[pct-l] Siberian Husky on PCT

Mon May 20 10:34:34 CDT 2013

All excellent points Yogi.........We've had a few of these Super Dogs
arrive up here too. Out of a dozen dogs in 11 yrs only 3 had to be carried
off the trail because their hind legs gave out and they couldn't walk.
Another one completely collapsed and had to go to the vet. These Super Dogs
will follow their Master to their death.  For fear they run after an animal
in the woods and get trapped down a ravine where you can't get to him.  For
the amount of steps their human takes.....the dog is probably taking 10
times more. Can you walk barefoot the whole trail. Please put yourself in
the same equipment level your Super Dog is. Go barefoot the whole trail.
Don't be a woosie. The other hikers will love having to babysit their food
and stuff when you are around. I'm sure your dog is cute enough to talk his
way out of being in a National Park where he's not supposed to be. But
that's OK. You love your Baby.......and your Baby is loyal.....he will
follow you anywhere and is tougher than you are. And when you get up to the
North Cascades.....he will blaze you a trail through 4' of snow. You
probably can't get through it. But he's a Super Dog he will clear the snow
that is higher than he is. 90% of these Super Dogs shouldn't be out there.
And the final question.....are you willing to quit you expensive hike to
care for or take your Super Dog home. Responsible adults start training
their human children for years before they subject them to hiking the PCT
or any other trail. Dinking around for a year before on occasional 20 mile
hikes is not the same as day after day of hiking 20 mile days. You don't
even know what you are in for on a thru hike. Sounds like you need to take
a mule.....not a little dog.

OK.....this is my one and only rant on dogs for the season.

PCT MOM
Andrea Dinsmore
Skykomish/Baring, WA. Trail Angel

On Mon, May 20, 2013 at 7:14 AM, Jackie McDonnell <yogihikes at gmail.com>wrote:

> *What we have going against us:* is that you say "I want it badly."
> YOU want it.  That is what you have going against you.
>
> The GREAT thing about thru-hiking with a dog is that it can carry your gun,
> your bear canister, and your water through the desert.
>
> But even better --- the dog is perfectly capable of letting you know when
> it is too tired to walk any farther, when it needs to stop and tank up on
> water, and when it needs to take a zero day.
>
> Since your dog speaks English, it can tell you when its paws are sore from
> walking mile after mile after mile on the hot desert sand in California or
> on the sharp lava rock in Oregon.
>
> Your dog has put a lot of thought into this thru-hike.  It won't be
> all-of-a-sudden thrown into walking 20+miles a day, because it has trained
> and is mentally and physically prepared for a thru-hike.  Best of all, it
> certainly will tell you when it wants to stop.  It will NOT follow you
> loyally day after day after day, until it is physically wiped out and its
> paws are raw.  No, no, no, that won't happen to YOUR dog.  YOUR dog is
> prepared for this.  YOU wouldn't do anything to harm your dog.
>
> Live long and prosper.
>
> Yogi
> www.pcthandbook.com
>
>
> On Mon, May 20, 2013 at 8:53 AM, Oz <trailtickles at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Hi all!
> >
> > I was hoping I could get your opinions about dogs on the PCT. I've read
> > some articles that pumped me up and had me quite excited about a shot in
> > 2014 and then there were others that said it was down right abuse for the
> > dog. So I thought I'd share my situation and hopefully be able to get
> some
> > constructive opinions. I'm aware that not all dogs are equal....
> >
> > I 'm 25 going on 37 years old :P and I first decided I was going to do a
> > long trail about 3 years ago while backpacking the Trans Canada Trail
> > across Newfoundland. So I decided on the AT or PCT 2 years ago and have
> > been following the lists daily to pick up any tips and advice I could
> > (You're awesome for sharing your experiences thank you) At that time I
> > decided I wanted a trail companion and purchased a 12 week old Siberian
> > Husky and named him Juno after the beach on DDAY. What a dream come true,
> > he's the perfect trail dog. He's now 6mths and just starting to carry his
> > palisades pack empty.
> >
> > I understand fully that the PCT poses the most trouble both physically
> and
> > logistically for a dog... but I want it badly and if I can find that it's
> > possible, I'll invest all I can so that Juno is well cared for and moved
> > ahead for me when I clear parks with no dog rules. (I'm not interested in
> > breaking any laws)
> >
> >
> > *What we have going for us: :)*
> >
> > At 6mths he's spent more time out in the bush than all dogs I know
> combined
> > (at least 20 nights – both winter and summer)
> >
> > I can clear 25-25km per day and he's still pulling
> >
> > Despite what people think, huskies thrive in heat as long as their not
> > shaved
> >
> > They have been known to handle -70 degrees F.
> >
> > They travel far and can run 100 miles in a day
> >
> > He doesn't bark or howl (although I wish he'd howl sometimes)
> >
> > Hike in the 90's F with a crap load of humidity
> >
> > The most important thing we have going for us is our routines while
> hiking.
> > We have been working flawlessly when it comes to rest, water, food. It
> may
> > seem silly but he seems to tell when I've hit my mid afternoon wall and
> > will slow his pace for me.
> >
> > My vet laughed at me when I asked if he'd be able to do 20 miles up and
> > down for consecutive days and replied simply “he's bred for much harder
> > work, if you train with him it will not be a problem”
> >
> > *What we have going against us:*
> >
> > National parks that don't allow dogs.
> >
> > Some places we may not be welcome
> >
> > We're both inexperienced with desert hiking and altitudes above 4000ft.
> >
> > He's only experienced 5 days worth of (Hike, Eat, Sleep) at a time not 90
> > days.
> >
> > The unknowns.......
> >
> >
> > After the last couple of years, my budget has at my delight grown
> > significantly making a 2014 push more and more feasible for me. I want
> Juno
> > to accompany me if I can make sense of it. Juno has been a trail dog
> since
> > he was born. My hopes is that by the time he's a year and a half, he'll
> > have the experience and stamina to face the challenges of the PCT.
> >
> > I'm asking because I love my dog, not because I'm searching for an excuse
> > to challenge him with the PCT.
> >
> >
> > Thanks again for all the wonderful advice!
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