Late Season SOBO Resupply

[Why Not]

I'm new to White Blaze. I have not hiked the AT. I'm trying to help a friend.

My friend is just finishing the CDT. After the CDT he is planning on hiking the AT SoBo. He knows that Katahdin closes October 15th. He also realizes that one of his biggest challenges will be to get thru Maine and New Hampshire before the weather turns. I talked to him yesterday. He hasn’t done much research yet on the AT as far as resupply options. He wants to mostly buy as he goes.

He wants to know if there are resupply places that will be closed because he is hiking so late in the season, so the only option is a mail drop. He also wants to know if there are places that he really should mail a box and/or places that having a mail drop would make things much easier. He’s hoping that mailing 4 or 5 boxes will be enough and wants to know where he should have them mailed. He will mail more if it will help expedite the hike. Also any suggestions other than post offices would be nice.


Any help that you can give me will be appreciated.

Why Not?! PCT 2009, CDT 2012

[Blissful]

You'll need a drop at NOC, the store there Wii be closed (if he makes it that far. Which is uncertain. Supposed to be a snowy winter)

[Why Not]

Thank you.
He knows it's a long shot.
He started the CDT on August 3rd.
Check out his website at WWW.thehikinglife.com
It's amazing what he has done this past year.

[Donde]

the store at Fontana will be closed then. low odds Good Luck

[moytoy]

NOC? Fontana? OP is asking for resupply in Maine. Or did I miss something?

[Don H]

Sounds to me like he wants to SOBO starting now and needs to know if resupply options are closed.
Lots of people finish NOBOs into late October even though Baxter closes 10/15 so resupply places should still be open.
Best thing to do is get a guide book (AT Guide by David Miller is my recommendation) and call to verify.

Your friend might need to arrange a ferry across the Kennebec.

[fiddlehead]

If he did the CDT in 60 days, he'll probably make it.
He can ford the Kennebec early in the morning, before the release.
Hiking SOBO, the deepest part is right at the beginning.

Some of the huts in the whites may be closed when he comes through.
Some hostels will be closed.
Some state parks will be closed. (I remember one in NY and one in PA closed when we did our winter SOBO hike in 2001/2002 anyway)

Shenendoah National Park stores will be closed.
Some hotels will be closed (mom and pop places, I remember one in NY and one in VA closed)

That's all I can remember from 10 years ago.
Here's a link to our journal that year if you want to read through it.
It reads backwards so, you'll have to go way back: http://triplecrownoneyear.tripod.com/index.htm

[Jeff]

Shaws in Monson officially closes October 15th but they are around til the end of the month. Still, I would call them to confirm.

[Slo-go'en]

I think he's gonna find trying to do big miles this time of year in Maine and NH is not easy. Be that as it may,

It might be easier to list the places where resupply isn't a problem. For New England, here's what comes to mind:

Rangley, ME
Andover, ME (limited)
Gorham, NH
Hanover, NH
Rutland, VT (bus from inn at long trail)
Manchester Center, VT
Once into Mass and points south, lots of options for resupply

[Why Not]

Thanks. I have the info I need.