To save time, you may also ship items directly to Karen’s next scheduled mail drop location.  Just remember, if she can’t eat it or read it, she will have to carry it or pitch it.  Every pound counts.  Food is good... too much is not a problem... it can be shared.

These post offices will hold packages and letters up to two weeks.  Mark all packages with the notice, “HOLD FOR A.T. THRU HIKER”.  Make sure you mail your package or letter in time to arrive before Karen’s expected arrival date shown below.  Mail drops in RED are too late for shipping.  Dates shown are estimates and could be changed at any time.

MAIL DROP #1 -- Expected 3/3/04
Karen Thompson
c/o Walasi-Yi Center
9710 Gainesville Hwy.
Blairsville, GA  30512
706-745-6095

MAIL DROP #2 -- Expected 3/7/04
Karen Thompson
c/o Blueberry Patch Hostel
5038 U.S. Hwy. 76
Hiawassee, GA  30546
706-896-4893

MAIL DROP #3 -- Expected 3/12/04
Karen Thompson
c/o Nantahala Outdoor Center
13077 Hwy. 19W
Bryson City, NC  28713
828-488-2175 or 800-232-7238

MAIL DROP #4 -- Expected 3/18/04
Meeting Leslee and Jimmy at Newfound Gap, Smoky Mountains

MAIL DROP #5 -- Expected 3/25/04
Karen Thompson
c/o General Delivery
Hot Springs, NC  28743
828-622-3242

MAIL DROP #6 -- Expected 4/1/04
Karen Thompson
c/o General Delivery
Erwin, TN  37650
423-743-4811

MAIL DROP #7 -- Expected 4/12/04
Karen Thompson
c/o General Delivery
Hampton, TN  37658
800-275-8777

MAIL DROP #8 -- Expected 4/15/04
Karen Thompson
c/o General Delivery
Damascus, VA  24236
276-475-3411

MAIL DROP #9 -- Expected 4/22/04
Karen Thompson
c/o The Village Motel
7253 Lee Hwy.
Rural Retreat, VA  24368
276-783-5811

MAIL DROP #10 -- Expected 4/28/04
Karen Thompson
c/o General Delivery
Pearisburg, VA  24134
540-921-1100

MAIL DROP #11 -- Expected 5/6/04
Karen Thompson
c/o Travel Lodge
2444 Lee Highway South
Troutville, VA  24175

MAIL DROP #12 -- Expected 5/12/04
Karen Thompson
c/o General Delivery
Montebello, VA  24464
540-377-9218

MAIL DROP #13 -- Expected 5/22/04
Karen Thompson
c/o General Delivery
Linden, VA  22642
540-636-9936

MAIL DROP #14 -- Expected 5/26/04
Karen Thompson
c/o General Delivery
Harpers Ferry, WV  25425
304-535-2479

NOTE: Karen got off the trail on 5-28-04.  DO NOT send any more items.
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NOTE: Karen got back on the trail on
10-31-04.
Below is Karen’s planned progress for this
3-week section hike in November 2004.

Sunday, 10/31, Rocky Run Shelter,
15.4 miles

Monday, 11/1, Ensign Cowall Shelter,
15.7 miles

Tuesday, 11/2, Deer Lick Shelter,
14.1 miles

Wednesday, 11/3, Quarry Gap Shelter,
15.8 miles

Thursday, 11/4, Pine Grove Furnace State Park, 17.4 miles, Iron Masters Hostel, 717-486-7575

Friday, 11/5, Alec Kennedy Shelter,
15.5 miles

Saturday, 11/6, Boiling Springs ,
3.9 miles, Bill Cooker Hiker joins Karen and delivers mail drop from Iron Masters Hostel.

Sunday, 11/7, Cove Mountain Shelter,
21.6 miles, 15 mile walk across Cumberland Valley, mostly farmland & flat!

Monday, 11/8, Peters Mountain Shelter,
15.4 miles

Tuesday, 11/9, Rausch Gap Shelter,
17.5 miles

Wednesday, 11/10, William Penn Shelter,
13.3 miles, major rock fields begin beyond Swatara Gap.

Thursday, 11/11, Eagles Nest Shelter,
19.2 miles

Friday, 11/12, Port Clinton,
8.6 miles, Bill leaves Karen.

NOTE: Karen got off the trail on 11-12-04.  DO NOT send any more items.
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***********************************************
NOTE: Karen got back on the trail on
4-10-05.
Karen’s planned progress for the following
one month section hike in April/May 2005 is not yet known so do not send packages.

Eckville Shelter,
15.2 miles

Bake Oven Knob Shelter,
17.4 miles

Palmerton,
7.5 miles, Palmerton Jail Mail Drop.

Leroy Smith Shelter,
16.0 miles, stiffest climb of entire hike out of Lehigh Gap.

NOTE: Karen got off the trail on 4-13-05.  DO NOT send any more items.
***********************************************


***********************************************
NOTE: Karen will be back on the trail on
11-1-05 for about 2 weeks.

MAIL DROP #1 - Expected ?

MAIL DROP #2 - Expected ?

MAIL DROP #3 - Expected 11-10-05
Karen Thompson
c/o General Delivery
Pawling, NY 12564

MAIL DROP #4 - Expected 11-15-05
Karen Thompson
c/o General Delivery
Salisburg, Conn. 06068

NOTE: Karen got off the trail on 11-14-05.  DO NOT send any more items.
***********************************************


***********************************************
NOTE: Karen will be back on the trail on
4-8-06 at Kent, Connecticut and plans to hike for about 3 weeks.  However, she is not using mail drops this trip so do not send any items.

NOTE: Karen got off the trail on 4-27-06.  
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***********************************************
NOTE: Karen will be back on the trail on 7-27-06 for about 5 days.

NOTE: Karen got off the trail on 7-31-06.  
***********************************************


***********************************************
NOTE: Karen will be back on the trail on 8-25-07 for about 3 to 4 weeks to complete this final section of the trail through Maine to Mt. Katahdin.  Her schedule is uncertain through this remote part of the trail so do not send any items.

NOTE: Karen climbed Mt. Katahdin and finished the A.T. on 9-18-07.  That’s 2174 miles since she started in Georgia on 2-29-04.  Congratulations Karen!!
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