[pct-l] Resupply points

[Edward Anderson]

Since, from Sierra City, going north to Canada, I rode the PCT solo, unsupported, and with just one horse, resupply was a major concern. In Southern California I used several methods of resupply. My wife met me three times, a friend met me once, I dropped off a box at Warner Springs Equestrian center, I buried a cache four times, and a friend dropped off a box at Kennedy Meadows.
 
From Sierra City going north I just cached. I would hate having to be on any kind of schedule - to be somewhere at at particular day and time to meet someone or to pick up resupplies anywhere before they close - or to have to wait until they open. I like flexibility. So, my chosen way of going north of Sierra City was to leave my horse, Primo, in good, safe, care (pre-arranged) and drive my rig 100 to 200 miles north, caching at various locations, barns, garages, ranger stations, and, most often, burying it, well-camouflaged, near trail heads and road crossings. I would then park the rig at a safe location where I could later leave Primo in safe care when I rode there. Then I hitched south back to where I had left Primo, saddle up, and ride north, recovering my caches as I went. I would always carefully re-camouflage the cache location after recovering the cache. I left no trace. My approach took a lot of research and pre-planning. I purchased all
 of my food and Primo's food before starting. I could also resupply, and sometimes took a "0" day whenever I reached my rig (horse trailer and van camper). I would then leave Primo, and drive north to repeat what I just described.
 
MendoRider-Hiker
 

________________________________
 From: Bob Bankhead <wandering_bob at comcast.net>
To: pct-l at backcountry.net 
Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2012 10:43 AM
Subject: [pct-l]  Resupply points
  

By pre-positioning the boxes, you have the advantage of knowing precisely
where each is located; no shopping about a strange town trying to find the
PO, motel, etc. to which it was sent.

The disadvantage is arrival timing. You'll start out with a pre-planned
schedule, but the Trail Gods abhor such things and go out of their way to
upset your plans. The longer the hike, the farther askew your schedule goes.
You may arrive at your Trail Angel's home at other than the pre-designated
time, only to find they've gone out for the afternoon/day/weekend/etc. You
can't expect them to stay home awaiting your arrival. Cell phones help, but
a lot of the trail has no coverage available, or at least not from your
particular carrier.

Yes, you can have the same problem with the PO, but at least there you know
what hours and days they are open and can depend on being able to pick up
your box within those periods. If it
 looks like you can't make it to town
before they close, you can stop early and take advantage of a nice trailside
campsite that presents itself and just go in tomorrow - or whenever. 




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