Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Whitney Portal store resupply?

I was wondering if supplies can be mailed to Whitney Portal as a resupply point?

If it is possible what is the information I need to do so?

Hi   TWO OPTIONS,    First write a throw away date on boxes and understand that the US MAIL WILL NOT WORK.  We do not get mail service only a post office box 13 miles away, I check the mail about twice a month and late at night so boxes are locked in the back of the Post Office.


Ship by UPS to:
Whitney Portal Store
13 Miles west of Lone Pine
Lone Pine Ca. 93545


Second option is -- UPS only:
Whitney Portal Hostel
238 South Main
Lone Pine Ca. 93545


The boxes that go to the town address stay in town and the boxes that go to the mountain address stay at the mountain.  Chuck died last year so there is no way to transport the boxes back and forth several times as your plans change.

The throw away date is required because about 50% of the items are not picked up, we do not open the boxes they go straight to the dump so send only items you think are you are willing to add to the landfill.  Thanks Doug 760-876-0030

Thanks for the info, I know nothing will go to waste and if I was late it would be at the very most 1 day of what was planned.

One thing I never thought that just came to mind is can a package stay at the store for a week?

I actually will be at Whitney portal dropping off a truck then 6 days later I will be back so is it possible to drop off a package while I am at the portal then return for it in 6 days without it being in anyones way?

I have never been on a trip that needed resupply so it's all new to me.

For your scenario you could just leave it in a bear box - or is it much more than just food?

Well I hate to clog up a bear box in a heavy traffic place like whitney portal.

I don't know if it's much more then food but will include all the normal resupply stuff like soap, T.P., fuel etc and it will be enough for about 2 weeks.

RoguePhotonic,

Thank you for your consideration! This is starting to become a pet peeve of mine lately. Folks are starting to resupply PCT thruhikers by leaving everything in a trailhead bearbox, as though they are there for long term storage. Last year at Onion Valley was particularly bad.

Hmmmm. While some see challenges, perhaps there are opportunities??

How about some permanently installed large lockers, with locks that you get a key or combo for, at the Ranger Station, maintained by the Camp Host. Attach to the back of the outhouse building. You pay a dollar a day, or such, for the usage. Would probably pay for itself in a couple seasons, and eliminate a variety of problems experienced by long distance hikers, and provide a small, but steady, stream of income for the local FS.

There are even "old style" bear boxes being replaced that could be gotten, for free, that could be used........Hmmmm.

These days people seem to want to get it for free on the net. Those who are willing to pay have always had licensed operators to deal with at the pack stations.

Dale B. Dalrymple
http://dbdimages.com

What Tiny is suggesting is taking away the bread and butter of the licensed pack operators here in the Eastern Sierra. I work with a nurse who owns the Rainbow Pack Outfitters at Parcher's Resort, and she explained how the bulk of their business in the summer is running resupplies into LeConte Canyon. There are special licensures for donnage which these packers must obtain, and, if a hiker is going to charge for such services, said hiker must obtain as well.

Does it happen? Yes. I recently discussed this exact subject with Richard Watt, a Law Enforcement Officer for the NFS, and what they are mostly concerned about is the undercutting of the packer's businesses. While the argument might be made that any payment could be to cover costs such as gas or time off work, the permits are still needed for such a job.

Frankly, the packers are an important part of the history of the OV, and I would support their businesses to keep them alive. While I don't really enjoy tromping through poop as much as anyone else, they truly serve a purpose and I know I can co-exist with them on the trails.

Would I volunteer to resupply my friends again if the chance arose? Sure, but only because it would be an excuse for me to head into the backcountry for a longer trip myself (like I NEED an excuse). Am I starting Laura's Pack-Moose Outfit? Definitely not.

-L

Thanks, Laura. You gave the correct answer, and explained it better than I have heard it anywhere else.

Rogue, Doug hasn't replied to your question about leaving it at the store, but I am pretty sure he would keep your resupply at the store. ...But why are you driving there and leaving a truck if you are hiking on to other points???

We have one person only hiking from Lodgepole to Whitney Portal and he is leaving from there and we will resupply and continue on.

Interesting discussion.

While I am sure that there is a significant dunnage business, because of the significant costs (we're talking hundreds, here), this certainly cuts out a very large percentage of hikers.

Also, I am unaware of any PCT'ers who use this service. While that only amounts to 300-400 people, this is a group that would have significant difficulty predicting the exact day and time they would be at a specific backcountry location. Mexico is a long way away. Will PCT'ers walk out to OV to resupply? Yes. They have a real problem getting from there into town, as there tends to be little traffic. Would most people, who would hire mules, hike out? Probably not.

I do know, that for that group, this section represents the most difficult part of the whole trail, in terms of resupply.

So, let me see if I'm understanding your original post:



"A fella" = random hiker, like myself or yourself, not affiliated with any pack outfit here in the Eastern Sierra.

"'Shuttle' supplies" = bring stuff into the backcountry for someone else to use, ie: donnage

"Pre-determined date/location" = scheduling a time to meet them so the thru hikers could get their supplies, maybe give you some trash to carry out.

"Pay for" = reimbursement for services rendered.

So, instead of paying the pack outfits to bring in the supplies to the thru-hikers, an individual is bringing them in and accepting payment for that service. IE: Donnage. Sounds exactly like what I wrote about above.



Good, because that's exactly what it takes. Getting a donnage license from the NFS and jumping through the same hoops that the packers have to go through every year.

Again, thru-hikers will pay for individuals to pack in because, in general, it's cheaper than going through the pack outfits. When I volunteered to resupply my friends as they did the JMT last year, I refused to take any money for it. But they insisted, forcefully so. This then came out (for g-d knows WHAT reason) when these same friends were talking with a packer about this year's attempt at the JMT. THAT's why I had to talk to the Law Enforcement Officer for the NFS. That's where I got the info on the permits.

Again, I don't know about the schedules ("Pack outfitters typically have only certain times that they go into the backcountry and it may be days before they come out.") and timing that you are mentioning, since I've never dealt with a packer or resupply myself. I just carry everything I need. I could see why the situation you suggest would be problematic for, especially, PCT thru-hikers who aren't as sure when they are going to be someplace.

As for the other regions you suggested (Anza-Borrego and the lot), that don't have pack outfits, well, I would think they don't have the same type of permit system in place, either. Best to check with the local authorites/forest service/state park/whatever as to the regulations in those areas.

-L

[quote=MooseTracks

So, instead of paying the pack outfits to bring in the supplies to the thru-hikers, an individual is bringing them in and accepting payment for that service. IE: Donnage. Sounds exactly like what I wrote about above.

[/quote]


I don't think you quite have it. I think that what is being discussed is a potential service that would involve hikers OTHER than the ones being served by the Pack Services.

For example, Tiny's proposal did not say anything about going into the backcountry (although that might be his intent). I'm not sure it would require a USFS permit to drive up to a trailhead and drop something off. If it does, I'd imagine it also requires a permit to drop someone off, like a shuttle service.

Ah, if you are going to drop the teaser of an interview with the feds, you really have to cough up what the result was.......Had you committed a sin? What did you have to do as a result? Educate us.

Result was innocuous: since my friends had insisted on paying me a nominal fee, ultimately I should have gotten a permit, at least that's what Rich told me. But it could also have been considered a gift, hence just talking to me about it and no fines/ticket/banned from the backcountry for life...

I think with the PCT the trick is just to send your stuff some where that it doesn't have to be taken any where and you go to it.

Whew!