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.