[pct-l] Resupply strategy and buy as you go.

[CHUCK CHELIN]

Good morning, Sean,



Lots of hikers buy almost all of their food locally.  I did a mix of buy vs.
ship.  I wanted some shipments so I didn’t have to carry extra guidebook
pages, maps, etc.   I didn’t use a drift box.  For the Sierras I sent one
good-sized resupply box to Kennedy Meadows which included -- in addition to
food and the routine stuff -- a bear ‘can, a new pair of sneakers, a new
shirt, and replacements for worn-out socks and gaiters.   If it hadn’t been
a low snow year I probably would have also included my ultralite ice axe, a
pair of instep crampons, and possibly a pair of long pants to protect my
lower legs when postholing.  I probably could have purchased food at KM
since I’m not very picky, but the selection was rather grim and I wanted to
send gear there anyway.



The food in that KM shipment got me to Independence via Kearsarge Pass where
I bought more locally to get me to Tuolumne Meadows.  I had intended to
resupply at VVR but I screwed-up and didn’t send the box soon enough to
allow for the extra shipping time.  Tuolumne was a bit of a stretch given my
appetite and the capacity of the ‘can but I did stop briefly at VVR to
pork-up on food at the little store.  I could also have stopped at Mammoth.
 The selection at Tuolumne was OK -- not great -- but I could have
resupplied there instead of receiving a box.  Recently on PCT-L there was
discussion about someone possibly eating tortillas and peanut butter for the
whole PCT.  I didn’t do that, but that’s substantially what I ate between
Independence and Tuolumne.  It was OK.



Earlier on the trail I had resupplied at Big Bear for Wrightwood, but when I
got to Cajon Pass and stopped for some chow at McD’s I found that the
convenience store next door was very well supplied.  I bought some extra
food there to augment what I carried, and easily got to Agua Dulce without
stopping at Wrightwood.  I would do that again.



Ashland is the typical resupply opportunity for Oregon, but I recommend
waiting until Cascade Locks before sending boxes to Washington.  Cascade
Locks is right on the PCT, the stores are well stocked, and the Post Office
is handy.  At Cascade Locks you may want to change some gear – rain gear,
for example.  You could receive a box there, buy locally, or bum a ride to
Portland.



Steel-Eye

Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT -- 1965

http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye


On Mon, Feb 23, 2009 at 1:43 PM, Sean Carey <seanpct75 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello,
>
> It has been awhile since I made a post, but I have been thinking about
> something and was hoping to get some thoughts and/or advise. I have been of
> course reading the forums a lot as usual and have decided that for the most
> part I will be doing a buy as I go hike.(Also reading yogis book where a
> lot
> of people in there said if they could change one thing it would be how many
> resupplies they sent themselves vs buying as they went. I have been
> covering
> a lot of the data books also and it seems to me I could survive by just
> sending myself a resupply for the sierras. I also have a friend or two in
> Ashland who will be able to help me get around that are for my resupply
> there and for whatever I will need to send ahead for the Oregon and
> Washington sections of the trail.
>
> I guess my question is this. Can I get by if I send only one resupply
> package for the sierras section of California? Also what exactly do you
> think should be in my sierra resupply package. Also I was thinking Kennedy
> Meadows would be a good place to send that resupply package? I will worry
> about and deal with Oregon and Washington as that comes. My main concern is
> the California section right now. If you want to pipe in on Oregon and
> Washington also that would be ok. I really am wondering mainly about the
> California parts though. Thank you very much everyone again for being so
> helpful.
>
> Sean C.
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