[pct-l] Hiking with my dog

[Kevin Cook]

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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