[at-l] mail drops...

[slackpacker@juno.com]

below are some suggestions and additions using paddlers drop list for a
100% maildrop option ( my suggestions and additions have asterisks in
front of them).  in my mind, though, it makes more sense to reduce your
number of packages and size of packages, and resupply at stores along the
trail as much as possible.  the reason for this is three fold;  1) you
will not know ahead of time how quickly, or slowly, you will be hiking,
so your maildrops will probably be too small or too large;  2) you will
not know when packing your drops before your trip whether you will want
the items that you are packing;  3) you will be astonished at the amount
of food that you will be eating when your body acclimates.  what you
don't want to do is carry more than (5) days of food at one time, if you
can help it.  food weighs 2 pounds a meal, and maybe even 2-1/2 or 3
pounds a meal as your appetite increases.  another thing, maildrops are
great, but unless you have a very responsible person packaging them up
for you to your specifications as you hike, then you will probably become
very disappointed.  pre-packaging is fraught with problems, avoid it if
you can...

pittsburgh

** start at springer with (3) days of food, or (4) if doing approach
trail
** Suches GA (2)
Neels Gap (5)  ** make that (3)
Blueberry Patch Hostel (7)  ** make that (4)
** Franklin NC (3)
NOC (3)
Fontana Village (5)  ** make that (3)
** Gatlinburg TN (3)
Moutain Mama's Bunkhouse (7)  ** make that (3)
** Hot Springs NC (6)
Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel (4)
** Elk Park NC (2)
Laurel Creek Lodge (4)
Damascus (5)
The Village Motel (Atkins) (6)  ** make that (4)
** Bland VA (3)
Pearisburg (6)  ** make that (5)
** Catawba VA (2)
Daleville Econo Lodge (7)  ** make that (4)
** Big Island VA (4)
** Tyro VA (2)
Waynesboro (6)  ** make that (3)
** Luray VA (3)
** Front Royal VA (3)
Bears Den Hostel (6)  ** make that (2)
** Harpers Ferry WV (3)
** Cascade MD (3)
Ironmasters Hostel (7)  ** make that (2)
** Boiling Springs PA (2)
** Duncannon PA (5)
Port Clinton Hotel (7)  *make that Port Clinton PO (3)
** Palmerton PA (3)
** Delaware Water Gap (5)
Vernon, NJ (7)  ** make that (3)
** Arden NY (2)
** Bear Mountain NY (2)
** Stormville NY (3)
** Kent CT (2)
Cornwall Bridge, CT (6)  ** scratch this one
** Salibury CT (3)
Tyringham, MA (5)  ** make that (2)
** Dalton MA (1)
** Cheshire MA (3)
Bennington, VT (4)  ** make that (3)
Manchester, VT (6)  ** make that (5)
** Woodstock VT (2)
Hanover, NH (5)  ** make that (4)
** Glencliff NH (2)  ** drop to include cold weather clothing
N. Woodstock, NH (5)  ** make that (4)
** Mt. Washington NH (3)
** you will be told to NOT send packages to Mt. Washington, but they are
a post office and MUST hold any packages sent.  Use your judgement, but
be assured that your package WILL BE THERE if you use this drop...
Gorham, NH (6)  ** make that (4)
** Andover ME (3)
** Rangeley ME (2)
Stratton, ME (4)  ** make that (3)
** Caratunk ME (3)
Monson, ME (5)  ** make that (10) AND NOT ONE DAY LESS
** if you are delayed summiting Katahdin, wait it out in Millinocket...
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