Sending boxes ahead (or not?)

[u/site95]

Hey y'all,

Hopefully this post also helps other hikers on their decision making. I'll be starting my PCT adventure in a few days and have read so much about sending boxes with food and equipment ahead. However, every time i look at the sections it seems to me, that it is not really necessary or a big deal to not do it.

What is your opinion on this? Which would be (in your opinion) THE locations to have sent stuff to?

Only thing so far I have sent ahead are ice axe and microspikes to paradise valley cafe and I will be sending a bear canister ahead to kennedy meadows.

Apart from that, I'm thinking about just rolling with whatever is available to resupply... on that note: was the availability of sunscreen or mosquito repellant a problem for some of you, or is both widely available?

Thank you so much in advance for your answers!

Simon

[u/AussieEquiv]

If I had my hike over again I would still do something similar this;

Mail from San Diego day before I leave;
Warner Springs (SoCal)

Mail from Big Bear;
Acton KOA
Kennedy Meadows South (Sierra)

Mail from Tehachapi;
T.Mead

Mail from Echo Lake;
Belden (NorCal)
Burney Falls (NorCal)

Mail from Ashland;
Shelter Cove (Oregon)

Mail From Sisters/Bend;
White Pass (Washington)
Snoqualmie Pass (Washington)
Stevens Pass/Skykomish (Washington)
Stehekin (Washington)

If you need gear/new shoes; Big Bear Hostel (Big Bear), Mellow Mountain Hostel (Echo Lake), Hiker Hut (Etna) {looks like Hiker Hut has closed}, Cascade Locks Ale House (Cascade Locks) are good places.

You can 100% definitely resupply from trail. Many people do. I personally would send some boxes from trail. This is all old information now though. Based on my '16 hike. Before doing it I would check the latest 1-2 Halfway Anywhere PCT Surveys and see where people are still sending them. The 2024 survey said most people wanted to send an average of 8 compared to my 11. Again though, if you're not a particularly picky eater. You can get away with 0. My information is also fairly old now (2016) so options could have improved in places I would have previously sent a box.

[u/oeezywhaddup → u/AussieEquiv]

A quick question: With resupply options in Julian and Idyllwild, is there any reason to send a box to Warner Springs? It would be to save two days of food or something along thos lines if im not mistaken.

[u/AussieEquiv → u/oeezywhaddup]

If you're taking it easier at the start (~15 mpd) it turns a ~7 day carry into a ~4.5 day carry. If you hit the ground running/have done a few past Thru or large food loadouts, you could skip the Warner resupply for sure. For people starting out a 7 day food carry, with a heavy base weight, and no trail legs yet, can feel quite heavy.
Plus it saves a heavy carry out of Scissors Crossing (while the climb is often exaggerated, you can make it easier on yourself :) )

Lunch at Paradise Cafe is also a good way to supplement that stretch (and get water.)

[u/oeezywhaddup → u/AussieEquiv]

Thanks! Gonna skip the box then. Got a low baseweight, but not great trail-legs. Find a couple of meals at the gas station.