August 14

After a hectic day of finding Internet, food and other items of luxury I found a ride to Saginaw, OR where I will be spending time with new friends and being fed. I did get the chance to get to REI and upgrade my sleeping bag, and will have a few nights to make sure it keeps me warm before going back to the trail. 

The best story I can think of for the first of my days off is called "The night of the underwear thief" and it goes something like this:

I had hiked hard and fast all day, feeling strong as it was my first day on the trail. There was no foot pain, I had plenty of food and was feeling all kinds of excited for the adventure ahead. After following what I thought was the Pacific Crest Trail all afternoon, I found a beautiful campsite on top of a ridge that overlooked an expansive valley and connected to a steep ridge on the other side. That steep ridge turned out to be the real PCT later but as far as this story is concerned it's just trifling details. I set up my tent for no reason other than as a rookie on the trail I liked the added "security" of a tarp over my head. I hung my pack with all scented items in a tree and laid various articles of clothing and my boots out to dry. I changed into pajamas inside my tent and laid my pants and underwear next to me, stretched out, to dry. I slept really well being already accustomed to the tent by then, and woke up refreshed and started getting dressed. I was out of my pajama pants when I realized the underwear I had laid out were no where to be seen! I dug out the only other pair, put them on and went to investigate the area. I found my underwear outside of my tent, next to my boots where half of a shoelace had been chewed off! In searching the area I found the half length of shoelace and noticed I had a nice big hole in my new underwear. If a critter wants my stuff I wish next time they just take it instead of halfway destroying it.