Planning and Trail Resupply

This past week I’ve been busy with filling resupply boxes with goodies and supplies that I will want and need for a long distance hike. Mostly, food, snacks, supplements, water treatment, batteries, cold weather gear, yes it is summer, but I will encounter colder temps at higher elevations. Everything I hope to need can easily be shipped to trail towns and hostels via USPS.  

With careful upfront planning a resupply box can save a lot of time in town, sometimes I can skip going to a grocery altogether and with my limited diet I’m assured to the get healthy food that I can eat. If a grocery store is convenient meaning I don’t have to walk all the way across town then I can pick up a few fresh items like fruit, carrots or avocados, foods stocked in convenience stores are not foods I eat so I don’t usually look there.Resupply boxes also enable me to carry very small amounts of items that I only need now and then like balms, bug juice, etc., I simply refill as I go.

The downside to shipping supplies to a Post Office is you have to make it to the PO before it closes…usually by noon or before on Saturdays…and if Monday is a holiday and you miss the closing time you could be in for a long and expensive stay in town. You may need to hike a few extra miles for a day or two or slow down in order to avoid missing a closing. Some locations such as outfitters and hostels accept mail for hikers this is a good alternative and should be considered prior to shipping.Whenever possible I choose my resupply stops based on how far off the trail the PO or other location that accepts mail for hikers is located…I hate road walks, so the closer the better.When planning for a resupply stop there are many things I take into consideration based on trail miles, terrain, average weather and what I expect to need for the next section. I do this by reviewing topo maps, reading trail data books, researching past weather averages and talking to other backpackers who have hiked the same section.

Example One:I know from research one section is known for being extremely wet and muddy. So in my resupply box I will include a few plastic bags for my feet.

Example Two:Another section is known for high winds and colder temps this is also a section with rugged ascents and descents. So I won’t be able to hike as many miles per day as I would other sections, and know to plan for extra food as it will take me a little longer to get through this section.

Example Three: I won’t need cold weather gear until later on in my hike (unless a freak storm develops) so there is no need to carry addition weight and gear in the early part of my hike, this gear will be shipped to me just prior to entering this section.

I know from experience how much trail food I eat in a day; my food needs are carefully calculated and weighed prior packing each resupply box. The less weight I carry the more miles I can cover per day and I’ve gotten pretty darn good at figuring out how much to pack without over packing. After all I’m not going to starve to death if a section takes me a half-day longer, I may be a little hungry is all.  If I see a section is going to take me a day longer than I anticipated then I can ration the food I have with me in order to stretch it out a little, still it’s not a huge concern to me in the summer months, winter conditions require a different plan. And along the AT you’re never very far from a trail town.

As you can imagine this type of planning can be very time consuming upfront, however I believe it’s time well spent and knowing what I receive is what I will want and need in order to better enjoy my hike. I’m not saying the this kind of resupply plan is for everyone, it’s what works for me, you may be perfectly fine winging it with a quick stop at a convenience store or gas station…more power to you if you do, it would certainly make things easier and faster if you can.