Supply Question from another new hiker

[john gault]

Originally Posted by perksgirl

I was wondering about the mail drops too. My husband will be deployed to Afghanistan during my hike and our main form of communication is via letters. I was planning on giving him a list before hand of what post office I expect to be at and when, but I feel like this is going to result in several missed opportunities to communicate.

Is it possible to have things forwarded from post offices if I hike past one and then mail ends up at the post office I have already passed?

Who's looking after the house? Maybe they can also mail stuff off.

What items are you looking to have mailed off? As has already been said you don't need maildrops for much (mainly just for change-of-season gear change-out and maps -- if you use them). I used maildrops because I was not going to eat crap food; I dehydrated my stuff and had it mailed to me, that's how I hike all the time, but it's not necessary.

I'm retired Navy and have been on numerous deployments and I can't imagine being able to support someone doing a thru-hike while on deployment. I don't know how mail works in-country, but on a ship there were weeks where we didn't get any...not to mention many other logistical problems with being in a hot zone -- or anywhere for that matter.


BTW, I missed 1 or 2 drops and just called the P.O. and had them forward it up the trail. I understand they are not suppose to do this, but luckily for me they did with no problems.

If you get to the P.O. and you don't want the drop, then DO NOT open it and they will forward it up (for free) to another P.O.

But like J.H. said, I believe it's policy to fill out a form to have them bounce a box forward (assuming you leave town before the box arrives), but like I said luckily they just did it via phone for me (by phone I mean they had the box already there and I was not in town -- if the box is not there when you call, you'll probably have to call back when it does arrive -- that's one advantage of filling out a form).

[perksgirl]

He's not sending me gear or anything I need for my hike. We just write letters back and forth during deployment so that it keeps morale up you know? Phone communication is minimal where he is at...There was about a 2 to 3 week turn around when he was in Iraq for mail. I imagine Afghanistan will be even more lengthy. I think I'll just send some pre addressed envelopes with him with approximate dates on where I will be when. Then do the forwarding address thing as I come to the post office to drop off and get mail. I'm only planning on doing 2 mail drops since I will only be out for three months (Harper's Ferry to Springer Mnt). From what I've been reading there are plently of places to resupply along this section when needed.

What do you guys do about cell phones? I would like to take one with me but what service provider should I use. I live in Germany now so I don't want to sign a contract with a provider if I'm only going to need it for three months.

perksgirl

[LIhikers]

Originally Posted by perksgirl

.......What do you guys do about cell phones? I would like to take one with me but what service provider should I use. I live in Germany now so I don't want to sign a contract with a provider if I'm only going to need it for three months.

perksgirl

My wife and I are section hikers who do a short, new, section of the northern half of the AT each summer. We carry a prepaid, TracFone with us and have always been able to find service during any day we wanted to use it. Which is usually once a week. You can buy one once you get here to the states at many convenience stores and I think even Walmart carries them. Then you can buy airtime as needed either from the phone or a computer using a credit card. The stores that sell the phones also sell the airtime so you can do it all in one purchase. You can get the details here

[wcgornto]

Originally Posted by perksgirl

What do you guys do about cell phones? I would like to take one with me but what service provider should I use. I live in Germany now so I don't want to sign a contract with a provider if I'm only going to need it for three months.

perksgirl

I used a Tracfone. It worked perfectly for me. I paid $99 for a phone and 400 minutes (doubled to 800 minutes with the double minutes for life feature that came with the phone).

No contract ... no monthly expense. I hiked from Stratton, ME to Springer mountain without needing to buy more minutes.

The reception was generally good at mountain peaks, major road crossings and in town. It was generally as good as the reception other hikers had for AT&T, Verizon, etc. You can't go wrong with Tracfone. I am still using mine and may not ever go back to a major carrier / monthly fee / contract.

[hiker8261]

I used a Verizon pay as you go phone. You put a certain amount of money on it and can add more by credit card. Verizon coverage was ok for first 500 miles and very good after that.

chris

[perksgirl]

Awesome advice guys! Thanks!

[safn1949]

I am planning mail drops and have them all packed for the first half of my trip.I am curious to see how they work out,I have enough money to drop the whole idea and go to plan B if they don't.
I just tend to be a loner and never wanted to go into town that much,that may change.The entire situation is quite fluid as far as I can see.I have a LOT of dried food at home.
The problem I see coming is weight,a weeks worth of food,even dried is 15+ lbs(2-2.5 lbs per day).I might just get tired of carrying that quickly.