I’ve resupplied out of little stores on the trail now for years. I look at it like foraging. I don’t go in with an expectation of what I want but more a “lets see what’s available today” kind of attitude. If I’m open and look at everything, I walk away with a resupply that is better than anybody’s box of stale food they dried months ago.
Once, while sitting out at the picnic table at Echo Lake, a couple asked me if I got my box. I said “no, I buy as I go.” He said, “Well, I guess that’s okay if you don’t care what you put in your body.” I watched them get their box, that they paid 35 dollars to have shipped from the East Coast, and unpack it. Inside they had: organic instant oatmeal, organic ramen, vegan gummy bears, organic dried apples and organic chips. I had whole wheat tortillas, Cheese, nuts, peanut butter, fresh apples, and chips. No wonder they were so crabby.
There are places though that a person walks through that don’t have a store and for those places a box would be very convenient. Unless you have a person to send boxes for you, that can make it tough, on a long trail, as some places don’t want to hold your package for a long time and it’s hard to predict what you want to eat months in advance.
I’ve discovered a few options:
Jet.com is a new Amazon-like site that is often cheaper than Amazon. They sell single and bulk items—including Kirkland (Costco brand) stuff. Orders over 35 dollars ship free.
Amazon prime Pantry. Where you can buy single items, instead of the bulk packages they usually sell, and have it shipped to you for a flat rate $5.99. You don’t have to fill a box; you can order as little as you want or as much as you want–up to 45lbs (20.4 kilos). Looks like they even sell tortillas. I don’t think they will ship to a post office though.
Another is Sonora Pass Resupply. They have an online store and you can order food and other trail needs and they will ship to you anywhere on the Pacific Crest Trail maybe anywhere. I think you can also send them your stuff and they will ship it to you. Shipping is free on orders of 50 dollars or more. They will also meet you at Sonora Pass and hand deliver a resupply to you for 50 dollars. They will also pickup and mail your bear can home from Sonora Pass for 15 dollars postage included and take out your trash.
Another is Zero day resupply. They have an online store and I believe will ship anywhere. They are even set up to do a bucket resupply at Muir Trail Ranch. They have a weight and calorie calculator for your order that makes things easy.
