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To Drop or Not to Drop – That Is the Question!
I have backpacked lots. Bears don’t bother me, black flies can be managed, snow is not a problem, even zombies don’t give me any camper angst. What still boosts my anxiety to neurotic levels is this question: “To drop or not to drop?”
This is an important question, no doubt. It depends on a few basic variables: how much food are you willing to carry, how far is it between resupply points, your hiking pace, and finally, what and where are your mail drop options.
This information is available between the Guthook navigation app, guidebooks such as AWOL, and certainly the internet. However, after devouring all the above, my “dropbox anxiety” levels were still unhealthy. So I did what all hyper types A’s do—create a spreadsheet!
This helped me tremendously. The general conclusion is there are only a few places on the AT where I may have to carry more than five days of food based on my expected pace. So I can now relax> I’ve decided NOT to dropbox.
Dudley’s AT Resupply Guide >> HERE 
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Comments 6
Nice spreadsheet and thanks for sharing. Have a great hike and eat well. Hike on…………………
If you stick to all six pages of that plan without deviation, I’ll buy you a six pack. I only did the first week given previous experiences and I’ve already changed the plan. Hitting Approach Trail 3/30. Hope to see you out there.
ha ha… totally with yah. I have no intention of claimin’ that 6 pack :)…. the chart is my list of options, not a to-do guide. My general plan is to travel north and stop occasionally for food… REPEAT!
Thanks John… I can’t wait! 40 days until Springer!
Wow! Nothing better than finding someone who plans as much as I do! Love the spreadsheet & will definitely take advantage of all your research. 2020 has thrown us all for a loop, no doubt. As a 59 year old thru-hiker wanna be, this pause in my life only reinforces my goal. Living in N.C. I hope to take advantage of its’ Mountain-to-Sea trail to prep myself as much as possible. Your flip flop hike sounds incredible. Looking forward to post hike pics.
Thanks so much, Lynn… unfortunately all my work is no longer directly relevant. It should be a good starting point for 2021 research. As a Canadian entry into the USA is prohibited until further notice… so no hiking in the USA at all for the unforeseen future. Possible into 2021:( 🙁
Best of luck!