FW: RE: [pct-l] OR and WA resupply recs

[metam01 at earthlink.net (Monty Tam)]

Suge and all

This email got mis(under) addressed.

Just more observations. 
metam01@earthlink.net


> [Original Message]
> From: Monty Tam <metam01@earthlink.net>
> To: Chris Willett <CWillett@pierce.ctc.edu>
> Date: 11/15/2005 10:45:14 AM
> Subject: RE: [pct-l] OR and WA resupply recs
>
>
>
>
 Good Stuff Suge
>
 What Suge has here will probably save you lots of hours of research on
resupply and even more time on the trail itself.

I'm going to add a few of my recent experiences, not right nor wrong, and
updates from this year.  They may have been just at the time and I was a
Sobo for these sections.
>
 If I can limit my load to three days, I do it.  I can for most of the
trail. This makes my style very different from Suges.  I tend to get a lot
of boxes for a few reasons that do not apply to most hikers, so I also have
a lot of Box-Sending info.
 

> >
> > Ashland:  Resupply at the co-op if you want something "healthy" or at
the Safeway for regular food.  Easy resupply.  Pick up a bounce box here if
you're doing it.


 Ashland has everything including a free bus Monday through Friday and two
outfitters.  The cheapest place to stay is the Manor Motel especially in
the summer.
 Callahan's, right on the trail, takes boxes.  You do not have to stay
there.

> >
> > Crater Lake: The store at Mazama camp was totally doable in 2003, but I
got there as they were restocking the shelves.  Mazama is the low
campground that you'd naturally go to off the PCT.  Prices were normal and
I couldn't imagine wanting to send a resupply box here, especially as
(unless you're on horse or with llamas or goats or just a moron) you'll be
passing by another camp store up on the rim and can buy some food there.
> >

 Shelter Cove?  Don't know why I didn't use this one.  Groceries$$$$  Good
hiker box at the time.

 Elk Lake was super friendly, great french fries and the rest of the food
was perfect.  Prices good.  I would send a box.  Free camping and a lake to
swim in.


> > Sisters:  Yes, that is right:  Haul the entire 155+ miles from Crater
Lake to MacKenzie Pass.  This is a really easy stretch of hiking and, until
you reach the Three Sisters Wilderness, one of the most boring on the PCT,
with plenty of unpleasant bugs (maybe not true later in the season) to
inspire you to move along.  When you get to the TSW, spend some more time. 
MacKenzie Pass down to Sisters is a somewhat easy hitch as there is a
touron attraction with a parking lot near the PCT.  The hitch back up to
MacKenzie was a bit longer and took me about 1.25 hours to do.  Sisters has
a big grocery store on the outskirts of town, a cheap in-town campground,
and lots of tourist stuff.  Blazing hot, but would make for a nice
overnight stop (but I didn't).


 Sisters
 Outfitter just closed.  Less expensive restaurants on the far far end of
town ask.  I hitched 242...6hours to town!!!  Hwy 20 has much more traffic.
 A good grocery store as you come into town on 20 or north of where 20
meets 242.  

 Big Lake Youth Camp
 They love helping hikers. AYCE vegetarian food, a bed, laundry and a
shower.  Laundry, shower, and drop box holding are free.  Food and bunkbed
not too bad.
 The trail is superwide and a great place to camp just outside the south
end of the camp.  Send a box.


> >
> > Cascade Locks:  Right again: Haul the 164 miles to Cascade Locks.  The
hiking here is only slightly more difficult than before, and you'll pass by
a few places where you can supplement your food bag: Olallie Lake resort
and Timberline Lodge. The breakfast buffet ($11 in 05, I believe) is not to
be missed. I mean, they have fresh squeezed orange juice.  How can a hiker
pass that up?  Far better than the breakfast buffets in South Lake Tahoe. 
In Cascade Locks there is a good sized grocery store with 11 flavors of Ben
and Jerrys (in 03).  Or, in Stevenson there is a Safeway (I think).

 Taking the GUIDEBOOK SUGGESTED road walk north from Cascade Locks, there's
a little hiker friendly grocery store with a register and ICE CREAM at a
lower price.

> Trout Lake General Store.  Buy food and $40 rooms in back.  One hour to
get a ride.  Trail Angels want to take you back to the trail.  Ask at store.

> >
> > White Pass: I'd road walk through Stevenson and resupply at the "store"
at White Pass.  When I got there in 03 it was closed as it was like 6:15
pm.  I sat in the parking lot and felt sorry for myself as I couldn't get
town treats until Snoqualmie Pass.  The tourists in the parking lot took up
a food collection and within about 10 minutes I was eating little Caesars
pizza and they had gotten me 5 days worth of somewhat ecclectic food.  If I
was hiking this year, I'd plan to resupply from the store.

 Easy hitch a few miles down to Packwood from White Pass are a big grocery
store, internet, and The in at Packwood (Jack and Jill are super
hiker-friendly and the hiker rate is much lower than up the hill.) Good
local pizza place next door.



> > Snoqualmie Pass:  I don't know why people fret about sending packages
here.  First, it is a short-ish haul to Stevens.  Second, there is a big
gas station and a small grocery store to resupply out of.  Easy, simple, no
problem.  Of, and the Travellers Rest as well, which was open this summer. 
Buy food here.

 Changes?
 PO has very limited hours (Not officially a PO).  You must call Postmaster
to.............It's real complicated and you may not get your box. Save the
head ache and send it next door. You do not have to stay at the hotel to
send packages there.
 Store was in a transition.  My resupply add-ons included a polish dog or
two. $$$ for limited, limited groceries.  May be better in 2006
  Very very hiker friendly hotel.  Laundry policy advertised changes if you
ask nicely. Inexpensive. 

> >
> > Stevens Pass: I checked out the gas station in Skykomish this summer
and found it to be just fine.  You only need 90ish miles of food anyways. 
I'd buy here.  Another option is to hitch east on HWY 2 to Leavenworth
(about 30 miles), which is a bigger town with lots of tourist ammenities.
Next to Jackson, Banff, and Gatlinburg, Leavenworth is the worst place on
earth and I try to avoid it.


 Skykomish?  Unbelievable. Call the number pasted in the phone booth. 
"Dinsmore"  Jerry Dinsmore picks you up, Jerry and Andrea, put your laundry
in the washer, throw you in the shower, feed you, then toss you in the
jaccuzi with an amazing river view off a second floor deck.  After Jerry's
burger night, you will not need to resupply for the next week.
Jerry will take you to a grocery store.  Andrea says she gets trail angel
advise from Donna Sauffley, still Andrea lets you touch your own laundry. 
ZERO!!
 (You can send a box to the Dinsmore's also.)



.>>Stehekin:  Don't be an idiot:  Buy in town.  Why?  Well, you've got a
small store (small) for a few essentials.  And one of the great bakeries
I've been to.  Not just pastries, but other tasty treats that can serve as
lunches and dinners. With the hiker box (in the PO in 03), you're set.  Eat
the great bakery stuff for the last few days to the border.

June of 05 the store didn't look too good.
> Four days of Pizza from the bakery!!  Bakery is, contrary to published
info, open seven day a week (or it was this year.).  All types of pizza. 
(Not bad on $ too)
>
> Warner Springs Monty