but for things like food spice/salt, I only carried a little bit, and didn't want to buy a whole container of it so I just kept refilling from a custom mix including salt that I made at home. Same with Baby wipes, just keep peeling off a stack from the box in my drop box till they were gone, you can't always buy them in little packets.

I'd be interested in learning from other people's mail drop lists, does anyone keep a list for this that would be willing to post it?

[johnny quest]

i can only tell you what i think i will put in my bounce box. i realize that much of what i plan will change once im out there. pretty much they consistof things i can buy cheaper in bulk and resupply as i need them.
large bottles of meds to restock from
premade jamoke to restock from
batteries
electric shaver
maps

[EWS]

Somethings may be cheaper to buy in bulk, but if you figure in shipping cost(s) your outlook may change.

A "bounce" a few cheap things, can cost than more the stuff is worth.

[MOWGLI]

Somethings may be cheaper to buy in bulk, but if you figure in shipping cost(s) your outlook may change.

A "bounce" a few cheap things, can cost than more the stuff is worth.

I figured that out early on and stopped bouncing a box. But I was limited with my finances. Others find out that chasing post offices is more trouble than it's worth. Still others swear by a bounce box. I think they are becoming less popular however. There is so much info available about resupply along the AT. You can pretty much buy whatever you need along the way. Meds would be a good exception, although with chain drugstores, you can find an Eckerd, CVS or Walgreens just about anywhere in the US.

[Phlashlite]

Oorah and I started out with bounce boxes and soon found them to be more trouble than they were worth. It is hard to get to a post office when they are open and sometimes we hiked faster than the post office got the package there. In fact I am still trying to track down 3 packages. When we hike again we will just buy along the way except the evening meal which we buy freeze dry in bulk and make our own. We learned to have a 30 day supply sent to us by our daughter them broke it down ourselves and sent it on to our destination. We tried using hostels and places other than PO's this seemed to work better. Good luck with your hike!

[bigcranky]

In mail drops: Food that I can't get locally (homemade granola, that sort of thing). Meds. Maps, guidebook pages.

Fuel can be an issue. You can mail canister fuel (tho some P.O. employees don't know this), but it requires a special label and ground shipment, and can seriously slow down the package. Easier to buy along the way.

[neo]

i buy batteries in bulk cheaply
i mail myself batteries,extra insulin needles,food,toilest paper
hand sanitizer,fuel canisters,they can be mailed ground mail
only neo

[Sly]

If you can't get whiskey along the way, I ain't goin'

You better rethink that. I'm not sure where the 1st liquor store near the trail is but, if I'm not mistaken it's hundreds of miles.

[Lone Wolf]

You better rethink that. I'm not sure where the 1st liquor store,near the trail is but, if I'm not mistaken it's hundreds of miles.

Helen, Ga.
Franklin, N.C.
Bryson City, N.C.
Gatlinburg, Tn.

[Sly]

Helen, Ga.
Franklin, N.C.
Bryson City, N.C.
Gatlinburg, Tn.

Yup, all side trips. Maybe I should have said on trail. At least you can get a shuttle to and from Franklin.

So... does anyone recall where the 1st liquor store on trail is? I'm thinking Hanover!

[Hikerhead]

There's not on in Hot Springs or Damascus? I know there's one in Daleville Va about 1/4 mile away down the road beside of Krogers.

[Lone Wolf]

There's not on in Hot Springs or Damascus? I know there's one in Daleville Va about 1/4 mile away down the road beside of Krogers.

Ramsey's store in Hot Springs used to be a state liquor store. Couldn't buy beer in town. The closest liquor store to Damascus is 12 miles away in Abingdon.

[CaseyB]

VA is weird about selling liquor. Only the state can sell it, and there's usually only 1 ABC store per county. I know some of the moutain counties south of here are dry but the VA thing has more to do w/the state control (monopoly) on liquor sales than the local feelings towards booze.