For those planning to use mail drops as part or all of their re-supply strategy, there are a few things to keep in mind…
1. Not all shipping methods are created equal…PART 1 – If you are having a mail drop sent to a business or hotel, be sure to check with them to find out which shipping method they require. Most will accept packages sent with either USPS or UPS. However, there are a few which will specify a shipping method, for example, the Inn at Long Trail will only accept packages sent with UPS.
2. Not all shipping methods are created equal…PART 2 – If you are shipping your packages with USPS, it is a good idea to ship with Priority Mail. There are several reasons for this. First, you can forward packages for free if shipped with Priority Mail. That means that if you end up not needing a particular mail drop, or if it arrives late, you can have that package forwarded to another address for free (you can not do this with packages shipped Parcel Post). The second reason is that with the shorter shipping time for Priority packages, the box is simply in transit for less time, meaning less time for things to go wrong (packages getting lost or damaged).
3. Often the cost of shipping a mail drop using Priority Flat Rate is most economical. For a single person, the Medium Flat Rate box can get you 3-4 days of food. For two people hiking together, the Large Flat Rate box is going to get you 3-4 days of food. There are several sizes available for the Medium and the Large Flat Rate boxes. The Medium Flat Rate box which seems to have the best shape and volume for shipping resupplies measures 11 ⅞” x 3 ⅜” x 13 ⅝”. The Large Flat Rate box with by far the most room is the “Board Game Box” which measures 23 11/16” x 11 ¾” x 3”. You can order these boxes on the USPS website for free. Don’t worry if you have to order more boxes than you will use…you can drop off any extra boxes at your local post office and they will be happy to have them.
4. Be sure to pack your box snuggly. As things settle in your box, they will start to move around more as extra room is created. This can cause packages of food to break open, or to get crushed. Fill the box with newspaper or other packing material if you have extra room at the top of your box.
5. Some people feel it is important to decorate their resupply boxes with stickers or drawings, etc. They feel that their box will be more noticeable and therefore less likely to go missing. When hiking the AT, I sprayed a big letter ‘R’ on one side of the boxes. When hiking the PCT, my wife decorated all my resupply boxes with various rainbow designs. I don’t really think the box decoration is necessary or made too much of a difference in me getting my resupply boxes. The folks along the Long Trail have been dealing with resupply boxes for years and have created their own organization which usually serves everyone well. A couple reasons to decorate your resupply boxes: 1. it will simply put a smile on your face to see the box at the end of a long day of hiking, 2. If the person who goes to retrieve your boxes is having a hard time finding it, they may remember something interesting or out of the ordinary.
6. And of course, the basics…When sending your mail drops, make sure you label the package appropriately. For mail drops going to a post office, you want to create a label following this template:
Your Name (LT Hiker)
General Delivery
Town Name, VT Zip Code
ETA: Date You Expect to Pick Up Package
If you are sending your package to a business or motel, you’ll want to create a label which follows this template:
Your Name (LT Hiker)
℅ Business Name
Street Address
Town Name, VT Zip Code
ETA: Date You Expect to Pick Up Package
