[at-l] Maildrop and Resupply Information, 2003

[seanbdolan@earthlink.net (Sean Dolan)]

Hola

I mailed a box from Monson to White House Landing. It's $15 (not $10 like
the Companion has it).

Their resupply options are limited but they gave away apples! Decent hiker
box.

The bunkhouse was very clean and nice, with a sitting room and a woodstove.
Very cool to hang at.

The hot food options are limited but very good. I passed on breakfast but
had a $6 hamburger that was the size of a pancake. Seriously. Only problem
is that they serve food at very distinct times so if you get there in
between (like lunch) and want to eat, then push on, you may be outta luck.
We were.

It is further from the trail than it looks in the Companion. You come to a
blueblaze, and it's about 1.5 to 2 miles on the blue blaze along the lake
shore. You blow an air horn on a dock on the far shore, and they come pick
you up. If the water in the lake is high, they drop you back off on the
other side closer to the trail (about .75 from the blue blaze). If not,
they drop you off where they picked you up, so you're looking at something
like 3 miles out of your way to stop. It's cool if you're planning on
staying there since it's all flat, but if you want to boogie through and
make more miles, I'd advise against it.

It was cool, however, to mail a couple days worth of food ahead and not
have to carry it, although by the time you get to White House Landing, it's
pretty much all flat to Baxter so you've had to carry the bulk of your food
over Chairback and Whitecap anyway. But if you're not on a tight schedule,
the $12 for the bunk, $15 for the maildrop and $15 for food and drink are
not too steep and a nice diversion as you wind your trip down. The folks
who run it are nice (esp. Linda (?) the wife).

But bring cash since they charge you extra for using a credit card since
they have to make a cell call to their credit card processor.

Rover
GA>ME 02

----Original Message-----
From:	Snodrog5@aol.com [SMTP:Snodrog5@aol.com]
Sent:	Sunday, December 08, 2002 4:07 PM
To:	at-l@backcountry.net
Subject:	Re: [at-l] Maildrop and Resupply Information, 2003

"In Caratunk, Steve Longley, who ran the Kennebec River ferry for years,
has greatly expanded his camp store at Rivers and Trails, a very quick mile
up the road from the Trail head (and an easy hitch!)  If you don't have a
maildrop planned to get you to Monson, go and see Steve.  Actually, you
should see him anyway, as he's one of the nicest folks you'll meet on your
whole trip.
     In Monson, tho the matter is hotly debated each year, Shaw's is still
the legendary place to stay.  I wouldn't consider anywhere else."

Thanks, Jack
Since we're talking maildrop and resupply in Maine, please note that
Longley's Store in Caratunk will have more supplies than ever in '03, all
with the thru-hiker in mind. He's even putting in some more fresh and hot
foods.
The Caratunk PO is now online, so you can buy a stamp and get "limited"
cashback on your debit card.
Do not plan on bouncing a box between Caratunk and Monson. You will get to
Monson before your bounce box ever will. If you bounce ahead to
Millinocket,
remember the PO is 22 miles from Abol Bridge. Linda's Store at Abol Bridge
should have all you'll need for 2-3 days of food. Treat yourself to one of
the subs she makes.
The Monson PO is new, and a has a big backroom devoted to maildrops. This
past August they had 200+ boxes. The grocery store in town is pretty
limited,
but Keith Shaw and the Pie Lady will run you to a 'real' supermarket about
a
half hour away. At Shaw's you'll find a shed full of hiker supplies -
everything from homemade bug dope (MEGAs should get some) to hiking pole
tips
to small stoves and fuel. In the next shed you'll see that the steaks at
Shaw's are homegrown :O)
As far as White House Landing goes: Most who stop really like it, they have
food, beds and will hold maildrops sent well in advance. No real resupply
there except lipton's and fuel, and you'll spend most of a day just getting
it. Plan on hiking right on to Baxter. You might need a zero at Abol Pines
to
wait for weather or for an open spot at The Birches.
TJ
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