Half Double, Shiny, and I hike into White Pass, which, while just being a gas station/convenience store and Inn along the side of the road, is so much more.

My plan is to grab my resupply box and go, but my leg is asking for some care. Plus, in the convenience store there are a number of tables and chairs, they serve sandwiches and deep fried foods, there are hiker friends rummaging through the hiker boxes, my phone gets service. Maybe I’ll stay….

Half Double, Shiny and I get a room with a kitchenette and then the three of us buy spaghetti, sauce, Cheetos, wine, Pop Tarts, milk and cereal, and nest for the rest of the day. We make dinner and eat it sitting at a table like “real people.” I work on my blog and send off 3D files. I plan on leaving in the morning.

Morning comes. I eat Cheetos and pop tarts and drink coffee. I pack up and head to the little store. My new Brooks Cascadia 8’s have arrived! Cracker Jack (he has decided on “ck” instead of “x”) is there working on his blog. I sit and work a little too. Gizmo and Dirtnap are there. Their sandwiches look yummy. I get one.

V, Snake Charmer, Stealth, Pig Pen, Kentucky and Polar Bear arrive. Cracker Jack helps the store with some handy man chores and gets a free sandwich, HD and Shiny decide to stay for another night. It feels too late to hike out and I can ice my leg more, so Cracker Jack and I stay as well. I paw through the hiker box for dinner – Mac and cheese, quinoa, dehydrated roasted veggies. We lie in bed and watch ridiculous videos and blog. It feels great.

I’m hiking out tomorrow morning, really.