[pct-l] Re-inventing the word leisure

[jomike at cot.net (JoAnn)]

;
>
> Woof!
>
> My name is Lacey and the first time I've barked at this List. I am half =
> Border Collie, half Lab about 4 years old (so the humans tell me) and I =
> just finished my first backpacking trip.  I let my human come with me. =
> Her people world call her JoAnn. I carried my own food, water bowl and =
> leash easily on our two and a half day trip of 22 miles, 20 of which =
> were on the PCT.
>
> We approached the Marble Mtn. Wilderness via (like my good vocabulary? =
> we canines are smart like people) the Paradise Lake Trailhead, above =
> Indian Scotty CG in Section Q. I was not very pleased that the feeder =
> trail (food? time to eat? where?) was so steep with all of this so new =
> to me. But my mortal just kept saying how happy she was to be with me =
> and to see such beauty . That's good for me because I get more pats that =
> way.=20
>
> We trotted to our first nights camp site about 255 paces from Buckhorn =
> Springs at "a small flat with a tiny pond" mentioned in this paper thing =
> my human reads so often about the PCT.  Plenty of water but still a very =
> small "pond". We never did find hide nor hair (I'm not sure I like that =
> analogy you people created) of the two springs also mentioned to be =
> further up the trail. If you expect to be in that area soon, please =
> don't plan on them. We spent the night under this enormous, protective =
> cover of three 'trees' all coming from a single, horizontal trunk. The =
> wonders of this world are too numerous to mention. Even so, would =
> someone please explain to me what that thing was my owner slept in...I'd =
> have nothing to do with it, thank you!
>
> Though it never bothered me, my owner was sorry to see there were two =
> trees down across the trail, and apparently no brush or tread work done =
> in the next 10 miles, for some years.  She says she'll  woof at some =
> other of her kind who might be able to clear that up. =20
>
> I still don't understand quite what a 'thru hike' is but this woman I =
> protect was wild with delight to have met about 21 things like herself =
> doing that. Most were going that way, down. We met some guy by the name =
> of Love and Peace (and people think some of we dogs have strange names!) =
> and he looked in good shape and happy.=20
>
> Our second night was spent at 3200' where there were "spacious =
> campsites". The spot was kind of gross with nothing but dust and dirt my =
> human didn't like. But our day ended with the sounds of Cold Spring =
> Creek singing us to sleep.
>
> I'd really like to say I scared away dozens of mountain lions in =
> protecting my owner on our walk but, well, we never saw any of my =
> relatives. Not even a thing called a bear or, well no other creatures of =
> the out-of-doors at all. The only receptive ears for me were my owner =
> and she mainly did all the talking, as usual...don't tell her I said =
> that.  But, she was really happy and saying things like this trip was =
> really good for her soul (huh?) so I listened as though I knew what the =
> heck she was saying. Maybe that's partly why your breed likes us.
>
> I was really glad to smell lots and lots of water on our walk. Even late =
> in this season there will be more than enough for other dogs and humans =
> going this way.
>
> When we came to the first big wood thing going across this moving water =
> she called Grider Creek, we climbed down and put all 6 of our feet in. =
> Neither of us swam for it was too cold for her and scared me a little =
> (I'm only brave when I need to keep watch over her).  Big rocks, tall =
> swaying trees, sun, and a gentle breeze kept my owner smiling, not =
> wanting to leave this miraculous place.  My other owner was expecting us =
> and she missed him so up and off we went.
>
> So there you have it. We only did 22 miles but she was really, really =
> pleased. Even with 25 pounds on her back her feet never hurt even once 
> using trail runners for the first time. =
> So what...I have FOUR "feet" and they never hurt either.  Besides, my =
> species would never, ever stoop so low as to have anything on our paws =
> (well, some do but the rest of us have a name for them...).
>
> Thanks for listening.
>
> Woof, woof,
>
> Lacey who owns JoAnn
>
>