Scarecrow Meets the Mayor...

Friday morning, at 3:06 a.m., I received a text from Teddy that read: Hi. I love you. I'm in Castella. I got here around 9 last night. -Scarecrow

Awesome - Teddy is at the 1,510 mile mark.  He is standing by the sign for Castle Crags Camping grounds, where he will camp for the night for $3.00 -  can't beat that rate. 

The PCT passes through the Castle Crags Wilderness for a total of 14.5 miles. The trail gains just under 6,000 feet, climbing from about 2,900 feet to roughly 6,600 feet. This portion of the PCT is part of the longest roadless section of the trail in the Mount Shasta area. From the trailhead at Castle Crags State Park to Gumboot Saddle, the PCT travels 25 miles without crossing a road.

Once arriving at the campsite, he found a sign, posted by trail angels... this was gonna be a good one.  The paper plate read: PCT Thruhikers: Trail Magic at Ahdinam... .8 mi downhill on left to campground entrance - I will give rides back here ~ come by for some snacks and drinks ~ campsite #10  

Teddy followed the directions, and was able to enjoy some company, a few hot dogs, ears of corn, chips, beers, and a ride back to the trail, just as promised - and that's not all - a departure care package for later - homemade chocolate chip cookies, some trial size cookie treats, and a capri sun -  TRAIL ANGELS ROCK!

He was given a phone number by TOG of a trail angel named Sandy to call upon arrival in Castella that would be able to give him a ride from the trail into the town of Dunsmuir.  Teddy reached the woman, who works at the Burger Barn in town, but she was the only one working, so could not leave to get him.  He thankfully received a ride from another random stranger (a man getting gas) and was on his way to "get his chores done."

Chores consist of washing all of his clothes (all two outfits) resupplying food for 4-5 days, eating a huge meal, scoring some treats, and making it back to the trail before dark to set up camp.  It doesn't sound like too much to worry about, but sometimes, unplanned hiccups can occur to delay his schedule.  Like, if there is no one to give you a ride into town, you have to walk (hikers don't take kindly to "uncounted miles").  Thankfully, enter the random stranger getting gas, who took that stress away.  When Teddy arrived at the laundromat, there was not a soul in sight.  The door was wide open, but no change machine, no soap, no attendant... so he walked over to a bakery/corner store (more uncounted miles) and purchased a huge bottle of laundry detergent (for his 4 pieces of clothing) and some change from the cashier.  He ordered a huge spaghetti and meatball dinner and headed back to do his wash.  He will usually just do his laundry while in a towel or pair of bicycle shorts, to ensure as much gets washed as possible... today, he dined in bicycle shorts, alone while the dirt and smell of thruhiker was cleansed from his wardrobe for another 5 days...

via google images

A well-known stop for thruhikers in this town is Burger Barn.  This is where the trail angel Sandy works, and where Teddy decided to order his treat of soft butter pecan ice cream.  He made his cleaner, fuller self over there, had his treat and began to secure his ride back to the trail.  Teddy said the woman who works in there is so friendly - no wonder TOG passed along her number... she is a true trail angel.   Unfortunately, she was still the only one working at the restaurant at the time Teddy needed a ride back to the trail.  Instead of just wishing him well and sending him on his way, she calls the Mayor of Dunsmuir

  .

via google images

YES - the mayor of Dunsmuir, Mr. Nick Mitchell, drove down to the Burger Barn, picked Teddy up, and gave him a ride back to the trail in time for him to set up camp for the night.  WOW! We thank you, Dunsmuir, for friendly, caring people - trail angels, who helped Scarecrow continue on through his PCT journey.

Teddy is up and on his way, hiking no less than 25 mile days, feeling strong and excited as his days in California are almost over, and into Oregon he goes...
~The Thruhiker's Wife~