SC Gov in...Argentina?

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford wasn't on the Appalachian Trail—he was in Argentina. Ooooookaaaay.

Governor Mark Sanford, you broke our heart. Here we were, thinking you were one of us, tackling the Appalachian Trail to get some much needed rest and fresh air. Now, we learn you weren't even on the trail. You probably didn't even lace up your boots. Why? Because you were in a foreign country instead. Argentina, to be exact. [sniffs]

This saga of South Carolina's missing governor gets weirder: Yesterday, Sanford's staff reported that he had taken a few days off to hike an undisclosed portion of the AT. Now, Sanford himself confirms he's actually been in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Argentina? Appalachian? Those don't sound too similar, so why the cover-mix-up? Sanford said he told his staff he "might" hike the AT.

He had considered hiking the trail, he said. “But I said ‘no’ I wanted to do something exotic,” Mr. Sanford told The State. “It’s a great city.”

If you ask me, a governor who takes time off to backpack is pretty friggin' exotic. And who goes to Argentina, anyway? People only go to South America if they're going into hiding—we've all seen Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, people.

The governor's enigmatic travels have created quite the stir, and he's expected to hold a press conference at 2 p.m. We'll keep you in the loop...even if Sanford won't.

—Ted Alvarez

Sanford was in Argentina (USA Today)