[pct-l] Going stoveless and resupply as you go

[Meike]

Hello Paint,

I admit you do not have to introduce yourself. I secretly and silenty 
enjoyed your posts as they always are a bit more than just 
informational. Just like this one, you really Paint it for me.

I am by now getting a pretty good idea what to expect. So at a grocery 
store or bigger there will be no problems finding no-cook foods and at a 
Convenience store or smaller you can do it if you are not too picky for 
that moment. Question answered, it is doable :)

Are you going to hike your remaining miles this year?

Meike



Am 22.01.2014 19:08, schrieb Paint Your Wagon:
> Hello Meike,
>
> The name’s Paint; Paint Your Wagon.
>
> Nice to meet you. I’ll take a shot at some of your questions.
>
> First off- I pretty much resupplied from off of the trail. When I sent a package somewhere,
> I almost always didn’t make it there to retrieve the resupply.
> One package sat at South Lake Tahoe, one sat at Ziggy and the Bear’s (Whitewater),
> another at Evil Goat’s (Anza), and another at Papa Smurf’s (Big Bear City).
>
> The quality and selection (variety) of food will depend on how far off the trail you are willing to go.
> Often, I would need one or two unique non food items, or need to replace a piece of gear, or need to accomplish an important task,
> in addition to obtaining a resupply of food, and that is what would drive me to travel far from the trail.
>
> I hitchhiked 38 miles from the trail into Lake Isabella. It took 2 hitches (rides) in, and 4 hitches out.
> The trail angel that takes care of the water cache nearby gave me my second ride. Her name is Mary, and she was 80 years young in 2012.
> I walked 12 miles down the mountain from Horseshoe Meadow, and caught a hitch into Lone Pine, the last 10 miles. Only 3 cars went by me all day.
> I hitched into Bridgeport, from Sonora Pass, 38 miles. The waiting time was 20 seconds.
>
> If you are from outside of the United States, and it sounds like you are,
> then speaking about large food chains (companies) by their marquee store names, won’t mean much to you.
>
> Some of the larger stores that come to mind in southern California are: Winco, Stater Bros., Albertsons, and Vons.
>
> Generic names of stores are: convenience stores/gas stations, mini markets, markets, grocery stores, supermarkets, and supercenters.
> I listed them in order of size, from the smallest, to the largest.
>
> The store in Wrightwood is identified as a grocery store. It’s big enough to have shopping/grocery carts,
> and the aisles are approx. 50- 75 feet in length. The same kind of products may take up one entire side of the aisle,
> but then again maybe not. Ex: soft drinks and juices share one side of an aisle, and dry goods are stocked on the other side,
> loaded with things like paper plates, Styrofoam cups, plastic utensils, cleaning supplies, soaps, a few pots and pans, etc.
> Liquor may be kept behind the counter, with no more than one or two dozen options to choose from.
> Approx. 6 checkout lanes service the customers. The parking lot may permit the parking of 30-40 cars at any one time.
> It is a stand alone structure, and is found in a small town. Likely found closest to the trail.
>
> In a supermarket, the aisles may be 75-150 feet in length, and stocked on both sides of the aisle
> with every imaginable liquid soft drink on the market. Another entire aisle maybe devoted to juices.
> The entire back wall of the store might contain every imaginable kind of meat, including a vast selection of seafood,
> with quite possibly a salt water tank containing live lobsters. In addition, in another part of the store, a full deli may be installed,
> including chairs and tables, equivalent to a sit down restaurant. The liquor section might have smaller aisles (5 sides total),
> and the beer, wine, and liquor will be segregated, running the entire length of each aisle.  The checkout lanes may total 18 or more.
> A bank may be operating a branch office at the front of the store, and the store’s administrative offices may be in a second floor above the bank.
> There could be a full blown pharmacy in the store. The parking lot is measured in acres, and can handle literally hundreds of automobiles.
> Other large stores will either be attached to the supermarket, or be nearby. The community is likely to be populated by tens of thousands of people.
> This might be a Vons, Albertsons, Winco, Ralph’s, Food4Less, Sprouts, Whole Foods, etc. Likely located further from the trail than are grocery stores.
>
> Supercenters are stores like Walmart, Kmart, Target, etc. Combination department store and grocery store.
> They’ll be selling clothes, household goods, sporting goods, tools, paints, electronics, automotive goods, etc.,
> and they will have the equivalent of a supermarket, or a grocery store, under their roof. Likely to have a pharmacy.
> Huge parking lots handle the traffic, and are usually found in larger population centers.
> Likely located furthest from the trail, in comparison to all other stores.
>
> Convenience stores/gas stations/mini markets.
>
> There are dozens of these type stores within striking distance of the trail. I resupplied about as much out of these, as I did the big stores.
> Choices? Not so much. It is what it is. I would get just enough food to get me to the next big store.
> The cold cases would have beer, sports drinks, milk, cheeses, lunch meats, sausages, burritos, ice cream, and sometimes fresh fruit.
> Shelves are stocked with chips, crackers, pretzels, soups, chilis, trail mixes, cereals, instant oatmeal,
> Ramen noodles, beef jerky, sausage sticks, cookies, chewing gum, energy bars, etc.
> At the counter- liquor, lottery tickets, and sometimes fresh fruit. I’m sure I’m leaving a few things out,
> but with some discernment, one CAN get some vittles to eat, that will not end your life if consumed.
>
> I almost always carried too much food. There are a lot of places to get food while out on the trail,
> plus there are hiker boxes that are like manna from heaven. And, trail magic, and, trail angels.
> I am not advocating privilege or expectations of angels or trail magic. It just happens.
> What’s even more gratifying than angels or magic, is to become an angel and give the magic.
>
> I carried a lot of water as a rookie, and didn’t regret it one bit. 8 liters was the norm in the desert,
> and 2 liters was the norm up in the big mountains. I did run out of water 6 times in the desert,
> and ran out of food a couple of times. I got weak real fast when I ran out of food.
> Of course, I was metering it out as I began to run out of food, so the calorie deficit was a sliding scale,
> over a number of days.
> It was more of a financial issue than one of food availability.
>
> I exited the trail at mile 1,018... so someone else will have to enlighten thee on the remaining 1,632 miles, give or take a mile or two.
>
> Go forth and hike thee buttocks off!
>
> <>Paint<>
>
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