Maildrops

[Ender]

OK, I'll start a thread here. Why not.

Maildrops, at least for the first 1200 miles, aren't needed. I went completely without them, though I did have a bounce box that I rarely touched, but never used the mail to resuply.

After Donner pass though I can't say as that's how far I made it, but before that it's easy to get hitches into towns, even the really long hitches (20+ miles), and the town stores are surprisingly well stocked.

Anyway, just figured I'd put something in here to get this forum started.

[footslogger]

OK, I'll start a thread here. Why not.

Maildrops, at least for the first 1200 miles, aren't needed. I went completely without them, though I did have a bounce box that I rarely touched, but never used the mail to resuply.

After Donner pass though I can't say as that's how far I made it, but before that it's easy to get hitches into towns, even the really long hitches (20+ miles), and the town stores are surprisingly well stocked.

Anyway, just figured I'd put something in here to get this forum started.

=============================

Good feedback. Actually I heard the same from some 06 hikers. They told me they were pretty much a necessity in Oregon and Wash though.

[chai guy]

Between Mexico and Cascade Locks, there would be only two places that I would choose to mail a package

1. Muir Trail Ranch- I'd mail a package here and avoid the long journey off trail to the Sierra towns saving me time, and miles it would also allow me to avoid VVR. Mailing a package here costs $40 and you must mail it in a 5 gallon bucket. Well worth the hassle and expense if you ask me.
http://www.muirtrailranch.com/backpacker.html

2. Belden- This is the only trail town south of Cascade Locks that I felt I really couldn't resupply out of.

Also worth noting, I'd hitchike from Dunsmuir/Castella (or take the bus) to Shasta City for resupply as Shasta City has a food co-op and full service grocery store.

[girlscout]

i also did the buy-as-you-go thing, which for me was the only sane option. i did some mail-ahead drops thru oregon and washington, but every time i found that, for me, the little store that everyone said you couldn't resupply out of turned out to be sufficient for my appetite. so if i had to do it again, there are very very few places where i'd send a maildrop.

i used a bounce bucket too, which i sent ahead about 10 days at a time, and i'd do that again too.

[Picks-Up-Stones]

I mailed food to Stehekin last year. I had a
note that they opened P.O. for an hour or
so on Sarurdays. I cant confirm that with info
on the web or calling Chelan P.O. Does anyone
have any added info on that?

[footslogger]

i used a bounce bucket too, which i sent ahead about 10 days at a time, and i'd do that again too.

================================

I used a bounce box on the AT in 2003. Curious what items you found helpful/necessary in the bounce bucket ...and does it HAVE to be a bucket ??

[Lucky]

I used a bounce box. It was actually a kitty little pail with a snap on lid. I wouldn't use one again.

Yogi's book has a great section on bounce boxes and what to put in them. I followed that advise and included stuff I thought I'd need (nail clippers, etc) but didn't want to carry, replacement gear (extra tarp stakes, etc.), and a charger for my MP3 player. As I went, I also added excess ziplocks, extra batteries, and spices.

I think I ended up spending a ton more on postage that if I bought anything I needed along the way. Additionally, a bounce box locks you into getting to town by a certain day & time (when the PO is open).

I like the idea of leaving the bounce box at home and, if you do need anything out of it, just ask your "resupply person" to send it to you next stop on the trail. Throw your extra ziplocks in the hiker box and get some out of the next box.

Lucky

[chai guy]

I agree, the best and cheapest way to get stuff is to buy what you need in town and if you find there is something specific you need, then have it sent from your pile at home by a friend or relative.

Bounce buckets have also been known to get lost in the mail from time to time.