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Great suggestions, thanks! 20 lakes basin is a great idea. I've dayhiked up there and done the peaks, but never just sat back and enjoyed the lakes. I spotted several nice looking remote campsites up there when I did North last summer and they'd be great with the pup.
We've had him in some pretty rough desert terrain and he does great with booties. I'd prefer him to build up the paw pads but I always have those booties along in case terrain gets tough. He's also slept in a tent happily. On his first camping trip a bear wandered through camp. We were sleeping in the back of the truck and Thor just sat up and stared out the back, perfectly silent as he watched the bear go by. He's not very wildlife reactive, except birds do catch his attention. He barked at a wild horse once.
@DriveFly44 omg, what a cutie! That was the landshark age with Thor, I would expect him to have chewed up sleeping pads and sleeping bags at that age! Maybe there are enough sticks that he leaves the expensive stuff alone.
You might enter at Leavitt Meadow. Most of the trail for the first several miles is flat and sandy, with only slight elevation gain and rocks here and there. You have fishing at Lane/Roosevelt and Poore Lakes, as well as the West Walker. You can go north several miles into some large pretty meadows. At the upper end there are jumping off points for numerous destinations and elevation gain begins, but just for a short trip with the pup, this might be a good place.
I second the Walker River, Leavitt Meadow trailhead. It is sandy, and used by horsepackers, but the selection of lakes for fishing/swimming are endless. Your pup will get lots of experience, and you will enjoy the fishing!
Yea I had wonderful well mannered labs too and hiked with them for years! But....off leash at YOUR own risk. One trip my my labby rolled in some dead fish guts a kind fisherman had left by the shore....oh man it was bad!!!!! And then it snowed so we had to let her in the tent. We had a vestibule and we had her sleep in that...but it didn't help, she stunk like she was skunked!!!! HAHAHA!
