So.... what's in a mail drop?

Pushing into day 10 now without a word from Hansel and Gretel so nothing to report other than a wee bit of maternal anxiety.

So..... ever wonder what is in a mail drop? Here's the low down on the next drop to be mailed (will in theory provide for 8 days and 8 nights):

Breakfast:
16 servings of cereal (combination of hot and cold)
48 oz powdered milk
14 pop tarts (of the health food variety)
16 servings of coffee, tea, cocoa

Lunch and Snacks:
homemade crackers (This was one of Jonathan's dehydrated specialties. They combined fresh greens from the spring garden along with other veggies, herbs, olive oil and flax seeds in the processor and then spread this mixture onto trays and dehydrated it. Once dry and crisp, they were broken into pieces and vacuum sealed. They look a little odd but they are very tasty.)
24 oz powdered humus
2 lbs nut butter
32 trail bars
32 oz dried fruit
48 oz trail mix
16 chocolate bars
1 honey bear

Dinners:
2 cups texturized vegetable protein
18 oz quinoa
1 1/2 lbs assorted pasta
1/2 lb egg noodles
powdered chili mix
powdered sloppy joe mix
powdered refried beans
1/2 cup dehydrated corn
1 1/2 cups dehydrated mushrooms
1 cup dehydrated peas
4 cups dehydrated mixed veggies
6 servings of instant mashed potatoes
6 dried soups
1/4 cup pine nuts
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup sliced almonds
3 cups dehydrated salsa
1 cup dehydrated tomato sauce
2 cups of dehydrated tomatoes
powdered cheese
tex-mex seasoning
dehydrated teriyaki seasoning
3/4 cup dehydrated onion
1 cup dehydrated peppers
dehydrated garlic
1/4 cup dried basil
1/4 cup other herbs
4 vegetable bouillon cubes
1 1/2 cups nutritional yeast
2 cups olive oil
4 servings powdered eggs

And from this rather extensive list of ingredients, their dinners from this mail drop will be as follows:

• fajitas
• mac and cheese
• chili
• pasta with pesto sauce
• beans and quinoa
• teriyaki noodles
• spaghetti and sauce
• sloppy joes and mashed potatoes

Everything essentially happens in one pot. Jonathan went to a lot more trouble to plan and prepare meals than is probably typical for many (most) hikers. They are eating well.

Also included:
vitamins
toilet paper
wet wipes
maps and trail data for the next section of trail
the comic pages from the Enquirer and a few crossword puzzles (this is the entertainment portion of the box)
hand sanitizer
toothpaste
shampoo and soap (and other supplies on an 'as needed' basis)

and always something home baked like cookies plus assorted other goodies like popcorn or jelly beans or m&m's or animal crackers.....whatever I can squeeze into the cracks.

Boxes are very heavy and even mailing by slow boat, it costs between $18-$30 to mail a box. Some drops require 2 boxes and sometimes emergencies arise and I priority or express mail an additional box. We have mailed to 11 drops so far. The spacing for drops is between 4 and 11 days but because of their myriad detours, the planned and the unforeseen, their spacing has ended up being stretched at times by many days.

I do hope they are not lost in the White Mountains. When next I hear, you too shall hear. ~ Amy

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn's leaves" ~ John Muir