Friday, April 27, 2012
Just About Ready to Go.
I am all set to leave Portland on May 1st and head down to San Diego. I find it amazing that you can take a city bus to the Southern Terminus of the PCT.
I have butterflies in my stomach. I feel like I'm on the edge of a diving board looking down. I keep reading inspirational quotes that are in all of the guide books and they make me excited. One I particularly like:
"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in boadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, 'Wow, what a ride!'" -Unknown
I still have a few things to get in order: I have to finish packing my food, and I have a couple of articles of clothing to make.
I'm almost there.
And then I'm just beginning.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Itinerary as of May 26th
New Itinerary Update:
I have added recommended dates that packages should be sent in order for them to arrive in a timely manner. These dates are in bold font and follow each mailing address. It is recommended that one allows ten days for shipping. Most places will hold packages for up to a month, especially if you put the ETA on the package. As always, address your package like this (unless otherwise noted):
Aria Benner
General Delivery
City, State Zip
On the bottom left corner, write:
Hold for Aria Benner
ETA: (date I am expected to arrive)
Here is my new schedule:
May 30 Agua Dulse, CA Mail to: Aria Benner c/o The Saufleys/ 11861 Darling Road /Agua Dulce, CA 91390 May20
June 5 Mojave, CA 93501 May 26
June 12 Kennedy Meadows, CA Mail to: Aria Benner/ c/o Kennedy Meadows General Store/ 96740 Beach Meadow Road / Inyokem, CA 93527. Costs me $2 to pick up a package. June 1
June 16 Bishop, CA 93514 June 5
June 21 Mono Hot Springs, CA Mail to: Aria Benner/ c/o Mono Hot Springs Resort/ General Delivery,/Mono Hot Springs, CA 93642 June 11
June 23 Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 June 13
June 29 Bridgeport, CA 93517 June 19
July 3 South Lake Tahoe, CA 96151 June 23
July 8 Sierra City, CA 96125 June 29
July 15 Chester, CA 96020 July 5
July 19 Burney, CA 96013 July 9
July 24 Mt. Shasta, CA 96067 July 14
July 29 Etna, CA 96027 July 19
Aug 4 Ashland, OR 97520 July 25
Aug 9 Crater Lake, OR Mail to: Aria Benner / c/o Crater Lake Camp Store/ Mazama Village/ Crater Lake, OR 97604 July 30
Aug 13 Shelter Cove, OR UPS Only. Mail to: Aria Benner/ c/o Shelter Cove Resort/ 27600 West Odell Lake Road/ Highway 58/ Crescent, OR 97733
Aug 14 Sisters, OR 97759 Aug 7
Aug 23 Timberline Lodge Mail to: Aria Benner/ c/o Timberline Ski Area/ WY'East Store/ Timberline Lodge/ Timberline OR 97028. The guide book says to make it painfully obvious that the package is for a pct hiker. Costs me $5 to pick up a package here. Aug 13
Aug 22 Cascade Locks, OR **Come pick me up and take me to Portland!**
Aug 29 Trout Lake, WA 98650 Aug 19
Sept 1 White Pass, WA Mail to: Aria Benner/ c/o White Pass Rural Branch PO/ at the Kracker Barrel Store/ 48851 US Highway 12/ Naches, WA 98937 Aug 22
Sept 6 Snoqualmie Pass, WA 98068 Aug 27
Sept 10 Skykomish, WA 98288 Sept 31
Sept 15 Stehekin, WA 98852 Sept6
Sept 20 Manning Park, Canada!! Mail to: Aria Benner/ c/o Manning Park Lodge/ 7500 Highway #3/ Manning Provincial Park, BC VOX IR0/ CANADA Sept 10
I have added recommended dates that packages should be sent in order for them to arrive in a timely manner. These dates are in bold font and follow each mailing address. It is recommended that one allows ten days for shipping. Most places will hold packages for up to a month, especially if you put the ETA on the package. As always, address your package like this (unless otherwise noted):
Aria Benner
General Delivery
City, State Zip
On the bottom left corner, write:
Hold for Aria Benner
ETA: (date I am expected to arrive)
Here is my new schedule:
May 30 Agua Dulse, CA Mail to: Aria Benner c/o The Saufleys/ 11861 Darling Road /Agua Dulce, CA 91390 May20
June 5 Mojave, CA 93501 May 26
June 12 Kennedy Meadows, CA Mail to: Aria Benner/ c/o Kennedy Meadows General Store/ 96740 Beach Meadow Road / Inyokem, CA 93527. Costs me $2 to pick up a package. June 1
June 16 Bishop, CA 93514 June 5
June 21 Mono Hot Springs, CA Mail to: Aria Benner/ c/o Mono Hot Springs Resort/ General Delivery,/Mono Hot Springs, CA 93642 June 11
June 23 Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 June 13
June 29 Bridgeport, CA 93517 June 19
July 3 South Lake Tahoe, CA 96151 June 23
July 8 Sierra City, CA 96125 June 29
July 15 Chester, CA 96020 July 5
July 19 Burney, CA 96013 July 9
July 24 Mt. Shasta, CA 96067 July 14
July 29 Etna, CA 96027 July 19
Aug 4 Ashland, OR 97520 July 25
Aug 9 Crater Lake, OR Mail to: Aria Benner / c/o Crater Lake Camp Store/ Mazama Village/ Crater Lake, OR 97604 July 30
Aug 13 Shelter Cove, OR UPS Only. Mail to: Aria Benner/ c/o Shelter Cove Resort/ 27600 West Odell Lake Road/ Highway 58/ Crescent, OR 97733
Aug 14 Sisters, OR 97759 Aug 7
Aug 23 Timberline Lodge Mail to: Aria Benner/ c/o Timberline Ski Area/ WY'East Store/ Timberline Lodge/ Timberline OR 97028. The guide book says to make it painfully obvious that the package is for a pct hiker. Costs me $5 to pick up a package here. Aug 13
Aug 22 Cascade Locks, OR **Come pick me up and take me to Portland!**
Aug 29 Trout Lake, WA 98650 Aug 19
Sept 1 White Pass, WA Mail to: Aria Benner/ c/o White Pass Rural Branch PO/ at the Kracker Barrel Store/ 48851 US Highway 12/ Naches, WA 98937 Aug 22
Sept 6 Snoqualmie Pass, WA 98068 Aug 27
Sept 10 Skykomish, WA 98288 Sept 31
Sept 15 Stehekin, WA 98852 Sept6
Sept 20 Manning Park, Canada!! Mail to: Aria Benner/ c/o Manning Park Lodge/ 7500 Highway #3/ Manning Provincial Park, BC VOX IR0/ CANADA Sept 10
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Itinerary as of 4/4/12
Itinerary as of 4/4/12
This will definitely be changing as I go. If you'd like to send me something, it's a good idea to mail it ten days in advance of my estimated arrival date. Also, please see the instructions on sending me things in the mail. It is the first blog entry.
Oh yeah- the format to use in addressing boxes is:
Aria Benner
General Delivery
City, State Zip
unless otherwise noted. Most mail drop locations are post offices, but a couple of them are stores that require special labeling.
April 27 Campo, CA 91906
April 30 Mt. Laguna, CA 91948
May 2 Julian, CA 92036
May 6 Idyllwild, CA 92549
May 12 Big Bear City, CA 92314
May 17 Wrightwood, CA 92397
May 21 Agua Dulse, CA Mail to: Aria Benner c/o The Saufleys/ 11861 Darling Road /Agua Dulce, CA 91390
May 27 Mojave, CA 93501
June 3 Kennedy Meadows, CA Mail to: Aria Benner/ c/o Kennedy Meadows General Store/ 96740 Beach Meadow Road / Inyokem, CA 93527. Costs me $2 to pick up a package.
June 5 Lone Pine, CA 93545
June 7 Bishop, CA 93514
June 12 Mono Hot Springs, CA Mail to: Aria Benner/ c/o Mono Hot Springs Resort/ General Delivery,/Mono Hot Springs, CA 93642
June 14 Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
June 16 Tuolumne Meadows, CA 95389
June 20 Bridgeport, CA 93517
June 24 South Lake Tahoe, CA 96151
June 29 Sierra City, CA 96125
July 6 Chester, CA 96020
July 10 Burney, CA 96013
July 15 Mt. Shasta, CA 96067
July 20 Etna, CA 96027
July 26 Ashland, OR 97520
July 31 Crater Lake, OR Mail to: Aria Benner / c/o Crater Lake Camp Store/ Mazama Village/ Crater Lake, OR 97604
Aug 4 Shelter Cove, OR UPS Only. Mail to: Aria Benner/ c/o Shelter Cove Resort/ 27600 West Odell Lake Road/ Highway 58/ Crescent, OR 97733
Aug 8 Sisters, OR 97759
Aug 14 Timberline Lodge Mail to: Aria Benner/ c/o Timberline Ski Area/ WY'East Store/ Timberline Lodge/ Timberline OR 97028. The guide book says to make it painfully obvious that the package is for a pct hiker. Costs me $5 to pick up a package here.
Aug 16 Cascade Locks, OR Come pick me up and take me to Portland.
Aug 20 Trout Lake, WA 98650
Aug 23 White Pass, WA Mail to: Aria Benner/ c/o White Pass Rural Branch PO/ at the Kracker Barrel Store/ 48851 US Highway 12/ Naches, WA 98937
Aug 28 Snoqualmie Pass, WA 98068
Sept 1 Skykomish, WA 98288
Sept 6 Stehekin, WA 98852
Sept 11 Manning Park, Canada!! Mail to: Aria Benner/ c/o Manning Park Lodge/ 7500 Highway #3/ Manning Provincial Park, BC VOX IR0/ CANADA
This will definitely be changing as I go. If you'd like to send me something, it's a good idea to mail it ten days in advance of my estimated arrival date. Also, please see the instructions on sending me things in the mail. It is the first blog entry.
Oh yeah- the format to use in addressing boxes is:
Aria Benner
General Delivery
City, State Zip
unless otherwise noted. Most mail drop locations are post offices, but a couple of them are stores that require special labeling.
April 27 Campo, CA 91906
April 30 Mt. Laguna, CA 91948
May 2 Julian, CA 92036
May 6 Idyllwild, CA 92549
May 12 Big Bear City, CA 92314
May 17 Wrightwood, CA 92397
May 21 Agua Dulse, CA Mail to: Aria Benner c/o The Saufleys/ 11861 Darling Road /Agua Dulce, CA 91390
May 27 Mojave, CA 93501
June 3 Kennedy Meadows, CA Mail to: Aria Benner/ c/o Kennedy Meadows General Store/ 96740 Beach Meadow Road / Inyokem, CA 93527. Costs me $2 to pick up a package.
June 5 Lone Pine, CA 93545
June 7 Bishop, CA 93514
June 12 Mono Hot Springs, CA Mail to: Aria Benner/ c/o Mono Hot Springs Resort/ General Delivery,/Mono Hot Springs, CA 93642
June 14 Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
June 16 Tuolumne Meadows, CA 95389
June 20 Bridgeport, CA 93517
June 24 South Lake Tahoe, CA 96151
June 29 Sierra City, CA 96125
July 6 Chester, CA 96020
July 10 Burney, CA 96013
July 15 Mt. Shasta, CA 96067
July 20 Etna, CA 96027
July 26 Ashland, OR 97520
July 31 Crater Lake, OR Mail to: Aria Benner / c/o Crater Lake Camp Store/ Mazama Village/ Crater Lake, OR 97604
Aug 4 Shelter Cove, OR UPS Only. Mail to: Aria Benner/ c/o Shelter Cove Resort/ 27600 West Odell Lake Road/ Highway 58/ Crescent, OR 97733
Aug 8 Sisters, OR 97759
Aug 14 Timberline Lodge Mail to: Aria Benner/ c/o Timberline Ski Area/ WY'East Store/ Timberline Lodge/ Timberline OR 97028. The guide book says to make it painfully obvious that the package is for a pct hiker. Costs me $5 to pick up a package here.
Aug 16 Cascade Locks, OR Come pick me up and take me to Portland.
Aug 20 Trout Lake, WA 98650
Aug 23 White Pass, WA Mail to: Aria Benner/ c/o White Pass Rural Branch PO/ at the Kracker Barrel Store/ 48851 US Highway 12/ Naches, WA 98937
Aug 28 Snoqualmie Pass, WA 98068
Sept 1 Skykomish, WA 98288
Sept 6 Stehekin, WA 98852
Sept 11 Manning Park, Canada!! Mail to: Aria Benner/ c/o Manning Park Lodge/ 7500 Highway #3/ Manning Provincial Park, BC VOX IR0/ CANADA
Monday, April 2, 2012
Sending Me Stuff On the Trail: Five Easy Steps
Step 1: Make sure what you are sending is food.
I will not be able to carry extra weight. I would love to receive letters and drawings, etc. but please don't send anything I'd have to carry around. All of my gear has been thought out and selected with the greatest of intention. I know you're worried that my flashlight might break or something and that you should send me an extra maglite with twelve extra batteries to carry around, or you found a really cool trekking pole you want to send me, but please don't. All of my gear (including clothing) will be sent to me by my fantastically awesome mail-drop person back in Portland, Liza. Any unsolicited items that are not lightweight food will have to be tossed or sent back home. Sorry! That's just how I have to be to keep my packweight down, and my hike easier.
Step 2: Make sure what you're sending is lightweight food.
This means no cans, and nothing hydrated. Here are some ideas of food that I'd love to get in the mail:
Cookies
Crackers
Peanut Butter
Cookies
Other Nut Butters (Sunbutter, perhaps?)
Dried Fruit
Cookies
Dehydrated Drinks
Snack Bars (Especially "Raw Revolution" bars. Yum.)
Cookies
Trail Mix
Dehydrated Backpacking Meals (Just add water)
Tuna Packets (I know, they're not dehydrated, but they're worth it)
Tasty Bites (Same deal as with tuna pouches)
Cookies
Step 3: Check my itinerary to see where I am and where I will be next.
I will keep this itinerary updated. It will change based on the speed I'm hiking and whether or not I decide to take a day off. Most post offices will hold mail for two to three weeks, so sending packages somewhat far ahead of where I am is a good idea.
Step 4: Send the package via USPS (not FedEx or UPS). Address the box exactly as it says on the itinerary, and like this:
Aria Benner
General Delivery
Town, State Zip Code
On the bottom left corner, write:
Hold for Aria Benner
ETA: (date)
Also, it would be helpful if you wrote "BENNER" in big black letters all around the box.
Step 5: Try to let me know that you sent me a package. That way I know to ask for it at the Post Office. Also, if you tell me what you sent, it will enable me to avoid redundancies in the food I'm packing. You can contact me through Facebook, email, or by phone.
Thank you so much for thinking about me!
Cookies.
Step 1: Make sure what you are sending is food.
I will not be able to carry extra weight. I would love to receive letters and drawings, etc. but please don't send anything I'd have to carry around. All of my gear has been thought out and selected with the greatest of intention. I know you're worried that my flashlight might break or something and that you should send me an extra maglite with twelve extra batteries to carry around, or you found a really cool trekking pole you want to send me, but please don't. All of my gear (including clothing) will be sent to me by my fantastically awesome mail-drop person back in Portland, Liza. Any unsolicited items that are not lightweight food will have to be tossed or sent back home. Sorry! That's just how I have to be to keep my packweight down, and my hike easier.
Step 2: Make sure what you're sending is lightweight food.
This means no cans, and nothing hydrated. Here are some ideas of food that I'd love to get in the mail:
Cookies
Crackers
Peanut Butter
Cookies
Other Nut Butters (Sunbutter, perhaps?)
Dried Fruit
Cookies
Dehydrated Drinks
Snack Bars (Especially "Raw Revolution" bars. Yum.)
Cookies
Trail Mix
Dehydrated Backpacking Meals (Just add water)
Tuna Packets (I know, they're not dehydrated, but they're worth it)
Tasty Bites (Same deal as with tuna pouches)
Cookies
Step 3: Check my itinerary to see where I am and where I will be next.
I will keep this itinerary updated. It will change based on the speed I'm hiking and whether or not I decide to take a day off. Most post offices will hold mail for two to three weeks, so sending packages somewhat far ahead of where I am is a good idea.
Step 4: Send the package via USPS (not FedEx or UPS). Address the box exactly as it says on the itinerary, and like this:
Aria Benner
General Delivery
Town, State Zip Code
On the bottom left corner, write:
Hold for Aria Benner
ETA: (date)
Also, it would be helpful if you wrote "BENNER" in big black letters all around the box.
Step 5: Try to let me know that you sent me a package. That way I know to ask for it at the Post Office. Also, if you tell me what you sent, it will enable me to avoid redundancies in the food I'm packing. You can contact me through Facebook, email, or by phone.
Thank you so much for thinking about me!
Cookies.
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