Last Minute Check!

After celebrating Independence Day with our families on Camano Island, Leann and I are back home, double- and triple-checking our pack contents. 

Above is the contents of my pack for the first leg of our hike - 8 days! See that black bag? That's all my food. For 8 days. Holy. Cow.

Tomorrow, my parents will drive with us to Roseburg, Oregon, where we will spend the night. Bright and early on Sunday morning we will head East into Crater Lake National Park where we begin the adventure!

We have had several people ask us if they can send us packages along the trail. The answer is YES! (but only if you send food) (ok, we would love letters too.)

Getting mail to us can be pretty tricky, so here are some instructions:

Letters can be mailed First Class (normal mail). Most boxes must be mailed via Priority Mail through the US Post Office. Everything we've read advises against sending packages First Class or Parcel Post. 

Some of the maildrop locations can only take UPS. We've made a note of that in our resupply list. DO NOT USE FEDEX.

However you send us mail or packages, please make sure that we do not have to sign for them. It just won't happen.

If you want to send us care packages, please remember that we will have to eat, carry, or throw out anything that you send. Food is great. Gluten Free Cookies. Non Gluten Free Cookies. Gum. Fun letters and jokes. Games we could play in camp (that don't weigh a lot).

Our ETA's are just that: Estimated Times of Arrival. It's a good idea to try to get your letter or package to us a little late - and please let us know if you are sending us something.

It's very important that each letter/box is addressed exactly as we've written in the resupply list. And don't forget to write "Hold for PCT Hiker, ETA: (date)" on the bottom left corner of all boxes and letters. It's also helpful to write our last names in bug letters on all sides of any box.

I know that's a lot of instructions, but if you send us anything we want to make sure we get it!

Ok, time to check again that I have everything we need!

--Rosie