Worst towns for resupply?

[Spot In The Sky]

Hey Team,

Going SoBo starting end of June and dont plan on doing too many mail drops but I know some towns are better than others for resupplying so if any in particular stand out where Im definitely better off getting a mail drop that shopping in the nearest town Id love to hear it!

Thanks-

[BigFoot2002]

Check the resupply advice in the articles section. I found that Jack Tarlin's advice works very well SOBO.

[Blissful]

Well NOBO I'd say drop at NOC, but that may not be needed SOBO depending on your mileage by then. Possibly Fontana Dam (although I've stay at the Hike Inn and they shuttle). Maybe drop also at DWG and Port Clinton - the POS are right by the trail too
As far as up north, I plan to drop at Carratunk. But I drop more often anyway d/t meds and food preferences

I listed my '07 drops on my blog. Mine will vary though this yr.

[Ramble~On]

Port Clinton!

[fiddlehead]

Yeah, you really should read the threads on resupply.

But, until you do, here is my opinion on the worst (SOBO):

Andover, ME
Glencliff, NH
Bear Mt, NY
Port Clinton, PA
Pen Mar, PA
Harpers Ferry, WV

Keep in mind, there are other choices, but if you rely on these, you might be wise to send yourself a package.

[Chaco Taco]

Stay outta Kent, CT

[Mountain Wildman]

Stay outta Kent, CT

What's up with Kent?

[Chaco Taco]

What's up with Kent?

Well, the prices are higher than any other town. Yes I do know its CT. Also, we had a run in with the guy that owned the laundromat. He was very rude to us for absolutely no reason. The "outfitter" was kinda lame. Just not really a trail kinda town. its a beautiful little town, just kinda looked at hikers as outcast

[Mountain Wildman]

Well, the prices are higher than any other town. Yes I do know its CT. Also, we had a run in with the guy that owned the laundromat. He was very rude to us for absolutely no reason. The "outfitter" was kinda lame. Just not really a trail kinda town. its a beautiful little town, just kinda looked at hikers as outcast

I had a feeling it was something like that, I grew up in Southern Ct.
Closer to N.Y., Not much different there either, If you survive that is!!
Thanks, I'll just do a mail drop on my Thru next year.

[Chaco Taco]

I had a feeling it was something like that, I grew up in Southern Ct.
Closer to N.Y., Not much different there either, If you survive that is!!
Thanks, I'll just do a mail drop on my Thru next year.

Oh yea but the people at the PO were awesome. I will say that.

[stranger]

I haven't hiked north of New York in many years now, but I would consider maildrops in the following places:

- Bear Mountain (the PO has very limited hours and may close, if so Fort Montgomery may be useful, or Arden, NY)
- Delaware Water Gap
- Port Clinton
- Harpers Ferry
- Montebello
- Troutdale
- Elk Park, Roan Mountain
- NOC
- Fontana Dam

[Blue Jay]

Bagdad, the hitch is horrendous and the damn Marines eat all the Poptarts.

[10-K]

Stay outta Kent, CT

Oh man... I wish you hadn't said that.. I was looking forward to stopping there on my first town stop after leaving Bear Mt.

My plan for Kent is to switch from esbit to isobutane (picked up at the outfitter), get a shower and do laundry and resupply to get to Salisbury.

Please tell me that'll work.

[Pootz]

Delaware Water Gap
Port Clinton
Harper's Ferry
NOC
The Whites
Neels GAP

I am sure there are others I cant remember. That being said: I did not use maildrops, never went hungry and left each and every town with enough food. Food along the AT is not something you need to worry about unless you are a picky eater.

Contrary to other opinions I had no problem resupplying at fontana Dam and loved Kent CT.

Enjoy your hike

[white_russian]

Caratunk is a must. Don't send it to the PO though, send it to the Northern Outdoor Center up the road. The place is awesome: they have free showers and hot tub usage as well as a very good restaurant. River guides drive up and down that road a lot and they are cool with hikers so getting a hitch isn't hard.

[Jack Tarlin]

All good advice so far. And while at least 95% of my re-supply article is still accurate (especially as regards how long it will take to hike specific sections of the Trail), the article hasn't been updated for a few years. Several listed places (like Miss Janet's in Erwin for example have closed); several places (like Fontana Village) have better re-supply than they did in years past, and there are quite a few places (especially in Pennsylvania) that are OK for re-supply but aren't mentioned in the Article. Your best resource is a current Trail guidebook/handbook.

That being said, were I to thru-hike again, this is where I'd strongly suggest sending a food drop, either because the food available at these places is either sparse, over-priced, or way off the Trail.

*The Nantahala Outdoor Center
*Fontana Village
*Harpers Ferry WV
*Bear MT. NY assuming the P.O. is operational
*Caratunk ME

I would have said Port Clinton PA but most folks these days have no troble getting to nearby Hamburg; hikers should be aware that the grocery/convenience stores in Andover and Monson Maine are OK but not great. Oh, and Montebello VA might be good, too, especially if yo plan to stay at the excellent hostel there.

[10-K]

All good advice so far. And while at least 95% of my re-supply article is still accurate (especially as regards how long it will take to hike specific sections of the Trail), the article hasn't been updated for a few years..

I was going to ask you about this...

Since the economy has been the way it has since you originally wrote the article I was wondering if some of the establishments were no longer in business.

Excellent article btw, thanks for taking the time to write it.

[Captain Blue]

Is this a thread about the worst towns for resupply or best towns?

My advice is to avoid Peekskill, NY. I resupplied there once. Never again. Too close to New York City, too big, and few people know what the Appalachian Trail is.

[Tennessee Viking]

I haven't hiked north of New York in many years now, but I would consider maildrops in the following places:

- Bear Mountain (the PO has very limited hours and may close, if so Fort Montgomery may be useful, or Arden, NY)
- Delaware Water Gap
- Port Clinton
- Harpers Ferry
- Montebello
- Troutdale
- Elk Park, Roan Mountain
- NOC
- Fontana Dam

Roan Mtn has a new small grocery store now. Besides you are around two days from Hampton/Dennis Cove, you can make a big supply run into Elizabethton to Whit es/Ingles/FoodCity/WalMart. Then there is Browns in Hampton.

[Spot In The Sky]

THe thread is about the worst place to resupply from the towns resources, meaning I should have a mail drop sent to said towns.
Thank you everyone for your advice-