[at-l] HYOH and maildrops

> There are definitely some pros and cons to using maildrops on your hike.
My
> experience in using them (which I have done only once in 800 miles) and my
> observation of others who seemed to depend on them, is that the major
"con"
> of this resupply method is that it puts you are the mercy of the
government
> in planning your daily hiking schedule.  This is true because you must be
at
> the Post Office when they are open.  That means during specific hours of
the
> day, days of the week, and days of the year.  You will have to schedule
> around the Post Office being closed in the evening, on weekends, and on
> national holidays such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day,
as
> well as others I am probably missing.
>
> The four most common topics of discussion on the trail are, (1) Pack
Weight,
> (2) Mileage covered, (3) Equipment, and (4) FOOD!!!.  For those using mail
> drops there is a fifth topic, that being when the Post Office is open for
> the next drop.  I have seen this become the major consideration for a
number
> of hikers, and it turned the HYOH philosophy into a HTPOH (Hike The Post
> Office's Hike) for them.
>
> There are a number of good reasons to use maildrops, but the above should
be
> considered as one factor for not doing so.  It is not that difficult to
hike
> the AT without them, unless you are planning for some special personal
> requirements for diet, health needs, etc.
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>

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