[pct-l] Food Packages -- Priority Mail vs. First Class

[kdpo at pacbell.net (Ken Powers)]

Wanering Bob's post is right on.

We use USPS for nearly all our re-supply boxes. We've had one mistake, but
that was our mistake at the mailing end. The box didn't get mailed. Never
had significant damage to any of our boxes.

Using Priority Mail for boxes has another advantage when shipping ahead. You
get free Prioiry Mail boxes. The farther you ship the box the longer it
takes and more expensive it gets. We discovered this early on our AT hike.
In fact we discovered it soon enough to take all our boxes to the east coast
and have them mailed there. Always use priority mail. It can save several
days to weeks on cross country mailings.

Many post offices accomodate thru hikers by allowing them to pick up boxes
after hours. Knock on the door and ask if you can pick up a hiker box. Try
it, you don't have anything to loose. If you get a box after hours, share
your cookies with the postal workers. It greases the wheels for those hikers
behind you. :)

Ken
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Bankhead" <wandering_bob@comcast.net>
To: <JRDPAD@aol.com>; <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2004 10:21 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Food Packages -- Priority Mail vs. First Class


> No matter how you ship - always address your supply boxes to yourself AND
> ALL YOUR HIKING PARTNERS BY NAME. That way, any of you can pick up the
boxes
> for all of you if need be. There are many reasons why that may need to
> happen.
>
> I've mailed re-supply parcels for years along the  PCT. Never had a single
> one go astray. Even had them returned at the end of the season by
> postmasters when I didn't pick them up. Yes, it adds a lot of cost to my
> trips but I KNOW what's waiting for me for meals, prescriptions, supplies,
> etc. I don't have to take pot-luck at local stores. The pickings can be
> meager. I don't pay postage to ship things I know I can buy locally -
> batteries, sunscreen, soap, etc. If I get in too late to pick up my
package,
> I just get an extra lay-over night that I can probably use anyway. I
> schedule my hike so I don't arrive on weekends in spots where the PO is
> closed (Belden) or on short hours. If I have to slow down or speed up on
the
> trail to stay close to that schedule, I do it.
>
> If you use the US Mail - DEFINITELY USE ONLY PRIORITY MAIL and ship 2
weeks
> ahead of when you expect to be there. Yes, I know they claim 3 days to
> anyplace but it's a lie! If you ship to Truckee, NV (I-80 at Donner Pass),
> allow 3 weeks. For some unexplainable reason, there is an on-going problem
> getting priority mail into that place.
>
> I much prefer to use UPS because I can track each box and confirm delivery
> on the internet. Not all resorts and the like pick up packages daily so do
> your research and build in the extra time or you could be facing a long
> wait.
>
> Wandering Bob
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <JRDPAD@aol.com>
> To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
> Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2004 9:52 AM
> Subject: [pct-l] Food Packages -- Priority Mail vs. First Class
>
>
> > I am interested in hearing about PCT thru-hikers experience in mailing
> food packages.  Were there significant delays in arrival?  Any packages
that
> did not show up?  Damage in shipment, etc.  Yogi has made her opinion
clear
> in her Handbook.  What have others experiences been?  .... John
> >
> >
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