[pct-l] Post Office resupply stops

[Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com]

On Jun 12, 2010, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
> I've used Craig's Online PCT planner to help get my trip figured  
> out, along
> with the PCT data book (Ashland to Red's Meadow). And I'll probably  
> bring
> the PCT atlases on the trail with me for the maps.
>
>
>
> I'm kinda confused about something though: The resupply stops on  
> Craig's
> online planner don't always list Post Offices as being available,  
> yet the
> PCT data book gives PO addresses for all the resupply stops that  
> are listed
> in the online planner. Huh? Why is this? Am I missing something?
>

The PCT Data Book is a more comprehensive list. Craig's planner  
provides a sort of vague idea of where places are. I wouldn't put a  
lot of faith in its accuracy. For example, I hiked at a consistent  
2.5 miles per hour for 13 hours per day. At that rate his planner has  
me finishing in 2.7 months! In reality I took something closer to 5.5  
months.

> This looks like it's gonna be my plan:
> http://www.pctplanner.com/resupply.php  I'm going to bounce a box  
> ahead of
> me to each stop (where I'm counting on there being a Post Office I  
> can send
> my box out from.) Anyone see any glaring problems or have any  
> advice or
> thoughts? Just wanted to run it by some other people. Thanks.
Your plan is not visible by the link, so going by your other  
information, I would only suggest that:

1) Bouncing a box to every stop is going to be too often (but you'll  
figure that out soon enough and adjust) and
2) Now that you have a plan, don't be surprised if you throw it out  
somewhere like Warner Springs or Big Bear.

It's good to know where the post offices and stores are, but a lot of  
detailed planning really is not necessary. Hiking the trail is a lot  
like regular life. Organized people make out meal plans for the week  
and once a week or so go shopping for the ingredients. Same for the  
trail, only your schedule is by how many days to the next town.

Days to the next town are really easy to determine because you take  
distance to the next town and divide by your daily miles. Your daily  
miles are harder to determine and are likely to be a lot more than  
you think, but you'll figure that out soon enough, and that'll be the  
day you file your detailed plan in the round file. Either that day or  
the day you realize being enslaved by the US Post Office really sucks.

>
>
>
> Cate

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