[pct-l] Resupply strategies

[Mary Kwart]

"When I was looking at the cost of resupply, it struck me that for
each food package I'll send, I will pay $16 on shipping. Am I really
going to make that up by finding cheaper food at home? Hmmmm... Not to
mention the freshness factor. I don't really trust cheeses and such
for more than 2 or 3 weeks - not enough time to make them logical
choices for shipping. (Note: I am shipping from North Carolina where
Flat Rate is the lowest cost. If you live on the West Coast Regional
Rate will be cheaper, but it is still a significant cost.)"

For the kind of food I eat, it is cheaper for me to do it ahead of
time. I also send the boxes as late as possible and the boxes are kept
in cold storage. I don't pack cheese, except for parmesan grated and
that has never molded. I make a schedule for the person sending me my
boxes and they send them to coincide with when I will arrive so they
don't sit around. 

"This is really a hassle for my wife - but I feel guilty having her
make too many trips to the P.O."
Many of us do not have the advantage of a significant other at our
beck and call, so have to make other arrangements with busy friends.
 "But in addition to that hassle, I don't like to be forced to adjust
my hiking schedule."
I will send packages to motels if I can. Once again , this pre
supposes you will know exactly where you will be staying and the date.
This is easier for only going out for a month, but 4-5 months? I
believe Shroomer has done this on the CDT and can speak to longer
logistics. This means more time arranging things ahead of the hike, if
you have that time. My hiking schedule usually coincided with arriving
on weekdays anyway. I like to get into town early to start doing
chores, so getting to the post office before it closed was an
incentive.
 "For my (planned) 2014 thru, I am intending to do the hybrid
re-supply strategy."
I, too will do a hybrid system this time--a balance between taking a
bunch of time to plan and arrange and just winging it at stores along
the way. 
Fireweed