Trinity Alps Part 2

We found a campsite!  It was a nice, previously established site with a fire pit. As soon as his backpack was off Rampage started his signature dirt rolling.



And Brew decided to relax.



The view as I was filling and treating my water.



We had a lot of thunder and a tiny bit of rain.  Rammy no like thunder.  He would have been happy in the tent, but last time we were backpacking with thunder I had him in the tent and he destroyed my $600 down sleeping quilt by digging.  But that is another story...



Brew and Kirk were not big fans of the thunder but didn't care as much.  Brew is NOT a cuddly dog so this is a very cute photo :)



Rammy's hiding spot



Kirk enjoyed having her own personal warming station.



The view from my tent was... pleasant :)  The thunder was pretty much over by this point by Rammy was still concerned.



And it seems our campsite was often used by mule packers because after we set up and it was starting to get dark an old man with a pistol on his belt and a mule train on the trail came into our camp.  He first asked us (not nicely) how long we were staying and then proceeded to berate us for having a fire in the fire pit, which we had a permit for.  I tried to argue with him (while trying to keep Rampage and Kirk from barking at him and his mule) and insisted I had a permit while he insisted I didn't but before I could get it out Laura diplomatically told him "thank you for the information and good bye".  We didn't see him again but just before dusk a helicopter flew over our site 2 times so we started worrying he was right and we weren't supposed to have a fire.  I did call the ranger station after we got back to civilization and it was allowed.  The helicopter was just looking for fires started by the thunderstorm and the mule packer was just being an asshole because we took what he thought was HIS campsite.

To be continued...

Trinity Alps Part 1

I recently went on a backpacking trip with a friend to the Trinity Alps Wilderness.  I only brought Rampage and Kirk because backpacking with 3 dogs is... challenging.  We were supposed to be gone 3 days/2 nights but ended up being only 1 night because Kirk cut her pad the first day :(.  Many creek crossings meant it was beautiful there, but there was a lot of running through hard rocks after the creeks and it must have really softened her pads.

But Kirk was excited and raring to go at the start!


Entering the Trinities


Taking a break at one of the many creeks.  We really didn't need to carry much water at all, which is a nice change from the Sierra's.



There also wasn't as much climbing as I'm used to in the Sierra's, which was really nice!  Although if we had continued our route on the 2nd day, I probably would have changed my mind :)











There used to be a bridge over this creek, but was washed out a long time ago.  It was easy for us to cross, but probably a bit more difficult in late spring/early summer.


Heading to Bear Basin, but Kirk wanted to check out the skull.


A row of dogs


 I'm very bad at stopping to take breaks, I tend to just put my head down and keep walking.  That's why it's good to have friends that make you stop :)






Group photo!


This place didn't have a name on the map, so we dubbed it "Kirk Meadow".  It was quite lovely but, errrr, moist.  Earlier in the season I think you'd be slogging through marsh.






So many beautiful wildflowers






To be continued...

Hello there

I don't know why, but I feel like blogging again.

So here I am!

And here is Kirk!

I entered her at 20" in AKC for the first time last weekend because she has a USDAA trial in a few weeks and while I'm hoping she'll measure into 18" she may have to jump 22".   I don't want her to be shocked by the jump from 16-22...

As I kinda expected she had a bar every run (and two in one run).  I'm hoping we get this sorted out.  She happily drops bars at 16" too, though.  We would be in masters for now if it wasn't for that bar thing ;).  But otherwise, she is pretty awesome!

20150726-110040-JWW from Agility Dogs on Vimeo.

And a Standard run.
20150726-140631-STD from Agility Dogs on Vimeo.

A little sequence from practicing at 22" in 100 degree weather (probably should have stayed home that day).   She's so much fun, even when hot!

Kirk - 28 Jul Seq from Agility Dogs on Vimeo.