Care Packages

This is for all of you wonderful beautiful amazing people who want to send me food, or other things.

Care Packages 

Care Packages will probably be one of the most uplifting and comforting things I will have as I move along the trail. They help in a lot of ways. Firstly, and most importantly, they will remind me that I am loved while I'm feeling isolated and far away from you guys. I cannot stress how far small emotional uplifts like receiving a care package or letter will go towards making this a great adventure. Secondly, they will help me save money when I'm in town, which is a really big deal. Thirdly, they will make me feel like a kid on Christmas. . . except All Year Round . . which is epic. Also that makes you Santa Claus, but during the Summer, which makes you three times as epic as normal Santa Claus. You, are Awesome.

Who to Contact with Care Package Questions
 You can email me directly at madison.wigley@gmail.com or facebook message me.
If you know my mother, she will also have information.
    
Where to Send Care Packages

Sending packages directly to me on the trail requires some potentially challenging logistical planning.
 As I move along the trail, I will very likely change a few of the towns I want to resupply at. Also, depending on what my pace actually ends up being, the dates I plan on arriving in certain towns may shift. Because of this, please double-check that the location you are sending a package to is still on the list at the time you send it. Also, contact me to let me know I need to be expecting a package, or else I may not visit the post office to pick it up.

Update** 4/14/14 Packages should be sent approximately 1.5 - 2 weeks in advance. The post office will hold a general delivery package for 2 weeks before returning it to the sender, so that should give me plenty of time to make it to town to pick it up, and also help ensure that the package doesn't arrive after I've already passed the town.

I have provided a list of the towns I plan on re-supplying in and on apx. what dates here (copy and paste this link in the address bar):

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AvehcgeBxbWrdGgyTWVHNWJIdDUwb19QSXZodTBCNUE&usp=drive_web#gid=3

Here is how to address a package:

GENERAL DELIVERY
Madison Wigley PCT Hiker
My Cell Phone #
Street Address
City, State Zip


What to Send...
 
*Food Ideas...
It may be helpful to know that I am not a picky eater. If you send it, I'll eat it. I like spicy, seafood, Tex-mex, Indian, Barbeque, Italian. . . to shorten this list a great deal, I like food.

**Asterisks indicate stuff I can't budget, and would love to get. 

**Mountain House Entrees

**Backpacker's Pantry Entrees (*Serves 2 Size)

 **PROBAR Meal Bars


More food ideas:

• Dinners: Kraft Mac & Cheese, Knorr Pasta Sides-Chicken or Alfredo. Quinoa. Dehydrated Hummus. Tortillas (flour &/or corn)
• Small or medium sized foil packets of tuna or salmon. 
• Candy Bars: Kit Kats, Reeses PB Cups, Peanut M&Ms, Snickers, and Peanut Butter Snickers
• LARABARS, Oatmega Bars, Odwalla Bars, Clif Bars
• Chips: Potato chips original or sour cream & onion, Pretzels
• Cookies and/or brownies: All of them. All of them. Literally all of them. Homemade, Store-bought, whatever. I am a living Cookie Monster. 
• Trail Mix with a variety of nuts and dried berries; Chia Seeds
• Dried Fruit (Raisins, Apricots, Pineapple, Mango, Apples, Dates, Prunes, etc....)
• Oatmeal packs
• Granola Bars (especially peanut butter ones) 
• Protein powder (I especially like the 'Nature's Bounty Chocolate kind: http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=404859&catid=326487&aid=338666&aparam=404859) 

 Non-Food Ideas...(remember I have to carry whatever you send me)

-If you are someone who lives near the trail and you want to come hang out with me while I'm in town somewhere, or want to join me/house me/feed me, please e-mail/text/call/or facebook me and let me know! 

Letters! 

  *Gift Cards/Monetary Gifts
 If you want to help me resupply but don't feel comfortable sending me food items (or don't want to have to deal with shipping a potentially expensive package. . . totally understandable), sending me VISA gift cards or checks will be equally appreciated and helpful.

Update 4/14/14**If you decide to do this, it is best to send it to my mother's address where she can deposit the amount on the gift card/check/cash directly into my bank account. This way I won't lose it and there is a significantly decreased risk that it (or I) won't make it to post office you want to send it to along the trail. Because this blog is public, I'm not going to post my mother's address. However, if you need it please contact me via e-mail/text/call/facebook and I will be happy to get that to you!

 You should also most definitely include one of letters like suggested above, because hearing from people is cool.


What You Should NOT Send... 
-It is typical (from what I've read anyways) for people to wait until near the end of the trail to send large and fabulous care packages. However, this is problematic because if that happens, I will have more food than I know what to do with, and it will go to waste. So I highly encourage you to send packages throughout the trail and not wait until the very end. To help with this, I will be posting what dates and towns people tell me they will be sending packages to on my google docs with the list of towns provided above. That way you can claim your spot!

-Remember that I need calorie dense foods. So as much as I love vegetable soup, it probably isn't ideal for eating on the trail. I'll have to take my veggies loaded with buttery goodness, cheese and pasta!

-Please Please Please Don't Send Anything Heavy! Heavy things include glass jars, metal containers, etc.


That's a Wrap! 
Thank you so much for reading this and being Santa Claus.
 You are on my Favorite Persons list!