View Full Version : Is there a list of Towns that are not good for resupply?
I'm planning my 2020 SoBo, and was wondering if there is a list of towns that are not good for resupply? Maybe to expensive? Not a great selection? Not great locations?
My plan is to have someone mail me drops in or around these areas to keep costs down.
Thanks in advance.
Starchild
08-19-2019, 12:09
Fontana Dam is not great, overpriced and limited selection, OK to get the G-burg but slim pickings if one wanted to traverse the smokies w/o stop (NoBo assumed, SoBo it's a shorter trip to NOC)
Edit: I see you are going SoBo, so it's perhaps 2-3 days, still I would drop something there.
Slo-go'en
08-19-2019, 16:14
I didn't had problem with the Fontana village store. I didn't think the prices were too bad and the selection good enough to get me through the park. But SOBO you'd have to stock up at Hot Springs (at the Dollar General) or at Standing Bear, both poor options. Gatlinburg is also a poor resupply, getting to the supermarket is a 2 hour trolley ride - one way.
With the exception of Rangeley which has a real supermarket, resupply will be of limited selection and expensive the length of Maine.
Salisbury, CT has the worlds most expensive IGA.
Between a couple of meals and a few days of resupply, I dropped nearly a $100 at the AT Deli in NY.
It would probably be easier to list the towns where food is easy and relatively inexpensive to get since there aren't all that many of them!
trailmercury
08-19-2019, 17:53
like this?
https://whiteblaze.net/forum/at-resupply.php
https://whiteblaze.net/forum/content.php/1105-AT-Resupply-information-from-Springer-MT-Georgia-to-Mount-Katahdin-Maine
even though Jack's list is from 2007, it's still a decent list.
trailmercury
08-19-2019, 17:55
https://whiteblaze.net/forum/content.php/1105-AT-Resupply-information-from-Springer-MT-Georgia-to-Mount-Katahdin-Maine
trailmercury
08-19-2019, 17:55
https://whiteblaze.net/forum/content.php/1344-Resuppling-within-one-miles-from-the-Appalachian-Trail-for-a-thru-hike
aberfoyle
08-20-2019, 08:30
I didn't had problem with the Fontana village store. I didn't think the prices were too bad and the selection good enough to get me through the park. But SOBO you'd have to stock up at Hot Springs (at the Dollar General) or at Standing Bear, both poor options. Gatlinburg is also a poor resupply, getting to the supermarket is a 2 hour trolley ride - one way.
With the exception of Rangeley which has a real supermarket, resupply will be of limited selection and expensive the length of Maine.
Salisbury, CT has the worlds most expensive IGA.
Between a couple of meals and a few days of resupply, I dropped nearly a $100 at the AT Deli in NY.
It would probably be easier to list the towns where food is easy and relatively inexpensive to get since there aren't all that many of them!
I haven't attempted the AT yet but having been to Gatlinburg before, I can easily see why it would be avoided. Does anyone ever hitch the other direction to Cherokee NC? Roughly same distance from Newfound Gap. Smaller town and easier to get around, lower price accommodations in general. Harder to hitch maybe?
I haven't attempted the AT yet but having been to Gatlinburg before, I can easily see why it would be avoided. Does anyone ever hitch the other direction to Cherokee NC? Roughly same distance from Newfound Gap. Smaller town and easier to get around, lower price accommodations in general. Harder to hitch maybe?
i havent tried that hitch yet but i would assume it would be almost as easy as a hitch into gatlinburg...
tons of traffic still goes that way...
i think most people go into gatlinburg because theres a grocery store that's on the trolley line...
so, hitch into town----hop trolley over to grocery store, then whatever happens next..
i dont think (and its been a few years since ive really looked) that cherokee has a decent enough grocery store that's easily accessible........
i havent tried that hitch yet but i would assume it would be almost as easy as a hitch into gatlinburg...
tons of traffic still goes that way...
i think most people go into gatlinburg because theres a grocery store that's on the trolley line...
so, hitch into town----hop trolley over to grocery store, then whatever happens next..
i dont think (and its been a few years since ive really looked) that cherokee has a decent enough grocery store that's easily accessible........
Cherokee is much more of a tourist attraction than a place to resupply.
Thank you. Great links above @Trailmercury.
Does the AWOL guide list the towns and which are good for resupply or not? I have yet to pick one up. Probably soon so that I can get used to it, and help with what little planning I plan on doing.
Thanks again
trailmercury
08-20-2019, 12:14
Thank you. Great links above @Trailmercury.
Does the AWOL guide list the towns and which are good for resupply or not? I have yet to pick one up. Probably soon so that I can get used to it, and help with what little planning I plan on doing.
Thanks again
Yes AWOL is great for this. Also you can buy a NOBO or SOBO version of AWOL!
Traveler
08-21-2019, 07:07
Is the SOBO that much different than the NOBO book, other than starting at the end of the book and/or trail descriptions? All the off-trail information would be the same I would think. To me its kind of like pulling a nail out of a pouch with the nailhead facing the board and figuring its for the other side of the board, but maybe I am missing something?
fastfoxengineering
08-21-2019, 07:55
Is the SOBO that much different than the NOBO book, other than starting at the end of the book and/or trail descriptions? All the off-trail information would be the same I would think. To me its kind of like pulling a nail out of a pouch with the nailhead facing the board and figuring its for the other side of the board, but maybe I am missing something?Tis the same to my knowledge. In reverse order.
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aberfoyle
08-21-2019, 08:25
Cherokee is much more of a tourist attraction than a place to resupply.
Cherokee has a Food Lion grocery store, several hotels/motels, restaurants, and a Family Dollar. Seems sufficient (and less congested than G-burg) but I'm interested to know why it wouldn't be.
peakbagger
08-21-2019, 09:04
Its been 15 years but I thought Cherokee was quite a nice town for resupply. Sure there is a Casino in town and at the time some vestiges of tourist trap type attractions on the main drag heading into town but I expect the hitch is easy as its compact town. Gatlinburg seemed to be far more sprawl and a lot easier to waste a day on resupply.