[at-l] Maildrops by Pittsburgh...

[Richard Mann]

'08 hikers and beyond:

Did you know that Barb and I do maildrops for hikers?  This year, we supported one hiker on the AT (he ended his hike near Harpers Ferry), and we are presently supporting one hiker on the PCT (he jumped north, and is just leaving Oregon).  Next year ('08), we have three hikers already set up for the AT.  We are working on maildrops for an entire group in '09...

What are your food plans?

** Buy as you go -  If you decide to buy all of your food enroute, then you don't need us...

** Maildrops (or hybrid: buy some, drop some), and you have a responsible person already picked out - If you decide on drops, and have someone to do your drops, then you don't need us...

** Maildrops (or hybrid: buy some, drop some), and you DO NOT have a responsible person already picked out -  If you decide on drops, and don't trust your (best friend, partner, spouse, mother, brother, auntie, neighbor, or insert other person here) to properly handle your drops, then you may want to contact me and Barb...

Here is our deal:

** The whole enchilada - We buy all of your food and drop twice weekly (on average).  Why so often?  Because food has weight (if you do not yet grasp the importance of putting as little weight on your back as possible, please do more research into your hike).  The drops are sent to Post Offices, hostels or outfitters.  Like magic, the drops will be there when you get there.  You do not need us to tell us where to send the drops, or give us a schedule, we already know.  You don't need to tell us when your appetite goes ape-shit, we already know.  If you get tired of what we are sending (oatmeal again, yuk!), then we will change what we send you.  And, what we send makes sense...

** You buy some, we drop some - We already know where you can buy food and where we need to send food...

** You box it, we drop it - Send us your pre-packed boxes, we'll ship 'em to you...

** Any combination of the above - Hey, we are easy...

Keep in mind, if you are doing drops, and you have your mother (or anyone else that does not understand the needs of hikers) sending them to you, then you may not get the drops when you need them, the food may not be proper for hiking, and the quantities may not be proper for hiking...

The cost?  Well, if you think about it, really think about it, and put down some realistic figures, you will come up with some staggering costs.  If you are buying your food as you go (and do not overbuy, which actually is a problem), then you may get away with grand ($1000.00), but do some additional research.  Go to your local grocery store and actually buy hiker food for four days (any more than that and you are buying too much weight), and eat it over four days.  Then go back and do it again.  When you feel you have it figured out, then work the costs again.  Please keep in mind that you will also be buiying this food at convenience stores and outfitters, where the costs are dramatically increased.  Also keep in mind that at some point (fairly early) in your hike, your appetite will increase damatically, and your food quantities will increase accordingly.  Work the costs again with all of this in mind.  You may now have some idea of the realistic
 costs.  If you are relying on other people, even long-distance hikers, to give you an idea of the costs, then you may be disappointed once your hike begins.  Even people that have kept financial records during their hike do not put down every dollar they spend - the stops at the restaurants, the half-gallons of ice cream, the Subway sub packed out for supper, the quart of chocolate milk to drink just before hiking out, the carton of cookies shared with other hikers...

Deciding how and when and where you are going to nourish yourself during your hike should be a top priority of research.  Figuring this out is paramount...

Pittsburgh


       
____________________________________________________________________________________
Got a little couch potato? 
Check out fun summer activities for kids.
http://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=oni_on_mail&p=summer+activities+for+kids&cs=bz