A Simple Approach to Re-Supplying Your Thru-Hike

I cover a quick, straightforward approach for resupplying your long-distance backpacking trip. In this episode, I use the California section of the Pacific Crest Trail as an example of the best trail towns to send a resupply box, and the best towns to shop. In the next episode, I will cover Oregon and Washington and how to pack a resupply box. This strategy can also help you if you are backpacking the Appalachian Trail (AT), the Continental Divide Trail (CT), or the Colorado Trail, our next planned adventure. Please look below for information on how you can obtain the guide I use in the video and other helpful resources.
Please feel free to add constructive comments. I freely admit I don’t know all the answers and have blind spots. Feel free to enlighten me. We may disagree, but I’m not afraid of robust conversations.
#backpacking resupply, #backpacking, #PCT2022, #PCT2023, #PCT2024, #Olderhikers, #hiking, #PCT2024 #savemoney #AT, #CDT
Here are my documentaries about our journey on the Pacific Crest Trail:
A Pacific Crest Trail Coddiwomple: • A Pacific Crest Trail ...
Coddiwomple II: A Pacific Crest Trail Documentary: • Coddiwomple II: A Paci...
Resources
To access a copy of my resupply guide, click on the following link: indd.adobe.com/view/5c188b77-...
PCTA Website: Resupply Strategy Info: www.pcta.org/discover-the-tra...
PCTA Resupply Locations: www.pcta.org/discover-the-tra...
Half Mile Trail Notes: pctmap.net/trail-notes/
Also use your Far-Out App to Research Towns along the way to see the quality and depth of re-supply options.
/ sewers_pct_resupply_pl...
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[@marclaliberte5491]

I would highly recommend that anyone contemplating a PCT attempt look at the various posts from Halfway Anywhere's Pacific Crest Trail Survey, especially the Resupply post. This is updated annually late Fall based on the feedback from hikers who just attempted the trail, and it does contain a lot of useful information. Not that the information in this video is that much different, but Halfway Anywhere does get into a lot of details and has some interesting takes.

[@akwild1]

Thank you. I have the link to Halfway and another resource for those interested in drilling down to the micro-specifics in the description and mention that in the video.

[@ronniwilde8067]

Thank you so much for your extremely helpful videos! I just discovered your channel a couple of weeks ago and am gleaning very helpful information from it. I am 63 and starting a solo PCT through hike attempt in early April. Resupply is definitely one of the more overwhelming aspects of preparation. Your list will help a lot. Thank you for sharing! 🙏👍🤗

[@akwild1]

Great, and I am a bit envious. Please let us know how your trip is going, and share advice to help inspire other folks to hit the trail. I'm glad you liked the list. There are many more definitive lists, but I wanted to create something that would be easy to grasp quickly so hikers would see resupply is not a big deal. Happy Trails!

[@LindaAndersson-ye1cy]

This is such fantastic advice!!!! A friend and I are starting our planning to do the PCT. You just knocked off hours of research. Thank you!!! Love your channel.

[@akwild1]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for comments.

[@hikerwoody182]

It really is easy to resupply as you go with the exception of a couple locations in Washington. I kinda like the idea of supporting the communities by purchasing your stuff as you pass through a town. Only reason for resupply boxes would be special diet requirements

[@akwild1]

I understand what you're saying. I realized I couldn't make a one size fits all resupply video, so I tried shooting for the middle. I am often overwhelmed with nostalgia for the Stehekin bakery. I was at my hungriest and that place just kept delivering, delivering, and delivering.

[@hikerwoody182]

@@akwild1 Stehekin bakery, now you're talking, I still dream about those big buns 🤣🤣🤣

[@Ericidryfly]

Thanks for sharing👍 This is some solid advice for future Pct hikers. Like you, I will be hiking the Colorado Trail in late June and July. Your spreadsheet of the Pct is a pretty good idea. Will be making one now for my CT thru hike. Enjoy your 2024 hiking season Kimche

[@akwild1]

Glad it was helpful! We're planning to hike the CT in August. Hopefully, it won't be too hot. Audrey Adventures had a nice video on resupply places. Right now I'm considering sending re-supply boxes to Twin Lakes and Silverton. 486 miles seems like a breeze after the logistics required for the PCT.

[@AcrylicGoblin]

Great video. Easy to follow and practical.

[@akwild1]

Thank you. That was my intent, to present something that could be grasped fairly quickly. Next week, I'll focus on Oregon and Washington, and a few tips on packing a resupply box.

[@altitude361]

Thank you! This is super helpful to give me some direction to my planning. My husband (65) and I (63) will begin the PCT in April this year. I have planned on resupplying mostly in towns with just a few mailed resupplies, but the whole idea of resupply has been overwhelming. Your resupply sheet with town information is concise and very helpful. Thank you!!!!!

[@akwild1]

Yes! That's awesome. We started hiking the PCT in 2022 when we both were 62, and finished all but the last 30 miles last year at age 63. I'm glad you understood my intent; I wanted to make something that could be understood at a glance, and not be too confusing. I'm excited for your trip, and I hope the two of you have the best time of your lives. Happy Trails.

[@dwaynestewart6095]

that is some really good information Ray and that strategy would work on any long hike. I guess having this feeding tube I have a bit of an advantage. meal replacement shakes are readily available I think ant I don't have to worry about taste since it goes directly to the belly bypassing my mouth😅😅😅 Dwayne

[@akwild1]

Hey Dwayne. I have no doubt you would come up with a resupply strategy to suit your needs. Something about that stubborness gene we both seem to share. Take care my friend.

[@glenloewen7507]

Thank You!!! These aids are super helpful!

[@akwild1]

Thank you for watching. Next week, I will talk about Oregon and Washington, and some tips on packing a resupply box. Happy Trails!

[@danidaskam1027]

Great information! Thanks for sharing.

[@akwild1]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching.

[@markcummings6856]

Great video, thanks.

[@akwild1]

Glad you liked it!

[@chuckynikki]

A great idea is Amazon. I don't ever here this one mentioned. Most of us have Prime, so its free shipping. Their prices are pretty cheap, There are also way more Amazon drop boxes than post offices, and a lot of them are 24/7. Most things ship in 2 days, some overnight. You can buy stuff like fuel cans too. One of the biggest advantages is you can order on trail a couple of days out. No more worries of am i going to make it to the post office on a certain day or time, and pick what your currently in the mood to eat.

[@stevemartin8994]

Great idea. It looks like the items can stay in the locker for 3 and then will be shipped back to Amazon and our order will be refunded. Have you ever had an order not be in the locker, or picked up after 3 days of being in the locker?

[@akwild1]

Thank you for the great idea. In 2022, we experienced supply shocks and so the deydrated food we liked took a month to receive. I looked up the same meals we prefer, and it looks like Amazon would have it to us within a week. My only concern is that Amazon would not ship anything UPS, which was a hassle for me when I came to a town and had to figure out which business, or church onetime, accepted UPS packages Thank you for commenting.

[@valeriee3039]

Very helpful information. Have you done the AT?

[@akwild1]

Thank you. Next up is the Colorado Trail this summer. I've been pondering the CDT. The AT worries me with how crowded it might be and the humidity, so it's not at the top of my list.

[@underdgk9]

Fantastic! Thanks for the very useful information, as always.

[@akwild1]

My pleasure! Thank you for watching.

[@cheryl5218]

Thank you for the great information and inspirational video. You gave a lot of really good advice. 🎒

[@akwild1]

You are so welcome, Cheryl. Thanks for watching. It means a lot to me.

[@ervinslens]

Fantastic work bud, helpful and informative 👏👏

[@akwild1]

Awesome! Thank you.

[@HuangXingQing]

Great video! Love the background. My one wish/admonition for anyone posting post-thru hike data next year is to include Start date, NoBo/SoBo, Age, and date the data was captured. I found at least two points while pouring over data the last 2+ months that had closed shop and several box fees had increased. My pay-it-forward goal in 2024 is to capture all trail points I encounter with venues selling dehydrated meals/brands. That black hole alone accounted for untold hours contacting brands, taste tests, calorie/protein comparisons and just who/where/how a meal box could be sent, reliably. I'm too old to be eating Snickers, Mountain Dew, and Cheetos for 6 months!

[@akwild1]

Excellent point. I hope I kept my strategy flexible enough that it had enough wiggle room to be dependable. To your point, I remember in 2022 we resupplied in Skykomish, but I believe the owner of the outdoor store has since moved his location. That's why in next week's video I mention the resupply options in Skykomish are minimal. Snickers, Mountain Dew and Cheetos don't make me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside, either. I'm planning to shoot a few episodes in the future on healthier backpacking foods you can make yourself. I'm still doing the research.

[@HorizonHikes]

If you send your boxes to hostels when possible instead of post offices the hours might not matter since most hostels will be open late. Also if you’re sending a lot of your food from things you buy at REI, they offer free shipping in the US. You could use a much smaller flat rate box for any other essentials like medication or other personal supplies and save some money that way.

[@akwild1]

Thank you for that insight. It looks like a medium box is around $18 and a Small Box is around $10, so that could be a less expensive option. Thanks for watching.

[@benoloughlin1557]

Thank you again for another super-useful video!

[@akwild1]

Thanks Ben. Next week is Oregon and Washington, which are quite a bit different from California as far as re-suppling goes. Thanks for watching.

[@benoloughlin1557]

@@akwild1 Ypu are welcome! Oregon and Washington is where I am most familiar but on our section hikes in August 2023 we never had to organise a resupply strategy. However, I will keep your advice in mind should I miraculously find the finances to return and hike more of the PCT (or CDT or AT) in the future.

[@RC-qf3mp]

Do most supply places have canned sardines?

[@akwild1]

That's a good question. I think most places listed with minimal and moderate supply on my resupply guide would carry sardines.