arranging drops

[riverfever]

Is this simple enough to do? I'm considering arranging a drop somewhere along the CTR route. How exactly does this work? Do they allow the package to sit there for a certain number of days before they send it back? Do I just have to make a good guess of when I think I'll be coming through? Shtanks.

-Chris

[Pivvay]

As far as I know send to the PO with this:

Your Name
ATTN: Hold for CT Hiker ETA 7/07
General Delivery
City, State Zip

Be very sure you know what days/hours the post office is open if it's a small town. They'll hold for you for a while, certainly longer than the CTR.

[DSochacki]

What kind of things are you generally shipping to yourself? Just food for the most part? (New to this whole thing....)

[riverfever]

Thank you Chris.

Drop ships could be anything...such as a 5lb bag of Skittles.

Damn that'd be a good commercial. 

[HOser]

*bump*

I was researching this topic and found Pivvay's reply helpful, and I also found the following link.  Thought I'd add it here in case it helps anyone else searching on this topic, even though this thread is old:
http://www.usps.com/communications/news/press/2005/pr05_082.htm

I believe this "hold for pickup" delivery option offered by the USPS is the relevant service.  If so, it appears the USPS will hold the package for 10 days before returning it to the sender.

[daveB]

This might not be relevant for the CTR, but is still true:

If you mail yourself a box c/o General Delivery via Priority Mail, and when picking it up, if you don't open the box, you can forward it to another address for no additional charge.

[Mathewsen]

This might not be relevant for the CTR, but is still true:

If you mail yourself a box c/o General Delivery via Priority Mail, and when picking it up, if you don't open the box, you can forward it to another address for no additional charge.

Not sure 'hold for pick-up' is quite what one wants for a drop. As DaveB and Pivvay mention, drops are what's called 'General Delivery'. You need to write this phrase on the addy label so they do not return it thinking it is misdirected. General deliveries remain for 30 days--i think. DaveB makes another good point re. priority labeling. This is the best way to label a drop of any real value. Not necessarily for the in-person fwd option, but for the remote option. It's very easy to miss a drop. Having the option to fwd a missed drop down route or home (remotely via payphone) is nice, and simple enough provided you have some identifiable info on your box (like a number or code) that you can relay to the postmaster to 'prove' you are the owner. They are funny about releasing boxes. ID required in person. If you want them to release remotely you need something very unique written on the box.

One question for the OP: Where on the CTR is there a PO that you cannot buy what you need on the spot? Are you thinking freeze-dried items? The trap of mailings is how easily one can roll away from the PO with too much weight. Be careful NOT to mail 5lbs of skittles just b/c you can.

[HOser]

Ah, thanks daveB and Mathewsen, googling "general delivery" makes it clear this is the USPS service we're after here.  This link was especially interesting:
http://www.seanmichaelragan.com/html/%5B2008-01-28%5D_My_experience_with_general_delivery.shtml

[daveB]

Only very vaguely on-topic, but I couldn't resist:

http://www.improb.com/airchives/paperair/volume6/v6i4/postal-6-4.html

[AZTtripper]

That was great thanks for the link.

[riverfever]

Hoser,

Love the Williams avatar. Just watched Enter the Dragon tonight.

[HOser]

Thanks!  Yeah, great movie, the Williams character has some great one-liners.  I use the same ID and avatar on mtbr.com as well.