Tin Man
05-03-2006, 22:13
From The Sentinel (http://www.cumberlink.com/articles/2006/05/03/news/news21.txt)
Area post offices cater to thru hikers
By Karla Browne ([email protected]), May 3, 2006
<!-- BEGIN ADSYS {story_tile} ++++++++++++++++++ --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD align=middle><SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://adsys.townnews.com/creative/cumberlink.com/story_tile/static.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- end ADSYS {story_tile} ++++++++++++++++++ -->In the back of Boiling Springs’ post office, mail marked "general delivery" for trail hikers fills two shelves, each four levels high, during the two- to three-week period in June when most thru hikers make it to the village.
"Easily 200" packages were stacked up last June,said Postmaster Doug Beattie, who generally holds hiker mail 30 days before returning it to the sender. Postal regulations require him to hold mail only for 10 days, but he realizes thru hiking is not an exact science.
"The hikers really appreciate the little things you do for them," said Beattie, who also helps them mail extra gear home by saving boxes and handing out tape. As the weather warms, cold-weather clothing, heavy sleeping bags, even pages ripped from journals are sent off to lighten the load.
"They always want to know how much weight they’re sending back. They say, ‘Oh boy, that’s five pounds I’m not going to miss,’" Beattie says.
The postal service’s electronic confirmation delivery is another help, mostly to parents, Beattie continued.
"We used to get phone calls, ‘Can you leave a message? We just want to know he’s OK.’ Now they can put delivery confirmation on a package and go online and see he picked up a package in Boiling Springs today."
The hiker doesn’t have to sign for it, Beattie said. "All we do is scan it. The kids still have their freedom, but the parents can keep track of them."
<!-- BEGIN middle-left story picture --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- end middle-left story picture -->Unlike Boiling Springs’ post office, Duncannon’s post office isn’t right on the trail, but it’s just a couple blocks away, so it’s also listed in the trail guides for thru hikers planning their trips.
Postmaster Ann DeWitt has three sets of five-tiered shelves plus a set of alphabetized boxes marked "Hold for AT Hikers" in the employee break room. A picnic bench in front of the post office — an Eagle Scout project — provides a spot for hikers to open boxes.
And the post office decor reflects the hiker mission. On the counter an antique brass postal box holds a sign, "Maine to Georgia."
Carried on mission
"I couldn’t believe it when I first got here" as postmaster last summer, DeWitt said. Outgoing Postmaster Rich Pinamonti had "everything in place" to serve the hikers. DeWitt carried on that mission with zeal, allowing a hiker to leave an extra pair of shoes in the post office in case another hiker needed them.
"Somebody did," she said.
"You make your office welcome to everyone that comes along," the postmaster said. But the hikers are special. DeWitt discovered thru hikers are "very nice folks. It’s a great experience to meet so many people out there from that many walks of life."
Area post offices cater to thru hikers
By Karla Browne ([email protected]), May 3, 2006
<!-- BEGIN ADSYS {story_tile} ++++++++++++++++++ --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD align=middle><SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://adsys.townnews.com/creative/cumberlink.com/story_tile/static.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- end ADSYS {story_tile} ++++++++++++++++++ -->In the back of Boiling Springs’ post office, mail marked "general delivery" for trail hikers fills two shelves, each four levels high, during the two- to three-week period in June when most thru hikers make it to the village.
"Easily 200" packages were stacked up last June,said Postmaster Doug Beattie, who generally holds hiker mail 30 days before returning it to the sender. Postal regulations require him to hold mail only for 10 days, but he realizes thru hiking is not an exact science.
"The hikers really appreciate the little things you do for them," said Beattie, who also helps them mail extra gear home by saving boxes and handing out tape. As the weather warms, cold-weather clothing, heavy sleeping bags, even pages ripped from journals are sent off to lighten the load.
"They always want to know how much weight they’re sending back. They say, ‘Oh boy, that’s five pounds I’m not going to miss,’" Beattie says.
The postal service’s electronic confirmation delivery is another help, mostly to parents, Beattie continued.
"We used to get phone calls, ‘Can you leave a message? We just want to know he’s OK.’ Now they can put delivery confirmation on a package and go online and see he picked up a package in Boiling Springs today."
The hiker doesn’t have to sign for it, Beattie said. "All we do is scan it. The kids still have their freedom, but the parents can keep track of them."
<!-- BEGIN middle-left story picture --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- end middle-left story picture -->Unlike Boiling Springs’ post office, Duncannon’s post office isn’t right on the trail, but it’s just a couple blocks away, so it’s also listed in the trail guides for thru hikers planning their trips.
Postmaster Ann DeWitt has three sets of five-tiered shelves plus a set of alphabetized boxes marked "Hold for AT Hikers" in the employee break room. A picnic bench in front of the post office — an Eagle Scout project — provides a spot for hikers to open boxes.
And the post office decor reflects the hiker mission. On the counter an antique brass postal box holds a sign, "Maine to Georgia."
Carried on mission
"I couldn’t believe it when I first got here" as postmaster last summer, DeWitt said. Outgoing Postmaster Rich Pinamonti had "everything in place" to serve the hikers. DeWitt carried on that mission with zeal, allowing a hiker to leave an extra pair of shoes in the post office in case another hiker needed them.
"Somebody did," she said.
"You make your office welcome to everyone that comes along," the postmaster said. But the hikers are special. DeWitt discovered thru hikers are "very nice folks. It’s a great experience to meet so many people out there from that many walks of life."