Mail Drop Boxes for AT Hikers

One of the things I've discovered as the parent of an AT thru-Hiker (Jeff aka Loner) is that packing up supply boxes makes me feel better.  I'm doing something physical with all that nervous energy and doing something worthwhile.
 Many hikers carry one week of food for most of the AT.  They can get off and resupply in nearby towns. Jeff is choosing to ship food parcels ahead to post offices, hostels to towns as well as buy food along the way.

• The A.T. Thru-Hikers’ Companion provides details on Post Offices and businesses that offer resupply and hold packages for hikers close to the A.T.
• Hostels and businesses catering to are often open seven days a week during hiker season.
• Resupply points are further apart and further off the Trail in the South and the far North.

 We're a budget minded family. So Jeff and I took the budget approach to food stuffs. Before Jeff left he packed a box to show me what he liked.  Most AT hikers ship their trail needs in the shoebox size box.  It's the regional rate Box A size Priority Mail box and Jeff had his at a weight which costs about $6.00 to ship.  You can order these boxes in multiple packs on the U.S. Post Office website and they will be shipped to your door.

These are the items Jeff likes in his box and I'll try to include where I find them.
Hikers need protein because they will  lose weight
1. 1 package of Armor pepperoni $1.00 The Dollar Store
2. 1 package Slim Jims
(we tried the dried turkey bacon but Jeff says the bag sweats)

For carbs:
1.Ramen noodles 2 beef, 2 chicken I buy these in packs of 5, for 1.00 a piece from Family Dollar or Dollar General

3. 2 packages of Hungry Jack instant mashed potatoes - $1.00 Dollar Store, Family Dollar


Breakfast
4 packets pop tarts $2.00  Dollar General

 In a zip lock bag we put: 1 To Go container of peanut butter, mints ( a natural stomach aid), band-aids, a box of matches, Q-tips, Slim Jim's, a box of raisins, a couple of rubber bands, two AA batteries for his camera, chap stick, small packets of Taco hot sauce, Mayonnaise, Arby's Sauce, loose aspirin, loose ibuprofen .
1 roll toilet paper w/q-tips inside.  

 I add
1 bag of Knorrs rice medley - $1.00 Dollar General
1 bag of dried cranberries or blueberries -   Dollar General for 1.75 - (a dollar cheaper than grocery stores)

1  pkg of dried apricots (replaces potassium, helps w/dehydration & charlie horses.$1 Dollar General
1 packet oatmeal
1 packet cocoa
 1 pair Bugle Boy black ankle socks from the Dollar Store 6-pack $3.00 Dollar General
a mini packet of wipes - 3-pack $1.00 Dollar General
extra zip lock bags for cooking and storage
1 roll toilet paper stuffed w/Q-tips

If your At hiker doesn't need all this food he can send it forward in what's called a bounce box. So far he's trying to give me a week's notice about the next mail drop location, but he made it a day ahead of time, so now I'm mailing further ahead on the trail so he won't arrive before his box because he won;t stay for it.  Although if this does happen he can call and ask them to forward his box (called a bounce box)
Here's some additional information on mailing supplies from The Appalachian Trail Conservancy's website.

The A.T. Thru-Hikers’ Companion provides details on Post Offices and businesses that offer resupply and hold packages for hikers close to the A.T.

How to use Post Offices along the A.T.

• Anyone can have a package sent addressed to their name, c/o General Delivery, city state, zip code.
• Also provide a return address and add “Hold for A.T. hiker” and the expected arrival date. Writing legibly is important!
• Do not use your “trail name” or initials.
• Your AT Thru-hiker  will need a photo ID to pick up your package.
• Post Offices are only open Monday through Friday and Saturday mornings—hours vary from Post Office to Post Office.
• Priority Mail is recommended for mailing packages—it’s faster, more reliable than parcel post, and you can forward an unopened package at no charge.

Using a “Bounce Box”

A “bounce box” is popular with long-distance hikers. It allows you to continually send ahead items you’ll need periodically but don’t want to carry. Hikers fill them with supplies such as extra batteries, cell phone chargers, “town clothes,” and toiletries. A bounce box also will allow you to send ahead the extra when you have to buy more of something than you need. Also be sure to include mailing tape, labels, and magic markers so you have supplies to send your box ahead.

I also periodically send a second box with town food - bags of snacks, Pringles, candy bars, an extra trash compactor bag to keep his pack dry, batteries, medicines, crackers, cookies, homemade brownies etc.  every so often.  This food is either too heavy or too bulky or too smash-able to carry on the hike.  But he can eat it that day in town and save his money for necessities, showers, laundry, hostels and gear replacement.

Jeff aka Loner at NOC

Actually my son, Jeff aka Loner (also on White Blaze) answered all my emails today - three in one day!  Yay!
He's making faster time than he thought he would.  He asked me to send his first box to Fontana Dam for Friday April 17 but now he'll be there Wed. April 18, so hopefully the first one will get there in time.  I sent another one today with just town food - stuff too big or heavy for his 13.5 lb. pack, at least that's what it weighed at the weigh in at sign in time at Amicalola Falls. It's just snack food for him to gorge on in town or send forward to another postal drop for future Jeff, as The Good Badger puts it. So that will end up returned.  I need to send boxes further ahead than we thought.

Hey again Mom,

Cool message and liked the Indian info and cool name. ( this is in answer to when I emailed him about the Algonquin Indian in his ancestry-  similar to what I wrote in an earlier post.) Thanks for sending the box.  I'll be in Fontana prob Wed.  The one you send on Friday will get returned so please don't send it if you have not already.  I can't wait on it.  

We heard about the bear can rule and did that whole run in one day and camped on the other side.  I saw a tore up bear bag and some claw marks on some trees. (Photo borrowed  from Shenandoah National Park site. )
I met a dude named James from Greenville but there may be others.  Been doing 17, 18, and 19 mile days.  But taking a slow day today at the NOC (Nantahala Outdoor Center) and do about 12 today.   (photo by Mike of Forget-Me-Not and Filly entering the NOC).

Having a lot of fun but pushing too many miles too soon I think and my feet get tired.  Had great weather and seen some really cool stuff.  Got to visit a Indian Mound in Franklin, NC.

Please don't worry about the FBI thing.  (This was in regards to an AT Hiker AT name, Stonewall, who was murdered in fall of 2011 near Virginia.  I sent Jeff the FBI notice on the White Blaze website, a forum for AT enthusiasts, just so Jeff could be on the look out in that area in case the guy comes back.
Sorry Zach (The Good Badger) , I didn't do too hot about trying not to worry over my son earlier this week - I'm doing better now). 

And I've been taking salt tablets as it's what I purify my water.  Been doing good with water but some others have got sick and one guy quit because of blisters on every toe and another fell at blood mountain.  
 
Love ya,
Got to go, Jeff

By the way, the NOC, Nantahala Outdoor Center is an adventurer's dream - a large compound on the stunning Nantahala River, complete with Outfitter's Shop, Restaurant, Cabin rentals, kayak and canoe rentals, laundries, showers, computer access. It's one of the most elaborate pit stops for any AT thru-hiker and a destination for many day-trippers and overnighters.  After Jeff gets back I'd like to take a trip here with our family to explore the area.
Jeff's a big kayaker but I don't know yet if he interrupted his trek long enough to kayak any of the courses (all levels and many large competitions are held here) or if he just took the opportunity to refit his gear, resupply and eat a hot meal in a gorgeous location.  I'm glad he took the time to access a computer and email me.
Here's a cool blog and a great photo of the restaurant from Whitewater, another 2012 AT thru-hiker who went on trail before Jeff.  

Jeff's AT Gear

As I mentioned before my son, Jeff, is a minimalist. Has been for a good many years. He's not into material things much and when he has them he uses them and sells them quick. All he keeps over time are some books, his arrowhead collection, a few skateboards and his kayak. Now his camping gear.My daughter and I have a terrible time trying to get him to hang onto things like photos.  We kind of do that for him. 

He left with a sparse 13.5 lb. pack and tends not to carry too much equipment or even food. Everything he has is ultralight. He prefers not to sleep on the ground so chose a hammock in which he can put his sleeping bags.  He uses his clothes bag as his pillow, and hangs his backpack underneath the set up to keep it dry. I'm not sure if he's carrying the aluminum windshield reflector as added insulation to keep his feet warm as seen in this video on the AT or not.
Despite his spare lifestyle, Jeff aka Loner, or Snakesession on the Hammock Hanger Forum doesn't like to get wet so uses a great rain fly to keep dry.  He's even camped in snow and was quite cozy.
 Some of Jeff's gear includes:
1.  Pack:  Terra Nova Laser Elite 20L backpack,
2. Hammock:  Grand Trunk Nano

3. Tarp:  Wildernss Logics: Tadpole tarp, 
4. insulation/underquilt : Wilderness Logic rated at 20 degrees
5. Sleeping bag: Western Mountaineering Summerlite WL down 3/4 UQrated at 32 degrees
6.  suspension: whoopie slings w/Dutch biners

And for you hammock hangers: Here's a video of his rain or winter set up w/a brief discussion of his Dutch biners drip ring set ups to make sure drips don't enter his bag and hammock.
Here's a  video of his shakedown hike in Oct. 2011 with a review of his hammock and recommendations for hanging gear. 

1st e-mail from Jeff aka Loner at Hiawasee (I think)

Wow - Friday afternoon, April 13, 2012, I came home to find this email from my son, Jeff hiking the Appalachian Trail.  What a wonderful surprise - especially since we made a deal that Jeff would only write every 3 weeks.  He wanted to wait for 4, but Beth and I wheedled him down to 3.  And here it is less than a week, just 5 days/3 daylight hours into his journey.
 Yay!  Brief but enough.  Another lesson to be learned from an AT hiker  - appreciate the little things!


Hey Mom!

"Thanks for the ride up and the message.  All is fine here having a great time.  I'm going to cross into NC today.  80 miles so far. Has not been cold.  I've been hiking with a cool Mexican dude from TX who goes about the same speed.  We keep leapfrogging each other. 

Not going to be able to do any videos till i get back without a phone.  There's no time except for hiking, setting up camp, and eating.  And a total pain to get on a pc for even 5 minutes.  But I've been filming them.  Been doing between 12 and 16 miles a day so far.  Went to the 1st white blaze the first night.  Tics are here already.  The views are awesome.

If you like, could you please mail the 1st box to the Fontana Dam PO that I left yo?  I'll be there in a week or so.  If the bags (Jeff is talking about the trash compactor bag to keep his pack dry) are not there in time that's fine.  Thanks for doing that.  And sure just put anything in the boxes as a surprise. 

Everyone is nice here and helps each other.  Wish there was more time to write but will have to wait till I get back."

Love ya, Jeff aka Loner

Recap: Jeff's AT Prep Hike Black Gap/Amicalola Oct. 2011

10/21/2011 Another journal entry from my son Jeff on his pre- thru AT hike  in Oct. of 2011 to prepare for the hike he's on now after leaving Georgia on  April 76, 2012. He made this 4 or 5 day trip to test his equipment.  If you look close you'll see the owl stuffed animal Jeff bought for my granddaughter, Kendall for Christmas.  He also bought Beth and I long AT maps so now my push pin is notched in at the GA/NC border until I hear from him again.   10/21/2011 Destination: Amicalola State Park Starting Location: Black Gap Today's Miles: 7.00 Trip Miles: 49.00 Friday for fun took the Hike-Inn trail to check that out. Neat place. LOTS of day hikers on Friday and they don't care who sees them poop in the woods. Walked up on 2 different people in the act! How about walking OFF the trail a ways people! Made it back to the visitor center to look around. Tried to take a shower there but the on/off handle came off in my hand and got soaked in cold water just like some bad Chevy Chase movie! Super fun trip and talked to lots of nice people. The shelters were cool and the trail well marked. This was a shake down for my 2012 thru and was very happy all the gear worked out great. Only one small rub on the back of one foot. Was glad to hike in the cold/rain/snow as I have not been able to test that yet and found I'm fine with it. Was easy to find nice trees to hang from too. Looking forward to doing Neels to NC next time before doing the whole thing in 2012! Some extra notes... There is LOTS of trash at some of the shelters. Two had huge kitchen bags full of trash hanging from the bear cables. Met several people that had bad blisters after only a few miles and one dude who got sick and was in trouble on the second day. Out of water and a huge pack. Others could not do the cold and wanted to go home. Water was dry in places but still was able to find enough no problem. Only saw one deer and 3 grouse. (we don't have these in my part of SC). Owls hooting every night was cool too. Used the Terra Nova Laser Elite 20L. Pack weight with food was just under 11 lbs. I carried two 2-liters of water on my belt. Total 50 miles hiked. Loner

Jeff's Video of the Start of the AT

 I don't have any videos from Jeff  as he is one day six of his journey along the AT Trail - or photos even, but Jeff did make a stunning video of  his prep trip - over 40 miles in 4 days on the Appalachian Trail which he took in October 2011  to test his gear, starting from Amicalola Falls in Dawson, Georgia.  He also has a blog on Trail Journals of his preparation hikes, some of which were 80 miles long during the fall.  I'm hoping he'll let me post some of his email blogs to this site for him when he can't get to a computer where he can download his videos and photos.

This is what he wrote about the first couple days on that section hike in 2011
Hello, I'm Jeff, aka Loner. Living in upstate SC. Started hiking last summer to lose weight and have went from a plump 260 down to 200! Mostly hiking, skateboarding, and changing my diet. Got the hiking bug big time and did the Foothills trail thru (80 miles) this past July. Been learning about the AT, watching videos, reading books and getting my gear together. Lots of practice hikes, camping, and testing. Going as light as I can and my pack weight is around 11 lbs(-water/food). 15lbs total everything. Just did the first 40 miles of the AT starting in Amicalola and had a great time. Can't wait to start in 2012 and hope to meet everyone! I hope to post a video blog but will also talk about gear, safety, etc from the trail.

 10/17/2012

Destination: 3 miles up
Starting Location: Amicalola State Park
Today's Miles: 4.00
Trip Miles: 4.00

---

Hello all!

Just a quick trip report on my first section hike on the AT!

Arrived Monday night and the Amicalola Falls visitor center was closed so signed in at the after-hours board. The steps on the approach trail really get your attention! Great views of the falls and mountains with the fall colors. Very excited to be there.

Only made about 3 miles the first night and set up camp with my GT Nano Hammock and WL Tadpole tarp. Awesome weather in the 50s but coyotes howling all night kept waking me up!

On Tue had a great hike and was surprised to walk up to the plaque so soon. Hung out awhile and talked to the others there. The weather rolled in around dark and hung on the side of a hill in Horse Gap by a road used by huge Army trucks. Rained off and on all night and only had a few drips. Need to seam seal a few more spots but was happy with the tarp and d-rings.

Packed up Wed in the windy rain and hiked to Gooch shelter for lunch. The rain then stopped but still cold! Got hazed a little by 6 sobo thru hikers but that was fine. They were making time! Camped at Miller Gap and got to 39f but was toasty in my WM Summerlite and WL down 3/4 UQ.

Thur morn hiked to Wood's Hole shelter for lunch and to get out of the freezing wind! Could not believe how far off the trail it was. Blood Mnt had a good dusting of snow and was very fun to see but some other hikers were bummed out. Very cold but really enjoyed the hike. Was excited to get to Neels gap and just hang out for lunch and look around. Best $3.50 hot shower I've ever had and the bunk house was set-up nice. Very clean. I've read about it and seen it in the '2000 Miles to Maine' dvd. Everyone there was really nice too.

It was only 2pm so did not want to quit hiking so got Ron the shuttle guy to take me back to the top of Springer. The shuttle guy that helped me is named Ron Hulbert. He used to run one of the hiker hotels in the area. He shuttles hikers anywhere on the trail from the start to the NOC or anywhere in between. Very helpfull and had no prob stopping for food or whatever and took the pic of me at the Springer sign. His number is (707)-745-1596 if you need a back-up.
  This time I had a camera and got some pics. Hiked back to Black Gap shelter and camped up the trail. Only got down to 39f this time and the sun woke me up in the am.

10/18/2011
 

Destination: Horse Gap
Starting Location: 3 miles up
Today's Miles: 11.00
Trip Miles: 15.00

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On Tue had a great hike and was surprised to walk up to the plaque so soon. Hung out awhile and talked to the others there. The weather rolled in around dark and hung on the side of a hill in Horse Gap by a road used by huge Army trucks. Rained off and on all night and only had a few drips. Need to seam seal a few more spots but was happy with the tarp and d-rings.

Loner  10/19/2012  Destination: Miller Gap Starting Location: Today's Miles: 16.00 Trip Miles: 31.00   Packed up Wed in the windy rain and hiked to Gooch shelter for lunch. The rain then stopped but still cold! Got hazed a little by 6 sobo thru hikers but that was fine. They were making time! Camped at Miller Gap and got to 36f but was toasty in my WM Summerlite and WL down 3/4 UQ. Loner                                                                                                                      10/20/2012 Destination: Neels Gap Starting Location: Miller Gap Today's Miles: 11.00 Trip Miles: 42.00 Thur morn hiked to Wood's Hole shelter for lunch and to get out of the freezing wind! Could not believe how far off the trail it was. Blood Mnt had a good dusting of snow and was very fun to see but some other hikers were bummed out. Very cold but really enjoyed the hike. Was excited to get to Neels Gap and just hang out for lunch and look around. Best $3.50 hot shower I've ever had and the bunk house was set-up nice. Very clean. I've read about it and seen it in the '2000 Miles to Maine' dvd. Everyone there was really nice too. It was only 2pm so did not want to quit hiking so got Ron the shuttle guy to take me back to the top of Springer. This time I had a camera and got some pics. Hiked back to Black Gap shelter and camped up the trail. Only got down to 39f this time and the sun woke me up in the am. Loner

Jung, Native American Ancestors & the AT Trail

Jeff has gone back to the Americas before Columbus.
When he signed the register at the beginning of the AT Trail, the backpack, weigh-in site in the Amicalola Falls State Park, Jeff  chose the AT name,  Loner. 

 I would give Jeff a Native American AT Trail name, mostly from the Algonquin's of Maine, who are in his ancestral line on his father's side dating back to maybe his great-great-great grandmother, from the time when one of the British Gray's of Gray, Maine married an Algonquin girl.   

In the Algonquin language the most fitting name for Jeff would be,  Enkoodabaoo which means one who lives alone.  I see his hike as a quest of self-discovery.  So far I haven't found an Algonquin name for turtle, which is his totem animal and has been since his days in the cub scouts when he found his first box turtle and then his dad built him a massive 8X6 foot waist high turtle habitat which had sand for turtles to bury themselves in, lots of vegetation,  a pond for the red-eared water sliders, which his dad rescued from a construction site where the turtles were barely surviving in a mud puddle. The pond had  logs and rocks where they could stretch out their legs and sun themselves and Jeff could push it in and out of the garage in bad storms. In the winter he released them all into the wild so that they could lay their eggs next spring in natural surroundings.
Like a turtle, Jeff travels with his house on his back.  He has lived in a camper for years and it totally suits his simple nomadic lifestyle.

 Jeff  knows himself more than any man I know.  He's an internal guy, always thinking, analyzing his dreams.  His whole life he's navigated the Jungian approach without knowing it, learning who he is, becoming 100% Jeff full of muchness.  He's as authentic as they come - full to the brim with the essence of Jeff. You can see it as soon as you meet him, even beneath the shy surface and subtle humor.He's done more psychological inner work than most people I know and I've worked in the psychological/psychiatric field off and on for many years. Jeff has kept dream journals and spent more than his 40 days in the wilderness starting from when he was a kid about 12 years old (pictured right) when my then boyfriend, Steve, a mountain man to be sure ( he caught rattle snakes in pillow cases for Clemson University as we hiked) would take us off trail in the Blue Ridge Mtns and show us the ropes.  So 90 or 120 days plus won't seem like as much to Jeff as it would to city folk (like me now).  He currently lives in his camper on the road mostly on back roads in the sticks and mountains. So he's familiar with the woods and enjoys his own company.  He's a deep thinker and profound person in touch with the world on a natural level like the Native Americans.  He doesn't buy consumerism sham and lives a minimalist life - and when I say minimal - I mean it.  All his worldly belongings would fit in a couple of trunks and he recycles and sells them often as he takes up new ways to connect with Gaia. All except for his arrowheads which he's collected since he was 12 - but that's another blog all together.
Now he's taken another cycle on his quest in a spiral way over the 39 years of his life, as he's been circling around this unknown goal for many years in the wide range of activities he's become obsessed with - all of which I imagine he shall discover has taught him the skills and given him the mental tools to reach whatever goal he has for this most unique and adventurous experience.