[at-l] mail drops

[PMAnderson@apshealthcare.com (Anderson, Paula_(MD))]

there are lists in some of the planning workbooks - but its easiest to just
plan it for yourself to match how you hike.

if you have the maps & the aldha companion & databook - you simply sit down
w/ paper.  the next step depends on how much backpacking experience you have
and how good you are at knowing how far you will walk in a day given how
much daylite there is whenever you start.  If you really know your numbers
its easier.  Take the starting point.  Look thru the companion to see where
the next spot you hit is located that will accept maildrops or is near a
town.  From Springer this is Neels Gap.  Both Walasi-yi and goose creek
cabins accept drops.  thats 30 miles from springer summit, 38 from start of
approach.  divide distance by how many miles you think you can walk a day
given the daylite & terrain and then you have how many days food you need.
You need the maps if you don't know very well your speed.  You can look at
the profile and get an estimate of how much climbing is involved in each day
- kinda like asking yourself " how many long steep ups can I do today"  some
have few ups so you can do more miles, some are almost ALL up ( like outta
NOC ) and that 6 miles will take longer.  its all very relative to how far
you can go in a day comfortably.  Many people skip towns others use cuz they
can walk further from the start and what may take basic starters 4 days,
they do in 2.

You try to carry no more than 4-5 days of food or so.  Some long stretches
like smokies need 7 - but some people break that @ gatlinburg so still only
4-5 days food.  Best for carry weight is 3-4 days.

In the south, you can find a place to stop w/in the 4-5 day range very very
easily.  Further north, its a bit tougher unless your speed has increased
coorespondingly.  you either carry more or hitch further.  esp the blue
ridge area & btwn pearisburg & 220 interchange.

its really best to just calc it yourself rather than use others lists.  The
companion book indicates what businesses & hotels accept drops.  Try to use
hotels / hostels first, then businesses like outfitters, and post office
last.  by doing so, you can avoid the trap of "gotta rush to get to town
before the PO closes or its closed on Sunday and i'm stuck".  Even if the
book doesn't say they take drops, call them to check cuz they often will if
you call.  The Fontana Motel is like that.  They take them but it doesn't
say so in the book.  Also, having the companion allows you to see what types
of grocery stores are available to see if you want to shop vs a maildrop.

I always kinda liked that part of the planning - its like a preview of the
hike to come.  Many hikers only did maildrop calcs up to HF or Pearisburg.
Figuring their speed & preferences would change so much that it didn't make
sense to do it once only to have to do it all over again.  Then when they
hit a place they liked on a zero day, ie: dennis cove, damascus etc, they
would sit down for a couple hours w/ databook & companion ( no need for maps
cuz now you know what you can do & only need the mileage btwn 2 points ) and
plan out drops for the rest of the hike.

Cheerio

ps - roughly from the start the most popular spots are:

neels gap - goose creek or walasi-yi hold drops
hiawassee - both hotels hold drops ( hiawassee inn & holiday express )
franklin - hotels will hold, PO is **way** out of the way. good grocery down
from frankin motel and the laundry is right across street from franklin
motel.
noc - no decent shopping here so really needed. will hold drop.
Fontana Dam - hike inn will hold drop plus take you to a town w/ very good
grocery store.  if your staying @ the resort - the resort store sucks and is
very costly & completely picked over.  If you want the Hike Inn, you really
HAVE to call when you arrive @ NOC to make a reservation ahead cuz they are
small and fill up fast.  better yet, call from Franklin if you are sure
about your speed and are hiking in a crowd.
Gatlinburg - some skip & go all straight thru smokies.  shopping avail.
outfitter holds drops - don't remember about hotels.
Mt. Mommas - has shopping, but questionable - lots expired stuff, picked
over.  know one guy who bought something that turned out rotten when opened.
Good for fresh items like butter & cheese.
Hot Springs - grocery is basic, outfitters holds drops.
Erwin - hostels & most hotels hold drops, many good groceries.
Dennis Cove - hostels hold drops & brown grocery is very hiker friendly plus
the lodge will take you to a large chain super grocery.
Damascus - PO best bet here, outfitter only holds small stuff short time.
if staying at a B&B, they will often hold a drop for you.
Atkins / Rural Retreat - the Motel is RIGHT on the trail - you see it 20
yards away and they hold drops.  Much better than PO which is several miles
from trail.
Bland - sometimes. can be a hard hitch - best to walk hard and pick up a day
or 2 at the 2 small gas stn groceries after bland.  you won't eat great -
but you don't have to carry it.  the walker hotel in bland will hold drops
and sometimes can help you find a ride back to trail.
Pearisburg - rendezvous hotel near trail holds drops, good groceries, hostel
holds drops.
220 interchange / Daleville - the hotels hold drops and there is a good
grocery to the left ~ 1 mile from trail w/ a new outfitter store in the same
shopping ctr.

and so on..... this is as far as I've hiked so don't know other details off
top of my head.

Cheerio

(( can you tell I really am not enjoying having to debug this particular
chunk of code today!!???!  I'll do ANYTHING, absolutely ANYTHING else today
PLEASE!!!  this is the project that never ends.... ))


-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Vickers [mailto:SVICKERS@proplayerstadium.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2001 1:53 PM
To: 'at-l@mailman.backcountry.net'
Subject: [at-l] mail drops


To all you former thru hikers out there:  How do you decide what towns to
use as mail drops, and is there a "regularly used" list of towns that are
used by most thru hikers?  Thanks.

Steve  

Stephen T. Vickers
Account Executive - Premium Seating
Miami Dolphins, LTD.
2269 Dan Marino Blvd.
Miami, FL 33056
Phone: (305) 623-6259
Fax:   (305) 626-7326
www.miamidolphins.com
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