[at-l] planning for may

[thornel@attglobal.net (W F Thorneloe)]

I thought you were heading SOBO. Depending on when you hit Fontana, it may 
be better stocked. March is not a good time, as they have few customers 
over winter and tend to await the summer/fall crowds. I tend to be fairly 
liberal with bringing trash bags, as well as "liberating" them from rooms 
and other places I find them. You might wish to see who else is needing 
gear that can only be purchased in quantity. I also tend to make trash bags 
last quite a while, as duct tape rules. When I was there in late March, 
food was short but passable. In May, I'd expect it to be pretty good.

Photon batteries belong in a bounce box, as they last forever - unless you 
get it wet from sweat and have the thing run down from the short circuit. 
But they are basically watch batteries.

Fontana is not particularly good for fuel. I'd plan on stocking up at NOC 
long enough to get to Hot Springs. This may be a good reason to bring a 
backup - such as a few Esbit tabs or a small canister stove and canister to 
supplement an alcohol stove.

OrangeBug

At 08:37 AM 2/18/2002 -0500, Amy wrote:
>The maildrop is for Fontana Dam, which according to my old
>guide doesn't have good resupply opportunities.  Is that not
>true?  It's right before the Smokies so I thought it might
>be good to send myself even something as prosaic as noodles.
>If I can't find foodstuffs I want, it'll be a while before
>my next opportunity.