On long trips you may need to resupply while on the trail, en route to your final destination. You can look on a map to find towns near the trail and play to buy food as you go. This strategy requires the least preparation and it gives you more flexibility to change your plans. The downside is that you will be stuck with the offerings of a small town grocery store; if some other hiker just bought the last jar of peanut butter, you could be out of luck. Also, you’re limited to buying whatever package sizes are available: a four pack of soup when you only need two; a whole family sized box of instant potatoes when maybe you are not quite that hungry. If you are picky about your food, you might not appreciate the white bread, processed cheese, sugared cereals, and preservative-filled lunch meats that are staples of small town stores. The smaller the town, the more difficult you will find resupplying on the fly.

Food Drops
One popular option, used by most long distance hikers, is to send yourself a “food drop” (or if you are traveling for an extended period of time, coerce a loving friend into sending your boxes for you). Pack a box of supplies you’ll need and address it as follows, including your expected arrival date:

Your Name
c/o General Delivery
Town, State, Zip Code
Please hold for hiker arriving on or about (date)

General delivery holds packages for 10 days. Make sure you put a return address on the box in case your plans change. Check with your local postmaster to find out which is the cheapest way to send your package; over long distances, priority mail often costs about the same as parcel post, and it gets your package where it is going much faster. Remember private delivery services such as UPS cannot deliver to a general delivery address or a post office box.

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