[pct-l] dogs on the PCT

[Jo Pegrum Hazelett]

Ok--As a dog owner who has section-hiked the entire PCT (most of it with my
dog)-- I can't let this one go by about bears. I don't know about grizzlies
but I can tell you that if you see a black bear and your dog is with you,
the bear will not approach (I suppose if your dog became aggressive, that
might be another story). However, sighting a bear with a dog is somewhat
unusual, but does happen. We call our dog, "the four legged bear
canister"--he is that sure- proof about keeping bears away. Black bears are
looking for easy-pickings when it comes to human food not trouble!

One more observation about dogs on the trail-- the biggest issue is the
owners, not the dogs, as you have probably surmised from the responses you
have received so far.

As far as taking your dog with you, Mara-- if you have specific questions
and want to contact me off-list I would be happy to answer your questions to
the best of my knowledge.

Jo
PCT  08   http://postholer.com/jo



Message: 6
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 01:18:15 -0800
From: Julie Flaming <julie.flaming at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] dogs on the PCT
To: tmerritt at salud.unm.edu
Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID:
	<4416eed00902130118h6f9a8496rd58fca3e69926a10 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; Charest=ISO-8859-1

Hi, Mara -

I like dogs but a few things things always really bother me:
1) I'm tiptoeing along on a narrow trail with a drop-off and an
off-the-leash dog comes charging toward me barking wildly. One of us is
going to fall a long way. I hope it's not me, I hope it's not the dog. It
would really haunt me if someone's dog got hurt.
2) I don't hike with a dog because I like the peace and quiet of no barking.

3) It really bums me out how many dog owners say "but my dog is a good dog
(as if all the other dogs aren't) and then promptly break all the rules
(like taking a dog into a national park).  This puts the dog in danger,
makes the people who choose to leash (where required) or not bring a pet (to
enjoy the peace) to have to put up with this special pet and to give the
owner their special privileges. I heard the recent stories about having to
call emergency services folks into the Columbia River Gorge to rescue fallen
dogs. Those people are someone's mom or dad or boyfriend or child and they
tend to be big-hearted generous folks who'd walk into the fire for anyone
who needs help. It's not fair to take advantage of them by breaking the
rules.
4) I've read a lot of stuff here about dogs being injured, getting too hot
or cold, or otherwise being harmed on the trail. It's something to take
really seriously. Water's really scarce in the desert.
5) I don't like stepping in dog poop.... especially when I'm a long way from
anywhere to wash it off.  What' the etiquette about poop scooping on the
trail?
6) According to the park rangers I've known in parks with bears (I used to
live in Yellowstone), bears and dogs are a very volatile combo, and bears
may actually be attracted to your camp to tangle with your dog. That's part
of why the parks in question would ban them.

Thanks for asking! I really appreciate the fact that you're thinking about
it before you do it.

Julie