[pct-l] A question about sending resupply boxes

[Jackie McDonnell]

In 2012, Matt and I had a friend send our maildrops.  We prepared and taped
them shut ahead of time, which we can do with no worries, because we both
know EXACTLY what we need/want to eat (Matt has 25,000+ miles, and I have
19,000+ miles).  We don't need to ask our home resupply person to
add/subtract anything from our boxes.  We have it down to a crazy science
by now.

We labeled each box with a number.  We made a list of our boxes, left a
copy with Steve (our resupply person).  We also kept a copy of the list in
our gmail.

Every 10 days or so, we would send Steve a text/email which read something
like this:

Send box 7 to XXXXX location.  Must be in the mail no later than XXXXX date.
Send box 8 to XXXXX location.  Must be in the mail no later than XXXXX date.
Send box 9 to XXXXX location.  Must be in the mail no later than XXXXX date.

We tried to "order" 3-ish boxes with each email/text.  By doing this, Steve
didn't have to go to the PO every week.  He could go once every 2 weeks or
so.

We had maildrops for most of our resupply locations.  However, every month
or so, we had one location where we bought food in a town with a good
supermarket.  That allowed us to change things up a bit.

Oh!  And even though we were hiking as a couple, our food was completely
separate. That's important.

You *MUST* have a conversation with your resupply person which goes
something like this:  "I'm counting on you.  If you do not get the box in
the mail as requested, I won't have any food."  Okay, you should phrase it
nicer than that, but the bottom line is:  your home resupply person must
understand that he/she has a very important job.  AND, you *MUST* recognize
that your home resupply person has more going on than just your life.  It's
all about respect.  It goes both ways.

Your home resupply person will probably be "*VERY* excited to do your
maildrops.  In fact, we hadn't even considered Steve when we were thinking
of a resupply person. Steve's wife Beth wanted to do the boxes, then Steve
was so into it, that he became our go-to person.

Yogi
www.pcthandbook.com


On Tue, Apr 2, 2013 at 6:47 PM, Timothy Nye <timpnye at gmail.com> wrote:

> My own experience has been mass mailing boxes months in advance worked
> fine; however, I did put "hold for PCT hiker" them, but without a date
> because I was unsure of possible schedule disruptions. This always worked
> out fine.  Believe me, they know what's coming since its not their first
> rodeo.
>
> Also, I don't think you can use priority mail with ORM-D labeling for
> isobutane canisters. The ORM-D mandates surface transportation, while
> priority mail guarantees next day, or day after that, delivery which are
> mutually exclusive, certainly when shipping from Atlanta.  I had to go to
> the main post office here in Sacramento and even then it was a 90 minute
> call to H.Q. in D.C. before they would even accept them with the regular
> packaging and the ORM-D label.
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Apr 2, 2013, at 4:02 PM, julie windsor <windsor.jj at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > And adding to Carrot's question, since I'm starting to freak about
> getting
> > the mail drops organized for our ground crew...  Does anyone have any
> > experience with mailing iso-butane canisters across the country.  USPS
> and
> > UPS are both saying just 4-5 days with priority mail, but that sounds
> > optimistic.  Thoughts?  We're in Atlanta.  Thanks.
> >
> > --TurtleHawk
> >
> > On Tue, Apr 2, 2013 at 1:12 PM, Carrot Quinn <krotten at gmail.com> wrote:
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