Sanity check on resupply strategy (NOBO, 8/1 start from HM)

Outdoor Status "itinerary"

Headed out 8/1 from horseshoe meadows. Planning on taking 16 days, which I think should be within my capabilities. Haven't done a multi day trip besides a TRT segment a few years ago, but 15-20mi days felt leisurely on that trail (lots of breaks, late starts, etc.). Did one 27mi day which felt like a bit of a grind. No hard time limit I guess, but I don't plan on taking more than 20 days.I understand that once I hit the trail my plans are going to change from what I linked above.

The only fixed thing in my schedule is that for the first leg of the trip (HM -> whitney) is that I'll be doing it with some friends where they're doing a shorter trip, exiting whitney on 8/3 (day 3).

For resupplies, I plan on the following:

(Bold is where I am shipping myself stuff)

1. Starting with 4 days of food
2. Mailing a box to independence and hitching from onion valley with 4-5 days worth of food (enough to get to MTR/VVR), but 8 days of expensive things like liquid IV and coffee
   1. Despite the detour, people seem to really enjoy the scenery along kearsarge pass. Also, this avoids a heavy carry and expensive resupply at MTR.
3. MTR - hiker buckets for enough calories to VVR (one day)
4. VVR - buckets and general store if I can't get enough stuff at the MTR buckets to make it to RM
5. Red's meadow - 3 days, enough to make it to the end.
   1. Maybe I should skip mailing a resupply here and just buy stuff from the general store (and mail myself even more coffee/liquid IV in independence)? My original plan was to take the bus into Mammoth and shop at the grocery stores there, but it might not work out with the new limited schedule.

Would also appreciate a shakedown :)

lighterpack

Still need to weigh some smaller things. Budget for new gear i'd say around $600 or so? The less the better though. The main swaps I was thinking of were a kakwa 55 for -1lb and a set of alpha tops and bottoms (a small weight increase for a huge increase in functionality over sleep clothes).