Well now that the dust has settled a bit off the boots and I’ve had a few down days, I’m reflecting on the experience of being a thru hiker on the PCT. So much to digest.  I’m sure that it will be months and possibly years that the lessons learned on the trail will reveal themselves.

More than anything right now, I want to sincerely thank all those who have helped me along the way.  Thank you Pinball!  We started the walk together and although our goal was to finish in Manning Park together – Giardia and life happened along the way. My thoughts are with you as you continue to heal and regain your strength.

Thanks to Bill Langton for faithfully posting stuff on the blog, keeping friends and family in the loop – you are a total Rock Star! I have met many people along the trail that have said “Oh – You’re Smudge!  I’ve been following you on the Blog!!!!”

Thanks to the many trail angels – the Saufleys in Agua Dulce, the Andersons, Drakesbad Guest Lodge in Mt. Lassen, the Dinsmores at Skykomish, Washington, the whole town of Trout Lake Washington, and the Town of Sierra City in California, to the so many people who picked my sorry, smelly, hiker trash self up off the side of the road and took me to towns – many call it hitchhiking – hikers call it “Yogi-ing an ride”.

Thanks to all of those who are supporting the efforts of the Siskiyou Land Trust by pledging real dollars for every mile walked in an effort to build an Endowment Fund.

And most of all, thanks to my lifelong friend and partner Linda Richter for believing in me, for sending boxes upon boxes of re-supply, for driving nearly double the miles that I have hiked to fluff me up and for helping me hold the vision. I could not have even thought of doing this on my own – without you.

So as I start to turn the page on this chapter, I think of dreams that we all have conjured at some time in our life. The big things that we have tucked away and have said to ourselves “Someday – I gonna do that…” I encourage you to pull out those undone “Somedays”, dust them off and try them on. We only get to live once – there are no do-overs.  Have no regrets and go for the gusto!

Smudge – Signing Off
Latitude: 41.3698
Longitude: -122.42325
GPS location Date/Time: 10/18/2010 07:42:11 PDT

Message: Just to let you know I am A-OK and livin’ the dream!

Smudge’s journey has made the local news in Siskiyou County!

Front page of the Siskiyou Daily News…10/13/10

Well, today should be the last one on the trail for Smudge as she heads the last few miles towards home.  You see, it’s handy when you live not far off the trail.  Friends and family are gathering to walk the last few step with her as she finishes her dream journey.

Trail Angels Vicki, Linda and Sophie await the arrival of Smudge on the trail near home!

Trail Ending Sign posted at Skydance…

Update 7:18pm: I received the following message from Smudge’s SPOT satellite messenger:

GPS Location

Latitude: 41.3698
Longitude: -122.42325
Date/Time: 10/11/2010 7:18:11pm PDT
Message:  Just to let you know I am A-OK and livin’ the dream!

This puts her home at Skydance and the end of the trail…

Smudge heads north with a planned destination of Porcupine Lake.

Almost Home!  (via iPhone)

Update 7:47pm: I received the following message from Smudge’s SPOT satellite messenger:

GPS Location

Latitude: 41.20904
Longitude: -122.51932
Date/Time: 10/10/2010 7:47:43pm PDT
Message:  Just to let you know I am A-OK and livin’ the dream!

This puts her at Upper Gumboot Lake , mile 1531.

Google Maps link…

Smudge should be in the Castella area today, headed north in the final stretch for home!  Linda and friends were planning on meeting and camping with her tonight at the Castle Crags State Park.

Update 6:59pm: I received the following message from Smudge’s SPOT satellite messenger:

GPS Location

Latitude: 41.15247
Longitude: -121.31032
Date/Time: 10/09/2010 6:59:35pm PDT
Message:  Just to let you know I am A-OK and livin’ the dream!

This puts her at Castle Crags State Park, mile 1507.

Google Maps link…

Janet (Smudge) writes,

Still Walking….

For the past 5+ months I have been walking between Mexico and Canada along the Pacific Crest Trail in an effort to fulfill a personal, lifelong dream, and to raise money for the Siskiyou Land Trust Endowment Fund.   Since April, I have covered just about 2,600 miles with only a few more to go to complete the 2,650 mile journey.  Several days ago I got an e-mail from a board member of the Siskiyou Land Trust asking me if I might have some words of wisdom to share with the Land Trust Membership from the trail.  When I started my journey, I did so with a hope and perhaps an expectation that somehow taking a six month walk would have a profound effect on me and I would return and share my insights with those who would listen. Perhaps I would become enlightened, or maybe as I walked in silence I would have found answers to life’s elusive questions.  I am still walking, and the perfect and most profound thought still eludes me.

What I do know is that I have been able to experience this incredible journey because, like the special places conserved by the Siskiyou Land Trust, the Pacific Crest Trail exists because someone, somewhere had a vision that they put into action.  And, like each acre of land that we save, the Trail didn’t just happen but was many years in the making.  Somewhere a thought generated a vision, then it generated a conversation, then it became a plan.   Others got excited and were enrolled in the process; some started gathering resources, others picked up a shovel.  During the process, breakdowns occurred and the process started over again.  But the vision was held and now we share a national treasure that will be handed down from generation to generation.

The work of those involved in the Siskiyou Land Trust is every bit as important as the work of those involved to create and preserve the Pacific Crest Trail.  We too are preserving “treasures” to be enjoyed for future generations.  Each acre saved is hard work and takes incredible resources.  As more people become enrolled in the vision, the work becomes easier and another acre is saved.

So I continue to walk and am close to the end.  The words of wisdom still elude me, but for now I know that with the continuing support from those who care about our world and our future generation’s right to experience it to the fullest, each step helps bring the vision closer to reality and another acre will be saved.

Live your Dream,

Smudge (aka Janet Zalewski)

Smudge tackles her final weekend on the trail…

Stay tuned for updates…

Smudge heads for home…should be within the next week!

Update: Smudge made it to McCloud and was picked up by friends, soaked and tired.  they took her home to dry out and repack.  She will hit the trail for the final weekend on the trail Friday morning…

Smudge continues pushing north in the last leg of her journey…

Update 6:18pm: I received the following message from Smudge’s SPOT satellite messenger:

GPS Location

Latitude: 41.12016
Longitude: -121.77626
Date/Time: 10/06/2010 6:18:30pm PDT
Message:  Just to let you know I am A-OK and livin’ the dream!

This puts her at Deadman Creek, mile 1444.

Google Maps link…

Janet (Smudge) writes, “Woke up to yet another wet morning. Must have started raining in the middle of the night. And…it was really tough to get out of the tent, sort of a draggy morning.

The weather broke mid-morning and the sun even peaked out a bit. Walking was as per usual through the long green tunnel and I figure that there are no more hikers around. The only time I see people is when I near a town. After leaving Burney Falls I am prepared to see no one until Castella in three or four days. Next..finding good water is and is going to be a challenge for the next few days. Creeks that are shown on the maps are dry or compromised. Today I had to wade through cow poop to a part of a creek that was just about dry and scoop some water into my camel back. Even though it gets filtered, I decided I’m not drinking it until I boil it for a full minute. I carried this water about 7 miles and was not going to use it unless the creek that is supposed to show up just before I find a place to camp is dry. And….it was dry. So I made dinner with some of the water. I filled up the jet boil for morning coffee and I still have about a cup to get me the next 10 miles where the map says there is a spring. I hope it’s correct otherwise tomorrow will be a thirsty day.

After I passed the dry stream it started to rain again and so I figured I’d better find a spot for the night. It took a bit of searching to find a flat spot – but here I am. I hope that the morning will come soon and that it will be dry.”

Pinball is calling it a season.  She is still battling the effects of the Giardia and now that the rains and snows have started, she is hanging up her boots!  She hiked almost 1000 miles before and after she got sick.  Now she realizes she will be a section hiker and tackle those additional miles another year when she can stay on the trail and have the endurance and stamina she needs to finish her goal.

Thanks to all her friends, family and supporters who have followed along on her journey!