View Full Version : Anybody do a thru hike without mail drop offs?
Woodhawk
02-20-2011, 23:37
I'm planning a thru hike this year in early to mid April and cannot do mail drop offs, is it easy enough to restock on food and suppies along the trail in towns? Any info would be much appreciated!!
Blissful
02-20-2011, 23:40
This has been talked about extensively here on WB. Do a search and you'll find a wealth of info on the resupply option, along with Jack's article on resupplying (under the articles forum).
Ox97GaMe
02-20-2011, 23:53
it can be done. I did my 97 thruhike without a single mail drop. And there are a lot more opportunities now to resupply than there were back then. But as Blister said... do a search on the forum for this. There are hundreds of posts to give you more specifics.
i had mail drops but there were a few times completely restockd in town. so id say u could do the whole thng jus goin into town and doin ur thing.
garlic08
02-21-2011, 09:44
Food you can definitely find enough of on the way. I did a couple of drops for new shoes and socks and guidebook sections. Most hikers do a few drops.
Lone Wolf
02-21-2011, 10:23
I'm planning a thru hike this year in early to mid April and cannot do mail drop offs, is it easy enough to restock on food and suppies along the trail in towns? Any info would be much appreciated!!
yes. i never did mail drops for food
You don't need to do mail drops for food. Going into a town to resupply is more fun. Happy trails.:sun
plus somtimes ur mood chnges and wht u sent urself isnt wht ur tryn to eat at tht moment..
plus somtimes ur mood chnges and wht u sent urself isnt wht ur tryn to eat at tht moment..He said, "Plus sometimes your mood changes and waht you sent yourself isn't what you're trying to eat at that moment". Thank you and have a pleasant tomorrow. :D
bigmac_in
02-21-2011, 11:58
He said, "Plus sometimes your mood changes and waht you sent yourself isn't what you're trying to eat at that moment". Thank you and have a pleasant tomorrow. :D
He said - "He said, "Plus sometimes your mood changes and what you sent yourself isn't what you're trying to eat at that moment". Thank you and have a pleasant tomorrow. :D"
Thank you and have a pleasant today.:p
Sassafras Lass
02-21-2011, 12:25
I'm planning a thru hike this year in early to mid April and cannot do mail drop offs, is it easy enough to restock on food and suppies along the trail in towns? Any info would be much appreciated!!
We're starting the approach trail March 27th and will be completely resupplying via towns. Don't foresee any issues with this and gives us the freedom to enter and exit town when we choose, instead of adhering to post office hours (with the exception of missing the grocery store by arriving @ midnight or whatever).
Sickmont
02-21-2011, 13:42
Only sort of mailing i intend to do is basically a bounce box for some winter stuff
ChinoMike
03-16-2011, 20:22
In 2005 the only mail drop I did was for food prior to entering Smokies. Everything else I purchased in towns along the way.
brian039
03-16-2011, 22:20
No need to do mail-drops, you'll need to switch out cold/warm weather gear after Mt Rogers and then again before the Whites. Re-supply is easy, you could be completely brain-dead and still figure it out. I never planned anything, that's half the fun!
downs117
03-24-2011, 16:16
I leave april 2011 and have done zero planning as far as daily miles or mail drops
Mail drops seem like a hastle to me, but "bouncing" supplies seems to be a lot more convenient: buy extra food and send ahead instead of having somebody at home mail it where-ever they think you may be.
Any place though that a mail drop would be preferred to a on trail business that would save the hassle of going to town and resupplying. I have extra food here and am definitely planning a drop to Neels Gap, and the NOC. ANy other convenience induced spots. I'm not really interested in any "must see towns" I'm broke, and find that although towns offer something, they tend to take all my money. I'm trying to go far on little this year and want to avoid towns besides for a shower or the occasional AYCE.