I have encounter a few Basque shepherds over the years. A lonely life, and they do a lot of artwork in the Alder Patches. Most of it has to do with nude women. I never encountered one with a woman in tow. They must be allergic to the cold high mountain water because clean clothing and bathing may not be a priority. I rather suspect that the odor comes with the job. The ones I ran into did not speak much or any English.
My image maybe incorrect, they could be old white males, who got a job herding sheep, and dropped out from society. Smelling bad, and not speaking English shortens visits, and discourages return company. But they do live a busy life herding the sheep, and protecting them from varmints. A couple of tourist encountered one of them. He was covered with blood, tried to communicate with hand signals, and smelled rather bad.
The tourist reported a crazy man who had shot and killed somebody.
The Sheriff responded all available units, and gathered up the SWAT folks. Turns out the sheepherder shot a bear protecting the herd and started to bury it. Felt it was too much work and went out to the highway and flagged down a tourist. He had been described as a craze man, covered in blood, and speaking in riddles.
I give them credit for doing the job, they do.
This crazy thinks about taking a couple of pack mules and doing the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada. Need to start in the Spring before it heats up, and then might have to hold up a little to let the snow clear the trails in the Southern Sierra. The bankcard is on the money.
I spent a summer living in a high mountain camp in small camp trailer. A small nearby stream was used to bath in. Freezing temperatures were common all summer. Our toilet was a deep trench on a hillside, with a floor made from limbs with a campground type fixture. Camp water was hauled in ten-gallon milk cans. There was no TV, or telephone, and very little contact with other people. Winter snows are measured in feet, and I was happy to go back to college in the fall.
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