What do you do with food on the Appalachian Trail?

For longer trips you can either buy food along the way or mail it to yourself using a “drop box” or a “bounce box.” Explore these options in the food resupply section of the thru-hiker portion of our website.

How do thru-hikers get food?

There are a few ways thru-hikers resupply, including buying food and supplies from stores in trail towns and asking a friend or family member to meet you. But one of the best, and sometimes cheapest, ways to resupply is to simply ship a package to your next stop. You don’t need a P.O box to send yourself mail.

Where do you sleep when hiking the Appalachian Trail?

Where do you sleep along the Appalachian Trail? There is an extensive system of campsites and shelters along the Appalachian Trail. Shelters are built and maintained by local volunteers and usually have a water source and additional campsites nearby.

Do you need a bear canister on Appalachian Trail?

Because of the bear hang’s frequent failures along the A.T., the Appalachian Trail Conservancy highly recommends that hikers use bear canisters as their form of food storage. A bear canister is one of the most foolproof methods of food storage.

Do you need to hang your food on the AT?

You should hang your food while on the AT (or use a bear canister. Simpler but bulkier)The Appalachian Trail Conservancy want everyone to properly store food while on the AT. This is for everyone’s benefit- including the animals.

Why do hikers get fat?

Some hikers may experience weight gain because of an increase in water weight, an increase in muscle mass, or because of a rapid intake of high calorie foods.

Where can I receive food on the Appalachian Trail?

Most towns will at least have a chain grocery store, Dollar General, or something of the sort. Here’s our up-to-date breakdown of the top five places to send resupplies on the Appalachian Trail, and the benefits and downsides to sending food to yourself.

What do hikers eat when hiking the Appalachian Trail?

One end of the resupply spectrum will find hikers subsisting off the spongy combination of high-fructose corn syrup and chemicals that make up Oatmeal Creme Pies, while the other end will provide a veritable cornucopia of specialty grocery stores and co-ops.

Do you need to send mail drops on the Appalachian Trail?

We’ll be the first ones to say it: with few exceptions, it’s not really necessary to send mail drops on the Appalachian Trail. Thru-hikers have the option of hiking through or hitching into a town every three to seven days, which is more than enough frequency to get by without sending yourself food to hostels or other remote locations.

Is it easy to resupply on the Appalachian Trail?

Resupplying and Accessing Towns Along the Appalachian Trail Resupplying on the Appalachian Trail is easier then you might think. While the heart of the AT takes you through the Appalachian mountains and there are certainly remote parts of the trail, it also takes you within practical distances from dozens… Read More