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.”
