[pct-l] new topic

[radpin at gmail.com (Eric)]

I've gone backpacking with my two dogs, one a 70lb Siberian Husky, the
other a 12lb Schipperke in several parts of the country in several
climate conditions. Loaded with packs (yes, I have a Kelty pack for my
12lb dog), they basicly carry their dog food, maybe another leash, and
some other stuff you don't mind getting smacked around and wet.

I say wet because in the morning dew, those saddle bags have a nice
way of picking up nearly every drop on low lying grasses.

I couldn't imagine taking either of my pups on a trip as long as the
PCT, not that I'd even want to. When I go backpacking with my dogs,
that's what I'm doing. You are constantly worrying about them, keeping
tabs on them, etc. From much of what I've read it's like a pack
animal, except I guess with a horse/mule/ass you're getting some of
your stuff moved along the trail as well, and you can ride them. But
there is definatly something distracting about taking a dog that I
tend to not enjoy, unless my primary point of the trip is to be with
my dog.

If one of them gets injured, you need to treat it properly. When dogs
have injuries, they keep going, and wont quit even after a limp
develops. Humans on the other hand tend to be a bit smarter about
things and will (or should anyway) stop when pain develops to analyze
the problem and keep things from getting worse.

>From talking to my vet, some dogs are much better at handeling the
back to back mileage of backpacking, but no animal known to man was
naturally designed to pound miles for multiple months straight. Not
even man him (or her) self, which is of course evident by the amount
of mental and physical conditions which cause people to abandon the
trail early.

Not only that, but I could have sworn that in a lot of areas is purely
illegal to take your dog on the trail?

I'm sure it can be done; in fact I'd be suprised if no one has yet.
But for me personally, the amount of distraction and thought I would
have because of my dogs (either of them) is too much.

My pup will be said when I'm gone, but I'd rather know that she's home
safe so that when I need to negotiate some nasty boulder field she's
not there with me to break her hip. Also, I like not having another
element of responsibility. If I'm hungry, I can tell myself to shutup
and stop being such a wimp. If my dog is hungry, I'd get extremely
depressed.


On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 19:57:13 -0400, Elizabeth <betseylou@mac.com> wrote:
> 
> Not to digress from the ever stimulating bear canister debate, and not
> to start an entirely new debate (snicker), how many people bring their
> dogs along on the PCT? I've been reading Yogi's handbook and she flat
> out discourages it, but I was wondering how the general population
> feels about it.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> E
> 
> PS- When I say "dog" I mean a well trained dog on a leash.
> 
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