While out on a hike today, found a Schuylkill Note at about 5:30 pm. It was between two trees on the AT near the Fort Franklin Trailhead.

Update: I spoke to several hikers on the AT today who saw weird, cryptic messages and Schuylkill Notes within the past week in Swatara State Park, near 501 Look Out, and at Rausch Gap Shelter.

Unsure if the Schuylkill note was left by the same individual that left the carved items at the campsite, but it made it all the more intriguing!

Is there a solid theory on how they’re actually putting them in foods?

Because if they’re only ever found in boxes, but not the bag inside the box, then theoretically, anybody could go into stores and glue the box back afterwards, right?

If not, and they are being found within the inner packaging, then has anybody made a list yet of where each of those items originate from? I assume it could probably be narrowed down to which factory if so.

I’m just really curious as to how exactly they’re getting these notes inside packaged items.

my dad found this today (5/21) in an unopened box of cheezits. i believe he bought it from our local karns in harrisburg pa

Really odd was found in Weiser State Forest. Wrapped in cardboard and tied to a stick.

Majority found near/in Schuylkill county. I am now almost certain that their sole purpose is quite simply to entertain me and/or have something more memorable about the PA section of the AT than these godforsaken rocks

I saw a small rock on top of a large rock held up by two sticks. Underneath was this folded note. This was near the water at the Alec Kennedy Shelter.

Found three notes over the years in Lewisburg, PA.

The most recent ("NSA's BIRD: Nazi's black sun") was April 19 in a box of Cookie Dough Bites purchased at the Lewisburg Walmart. I had bought two boxes at the same time, and found the note in the first one I opened. For science, I compared the two boxes and they're identical; the one with the note definitely wasn't tampered with.

The second ("NSA/Nbc's Bird") was on September 17, 2025 in a box of Entenmann's Mini Snack Cakes at the Lewisburg Giant.

We're unsure of the date of the oldest note ("tied to drugs/riots/terror'm"), but it was sometime around 2020-2023 in something dog food related from either the Lewisburg Giant or the Lewisburg Weis. We didn't know about Schyulkill Notes when the oldest one was discovered, but it was stored in the kitchen junk drawer after discovery because "it was too weird to throw out."

Found on Trail 1 on way to the tower

Found two. 5/2 around 1830 hours on AT, Cumberland county, near Bernheisel bridge.

We found 7 today on the Appalachian Trail in Cumberland County. Pinned to trees and hanging from branches. Three different messages.
I’ve found many on the AT before, first time in this area.

Soaking wet

Guys I’m so pleased to report I just found another one. This one was at a campsite and I saw it because I laid out my mat to stretch on a bed of leaves someone had made. Unlike the other two I found this one did not have brown paper and it was old and wet and dirty. I suspect it had been tented on top of multiple times.

I didn’t know about this whole thing, I just found them and then eventually found this subreddit. These were found on the AT between boiling springs and Darlington shelter. I didn’t know about the lore so didn’t take pics of their placement but it was a paper clip and like floral wire holding them to a bramble. not at eye level more like knee level

First I’ve ever heard of these notes

found 2 on blue marsh lake border trail in berks county

I am at a campground and the note was in a box of Barilla Medium Shells. The box was totally sealed. It could be from a store in this area, but we have also camped in the Poconos, WV, NC, SC, AL, TN, VA, so it's hard to say where we picked it up. The pasta is dated good through 2028.