[pct-l] Hiking with my dog

[Whitnee Goode]

I was worried about that too! I mean, my dog loves to walk, but 20-30 miles? That will absolutely take her some getting used to. If I decide to take her through Washington, I will have to take it a bit easier. I'll let you know when I decide... You too, if you decide before I do.
My dog is 1/2 Pitbull and 1/2 Standard Poodle (weird, I know). I have been going backpacking with her all summer long and she loves it! She starts tripping out when it gets dark, though. Does your dog do ever that? I'm scared enough as a girl alone in the woods at night, but then my dog sits up and growls low for a really long time. Makes for a long night. Other than that terrifying part of our adventure, I love hiking with my dog! I love how she gets protective of me when I get close to edges, I love how she steals my sleeping pad, I love how she kisses me awake in the morning and shares my breakfast with me, and I also really love when she pulls me up hills!!

--- On Sun, 10/31/10, Kevin Cook <hikelite at gmail.com> wrote:


From: Kevin Cook <hikelite at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Hiking with my dog
To: "Whitnee Goode" <whitneegoode at yahoo.com>
Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
Date: Sunday, October 31, 2010, 8:31 PM


I'm in the same boat as you. I've been struggling with the decision to leave my dogs at home as well. As you know, there are a lot of issues for them along the way. Washington seems to be the most accommodating for dogs though. Southern California has the desert, where they can't cool off. There are tons of parks throughout the rest of CA. Oregon has the infamous sharp lava. So that just leaves Washington. I came to the same conclusion you did. What if I have someone bring the dog(s) to me. I'll be curious to know what you decide.
 
My older dog has hiked with me a lot. Other than trips into The Canyon, he has been on every backpacking trip, including climbing King's Peak @ 13,500 ft! The newest edition, at 20 months old, went on her first trip this Fall to the Rockies. I know they could both do the trip, but I still have my reservations as well. My biggest concern is having them join me after I've hiked everyday for 4-5 months. Most of the time they can out hike me, but I think in this situation, I might be able to walk too far for them. Are you worried about this at all?

Please let us, or at least me, know what you decide. I've still not made mine.


On Sun, Oct 31, 2010 at 2:11 PM, Whitnee Goode <whitneegoode at yahoo.com> wrote:

Hello!
 
I am planning a 2011 thru hike and am having trouble with the idea of not seeing my dog for 5 or 6 months. I wouldn't ever take her through the desert or the lava flows, so bringing her really isn't an option... I am, however, entertaining the thought of picking her up at Cascade Locks (nearest to my home in Portland) and taking her along through Washington. I'd like to hear some opinions about it. Also, if anyone knows of places in Wash. that don't allow dogs, I would love to know that as well. Like I said, I am only entertaining this thought. I realize how much of a pain in the ass it would be to hike with a dog (hitchhiking would be nearly impossible, worrying about her feet/food/hydration/etc. would slow me down, not to mention if anything happened to her I would have to leave the trail). I am VERY close to my dog and I doubt I'm the only one having difficulty with this aspect of long distance hiking.
 
Whit 



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