[pct-l] shirts

[Marion Davison]

We also wear shirts from thrift stores when hiking.  I prefer 100% silk 
long sleeved shirts.  They dry instantly, let all the breezes through, 
are baggy enough to deter mosquitoes, and are cool enough to wear on a 
warm day, protecting me from the sun. Solid color shirts last much 
longer than print shirts.  Something in the process of making a silk 
print seems to weaken the fabric.  Silk shirts will tear out under the 
arms pretty quickly, so on a long trip I put a fresh one in my resupply 
boxes. They weigh so little that I always start a trip with three of 
them. When I go into a thrift store I "mine" the shirt racks, both 
women's and men's, for silk shirts.  Then I check the athletic wear 
section for hiking pants.  I have an astonishing collection of these. 
It is always a thrill to find a nice item of Eddie Bauer, LL Bean, REI 
or Ex Officio clothing at thrift store prices.
Ray prefers to wear polyester-cotton dress shirts.  They have many of 
the same qualities as silk, but last much longer.  He likes the cowboy 
style with snaps most of all.