Food

Several people have asked about sending food or packages to us as we hike. After deploying three times and being away from home for nearly 2.5 years, it definitely feels really special to get packages in the mail.  Food donations would be good morale boosters for Laura and me.  Here are two options:

            a.  Send food!  Gee, what a novel idea!  But that is not as easy as it sounds.  Post Offices are located along the route, but some of them are a days hike or so to get to.  And, they are spread out far enough that we would have to carry weeks’ worth of food between Post Offices if we relied on that source alone.  Therefore, Theresa (that’s my wife, for those who don’t know) will be the clearing house and food hub for this trek.  If you want to send food, send it to her.  She will box up a care package and send it to the appropriate Post Office along the way.  Otherwise we would run the risk of receiving several packages at one Post Office (too much to carry) and none at another (I feel the hunger pains already).  See a suggested list of food at the end of this message.

 OR

             b.  Send gift cards that Laura and I can use at grocery stores along the way.  Grocery stores are more prevalent along the trail than Post Offices.  Gift cards would give us the flexibility to buy what we need and want along the way, and less weight to carry in our packs.  You can pick up a Visa or Mastercard in many department and convenience stores.  Any amount would be very much appreciated.  These could be sent to Theresa, too, and she can forward them to us in the care packages along with the other food she will be sending.

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Food List (revised as of May 22)

Oatmeal

Pop tarts

Cookies

Crackers and cheese

Crackers and peanut butter

Peanut Butter M&Ms
Regular M&Ms

Nuts roasted in oil and salted

Dried fruit

Beef or Turkey sticks

Spam (flat individual packets)

Sardines (flat pop top cans)

Underwood Chicken spread

Chicken flat packs

Precooked/prepackaged hamburger

Easy-Mac and cheese

Thin sandwich bread

Hamburger helper

Snickers
Baby Ruths
Milky Way

Oatmeal cream pies

Fudge rounds

Raisins or Craisans

Small tortilla wraps

Ramen noodles

Pistachio nuts

Red beans and rice packs

Chewy Granola bars

Gatorade mix (small container or individual packets)

Cheese sticks

Kudos

Lipton pasta and sauce