High Sierra Topix

Indigo seems unconcerned of heights. I hope I can work some of that into her over time. She sees a steep drop-off to the creek where the last flood undercut the bank, and she obviously wants to use THAT spot to get down... She's 10 months and a puppy. Everything is possible until somebody gets hurt.

I will try super hard to have a few weeks of time to myself next summer. If I had my pick, I'd be there in August through late September or even October. At this time, though, I have absolutely no idea what will be a priority next summer and if I will be able to make choices about when I can get away from the Midwest.

I'd love to meet up with experienced mountain dogs and learn. There are so many things I am not sure about - booties? Sierra granite is like rough sandpaper so how do pups handle that? Or is the grit that gets into booties worse for them? How far can they go ? Indogot seems to go forever, and then suddenly she won't go. Off switch. Break, sleep. Must rest.

Tent space - I guess the 3 person Big Agnes Copper Spur will get another whirl. Food? What to bring for the pup? Can she just drink away in giardia streams? Right now I can't even stop her from liking puddles on the sidewalk while we're walking.

One thing is for sure - she's got exploring in her DNA. And getting to the highest point anywhere is also very exciting for her. Our little sledding hill has been one of her favorite stops She sticks her nose in the wind and keeps that eye on the skyline, Jeremiah Johnson style


Keep your nose in the wind...

Didn't get a PM from you, just FYI in case something didn't work right. My inbox does have room.

Sadly, I have the reverse problem, as dear old Bearzy has come down with a seizure disorder, likely caused by a brain tumor, which is horrific, and has kept me out of the mountains caring for him. I wish us both better luck with health, Fish. Hopefully, Ian.
He's had a hell of a life, 10 years full of of mountains and beaches, but we wanted so much more time with him.
Vet., writer, and dog lover James Harriot said: "It is always said that however many wonderful and happy years a dog lives, you know that one day, the day he dies, your dog will break your heart."


Ian, I am sorry to hear about Bear. I enjoy seeing him in your stories.

Her first class 2 summit



Between summit pushes, you can find her here:


The ferocious Belgian Malinois

Hi,
I figured this might be the best place to post my question about mosquito repellent and dogs. My daughter and son-in-law and their dog are joining me on a backpacking trip to Big Pine Lakes in July and I am wondering about the safety of various insect repellents we will use on ourselves. I know DEET is out, it is proven to be very toxic to dogs. The info on Picaridin is less certain. Does anybody have any info on whether human use of Picardin is safe for dogs who may lick or otherwise be exposed by the humans? Any other experiences or ideas? Thanks!

If you establish that Picardin is safe enough, I recommend that you apply it to the back of the dog's neck and head, where the dog cannot lick it. I do that all of the time with flea and tick medication.

Thanks for the reply.
We are actually not planning on applying any on the dog.
We are just curious about effects on the dog from licking us if we have picaridin on our skin.

Ken