[pct-l] Midwest anyone? & Bounce Boxes

[jeff.singewald at comcast.net]

KJ,

Keep in mind that there are many thru-hikers that don't use a bounce box.  I for one think they are way overrated.  You have multiple trips to the PO each time you need your bounce box/bucket.  I used a resupply strategy of shipping all my resupply boxes and with this strategy I had absolutely no need for a bounce bucket.  Sure, I sometimes carried an extra set of batteries, and extra set of aqua mira and a few other items, but this was no big issue for me.

Elevator

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: moodyjj at comcast.net 

> KJ, 
> The size depends on what you put in it, and the material on how many times you 
> bounce it, I guess. On the AT in '06 I used a "fixed rate" box from the USPS. 
> Got several for free from usps.com. Mine was cardboard and did not deteriorate, 
> although it had lots of tape and "mark-outs". 
> 
> The postage was about $8.50 no matter what it weighed - 6 oz. or 6 lbs. - all 
> the same. It might have been a little more expensive but made it easier to 
> arrange for mailing by hostel owners, trail angels, or others. I could give 
> them the money for the postage knowing that they wouldn't have to pay any out of 
> their pocket. (Sometimes you want to start walking instead of taking a day or 
> so to get to an open post office.) Also, if you accept it at the PO but don't 
> open it or carry it out, you can forward it to the next location without 
> additinal postage. 
> 
> I found by accident that I should leave a little extra space in the b-b - don't 
> fill it up all the way. Sometimes I would have a food drop arrive with the b-b 
> but would not need all the food for the next leg of the hike. I could stick the 
> surplus in the b-b and forward it to the next location without having to throw 
> it away or carry it. 
> 
> Besides the pre-addressed labels for your planned b-b destinations, include a 
> few blank ones and Sharpie fine point, just in case. 
> 
> Have a great hike. 
> Mango 
> 
> -------------- Original message -------------- 
> From: Katalina Jimenez 
> 
> > 
> > I'm coming from Minneapolis. I plan to be at the Kickoff at the end of April- 
> > this is the year that I'm finally getting on the PCT and I'm very excited. I'm 
> > sure we'll have a few midwest peeps representin' :) 
> > 
> > Since I'm writing I have one question for the group: 
> > What are you using for a "bounce box". I heard that re-using the same 
> cardboard 
> > box might be dodgy, so I think Yogi's book recommends some sort of 
> > plastic/durable bounce box. A 10 gallon bucket seems a bit big and expensive 
> to 
> > ship every week. 
> > 
> > Any suggestions? What have people used in the past? 
> > 
> > 
> > Katalina from Minneapolis, Minnesota 
> > _________________________________________________________________ 
> > Windows Live™ Hotmail®: Chat. Store. Share. Do more with mail. 
> > 
> http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_hm_justgotbetter_explore_012 
> > 009 
> > _______________________________________________ 
> > Pct-l mailing list 
> > Pct-l at backcountry.net > http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l