View Full Version : Welcome and Un-welcome Mail:
Jack Tarlin
09-27-2006, 17:48
I have a question for the folks who've either just completed a thru-hike, or those who completed one in the past: What were some of the things you received in the mail from friends and family that were really welcome and useful to you while you were on your hike......and what were some of the things that weren't?
I think this thread could be useful for next year, for those who are planning to hike, or those who know somebody who is.
RedneckRye
09-27-2006, 19:45
The way I found that worked best to control my incoming mail was to "publicize" only the maildrops where I was planning on taking a zero. Also, I passed my folk's e-mail/phone info along to my list of friends that might want to send stuff. They served as gate-keepers to keep me from getting stuff in the mail that I couldn't use (a.k.a. EAT at the PO). In towns that were my planned zeros, usually I would be sending some sort of package back home right before I walked out of town, so mail that I didn't want to carry wasn't that big of a deal.
Best mail ever is from Angus, another hiker trash buddy of mine - a bottle of Makers Mark (conveniently repackaged into a Gatorade bottle), a pound of dried mango, some candied ginger, and some of the most vile, disgusting porn ever. I drank the bourbon, ate the fruit and mailed the porn back home - then wrapped his x-mas gift in it - then mailed it to his work address.
fiddlehead
09-27-2006, 21:00
you can't say that too many cookies is ever bad.
i can't even complaing about the time that Rainman sent me a six pack of Long Trail Ale to Steamboat Sprgs, Co and 5 of the 6 broke and the post master was pissed, as i got to at least drink the other one.
Or the time that Mr. Blister overnighted us about 20 lbs of food, much of it fresh but it got caught up in the loop as he sent it to Atlantic City, WY and it arrived there about 1 week later and finally caught up with us about a month later in MT. some of that food was rank but how do you say that was a bad thing? (sorry blister, i never told you about that)
It's all good, (everything i ever got sent out)
Sure there's too much sometimes but that just means you get to sit a while and eat or give it away to another hiker.
so, back to the question.
Good: cookies, cakes, candy, magazines, dried coconut milk, dried food, pot, dried meat, pesto (pct 96, everyone got to experience some of Joe's pesto), booze, even a blow up doll!
Bad: can't think of anything
irritable_badger
09-27-2006, 21:36
I don't think it's an issue of what particular items a person receives in the mail, but an issue of total quantity. After a few weeks receiving just about anything is pretty cool but people tend to send sooo much. For example, I mentioned I would like some hard-candies and when I picked up the package it contained almost 8 lbs of various candies. While the selection was great, all the people around me benefitted more from it than I did. I saw this over and over as people received huge quantities of "stuff" from home.
The moral of this story: get what you want from home, a bit of extra weight is not that big of a deal but make certain your people at home understand how much to send.
hopefulhiker
09-27-2006, 21:41
I really liked getting Penguin Mints, special homade oatmeal, dried fruit and other great stuff from my wife.. One cool, slightly corny thing she did was to put little strips of paper with motivational sayings in with my dehydrated food bags. Sometimes i would get too much stuff and have to give it away.
the goat
09-27-2006, 22:10
welcome: hommade cookies & cakes, good bourbon, good herb, bad herb too for that matter, cigarettes (when i smoked cigs), letters, clippings from the local paper, dried fruit, and generally anything i wasn't already eating.
unwelcome: too many packages of ramen...not that i mind much, just put it in the hiker box.
Jack- what were some of your welcome and unwelcome mail drop items?
If the box doesn't have a bottle in it - its nooo gooood!
Some unwanted items I have recieved in a mail drop. HHHmmm Fart Spray,
XXX lingerie, A year supply of condoms, I could go on. Anything from Billville could be questionable.
My favorites ring along the same lines already mentioned with baked goods.
:dance :dance :dance
Lone Wolf
09-27-2006, 22:59
I have a question for the folks who've either just completed a thru-hike, or those who completed one in the past: What were some of the things you received in the mail from friends and family that were really welcome and useful to you while you were on your hike......and what were some of the things that weren't?
I think this thread could be useful for next year, for those who are planning to hike, or those who know somebody who is.
My 1st thru-hike I received no packages from anybody. My choice. Things were easier then. Thru-hiking today is SOOOO complicated.
Once got a gross of condoms in a MD, there was only 133 in the box. Ruined my whole weekend!!!!!!!!!!! :)
Most welcome: Mom's chocolate chip cookies with peanut m&m's in em, and 50 bucks.
Least welcome: The Bible (I know they meant well, but....)
DiamondDoug
09-28-2006, 13:47
Dad used to send me peanut butter fudge. I kept thanking him, and kept asking him to send 1/2 pound boxes instead of the full pound. He just kept sending pound boxes, so I just kept sharing the first night or two after they arrived. So I guess it wasn't a bad thing...
Jack Tarlin
09-28-2006, 13:47
Boston:
I don't have a lot of family, so there was never a problem with people sending the wrong stuff, or nine thousand cookies, or any of the other things people are mentioning.
Unwelcome stuff: I've received a lot of books in the mail from well-meaning folks, most of which go home. I'm sorta picky about what I read out there.
On a few occasions, I've received unsolicited gear, either from individuals or manufacturers. Once again, well-meaning, but like everyone else, I like to pick out my own stuff.
Same goes for clothes. NEVER send a hiker clothing unless they've either asked for it directly, or you KNOW they need it.
REALLY unwelcome stuff: One year I kept getting a lot of religious literature as an old hiking partner thought it'd be amusing to give "Jews for Jesus!" my travelling itinerary. This person has since been killed. :D
Welcome stuff: Some of the best mail I ever got was total surprise stuff, like arriving at a hostel and discovering that a friend had pre-paid my stay, that sort of thing. Also, though this sounds crass, cash is always a nice surprise. On more than one occasion, I've arrived in a Trail town and found a card from a friend that had twenty bucks in it, with a note that said "Go get a pizza and some beer!" and that's exactly what I did. Oh, and if you want to hear from your friends, send them a phone card, I guarantee that'll get 'em to call you.
gr8fulyankee
09-28-2006, 14:32
Least welcome: The Bible (I know they meant well, but....)[/quote]
Are you kidding man, these thing are great for trying to start a campfire or you run out of TP!
y'all gonna burn in hell for that one.
If christians are worng...no worries right. If evolutionists are wrong, y'all gonna have some explaining to do.
and just a thought...if we EVOLVED from apes...why are there still apes???
not trying to start a pissing contest here...but don't slam mine and I'll leave you alone in your ignorance.
y'all gonna burn in hell for that one.
If christians are worng...no worries right. If evolutionists are wrong, y'all gonna have some explaining to do.
and just a thought...if we EVOLVED from apes...why are there still apes???
not trying to start a pissing contest here...but don't slam mine and I'll leave you alone in your ignorance.
If we didn't evolve why would there be any apes other than us?. Evolution expands diversity, rather than constricting it, so a variety of different types of primate fits the framework nicely.
max patch
09-29-2006, 11:27
Only myself and one other thru in Unionville. Got a large bottle - glass - of Jack Daniels mailed from a friend to the PO. Waay too much. Mailed it home unopened (to guard against leakage) to enjoy later. A couple of airplane sized bottles would have been much better.
I understand not wanting to carry the weight of any book including a Bible. I can also see why Jack would not want to be getting anybodies mass mailings on the trail or at home for that matter. But, it is interesting to me how people love to discriminate and slander other peoples values and rights. I would not treat lightly what anyone considers sacred.
Peace
Alan
irritable_badger
09-29-2006, 14:18
Only myself and one other thru in Unionville. Got a large bottle - glass - of Jack Daniels mailed from a friend to the PO. Waay too much. Mailed it home unopened (to guard against leakage) to enjoy later. A couple of airplane sized bottles would have been much better.
What exactly are you supposed to do with a couple of airplane sized bottles?
Buy the 750ml or 1.75l and put in in a Nalgene. Recycle the glass bottle.
My first answer to both questions is the same: in maildrop #1 wife sent a greeting card telling me how much she missed me. Fantastic card, great sentement, but I was already homesick. Called her, told her I was grateful for the card, but damn now I missed her even more. She laughed, said that was the desired effect, we talke for over 30 min, I was less homesick, carried the card rest of hike :p
The WORST thing ever in a mail drop, I sent myself, Quaker "Toastables" look like PopTarts, taste like PopTarts stored opened under a chicken coop for 2 years. This surprised me, I REALLY like almost everything from Quaker.
What I probably would like in a gift mail drop: Money, Grits (any flavor), Reese's anything, HOT jerky, cookies (thats COOKIES!!!!!), money, Small bottles of alcohol (maybe), Smartwool socks - large size, money, Mapdanas for next section - even if I already have that section, Food - in small amounts, money, AAA bateries for my camera.
What I probably would not like in a gift mail drop: Any gear / clothing not mentioned above or asked for, most sweets, perashables, canned food, reading material more than a greating card or VERY SMALL book - I too am picky on what I read on trail so likely the book would get sent back or tossed.
Doctari.
Alligator
09-29-2006, 14:57
...
What I probably would like in a gift mail drop: Money, Grits (any flavor), Reese's anything, HOT jerky, cookies (thats COOKIES!!!!!), money, Small bottles of alcohol (maybe), Smartwool socks - large size, money, Mapdanas for next section - even if I already have that section, Food - in small amounts, money, AAA bateries for my camera.
...
Doctari.I'm not sure money what you are asking for here$?
I'm not sure money what you are asking for here$?
Am I (Money) being (Money) too (Money) subtle here (Money)?
LOL
Doctari.
What I probably would like in a gift mail drop: Money, Grits (any flavor), Reese's anything, HOT jerky, cookies (thats COOKIES!!!!!), money, Small bottles of alcohol (maybe), Smartwool socks - large size, money, Mapdanas for next section - even if I already have that section, Food - in small amounts, money, AAA bateries for my camera.
Mapdanas? Is this (let me take a wild guess) some type of bandanna with a map on it? (good work, nancy drew!) I love this idea! I'll have to google it.
A co-worker once gave me a bandanna with images of mammal scat in order to identify them. It was a joke but we've used it quite a bit!
ShakeyLeggs
10-02-2006, 17:21
Mapdanas? Is this (let me take a wild guess) some type of bandanna with a map on it? (good work, nancy drew!) I love this idea! I'll have to google it.
A co-worker once gave me a bandanna with images of mammal scat in order to identify them. It was a joke but we've used it quite a bit!
No need to Google here ya go;
http://www.antigravitygear.com/store/index.php?cPath=1&osCsid=bee04459104e91bc8f8092a1bb812b63