Goochk (gooch-kah) & Xoodzi (zootsi) are 2.5 years old.
We hike 5-10 miles a day.
I've sat at my car at the end of a hike for an hour....waiting for shitehead to return. hehe. winded...foaming...completely deflated because....though he can run super far...he can not run super fast and the deer always get away.
and we could go on and on because life with huskies if damned chaotic and apparently I prefer it that way as I traded my empty nest for dogs as many do.
I'm joining the group because my ultimate goal always has been the PCT with my current dogs. But I've realized there are a lot of extra things to consider with huskies...like..they get danged hot danged fast! Socal may not be a reality for them...? So I want to learn as much as I can so that I can up our training. We are going to start joring this winter. Bikejoring. so...I need to make sure all my bases are covered. My last babies were a pitty and a lab! oh so different.
And yes huskies do heat up fast but they also are pretty good at adjusting to different climates as long as you keep an eye on them. We have a few people on here who live down in Texas and there dogs are doing fine.
Any kind of Mushing is a blast just take it slow to avoid injuring the human part of the equation. Last winter I fell off the sled a few times and some of those really hurt.
ack! No falling off sleds!
Pacific Crest Trail. From mexico to canada starting in ca...and ending in wa.
When it hits 60-65 here my dogs really show it.
Also wanting to do some of the bikejoring races in the pacific northwest.
I can tell the difference in the spring the first time the temp hits 40°. Ami starts panting on walks and slows way down. This summer, which has been super hot for western NY, he has been a slug - and a permanent resident of the hole behind/under the rhododendrons along the foundation.
I wouldn't dare let Ami run off lead on hikes - he pokes into everything...snakes, raccoons, rabbits...and the deer, oh my, the deer (that's actually his job - to keep the deer and other hungry wildlife away from my plantings.
As for hiking in heat - our Empire State Snowdog group had a meet up here in a local state park - probably the hottest day of the summer so far (90's). Ami wore his backpack as did some other dogs - we went slow (well, husky slow) and had many and frequent water breaks. Did not appear to be any adverse effects, damn dog wasn't even tired out that night and STILL wanted to play. Just watch for heat stress and give lots of water.
the PCT is realistic if you condition them and do it at the right time of year. What is your mileage goal per day for that trail? Mine on super hot days, 90 degrees, can only cover about 10 miles with a ton of water and stops and shade. Now I have picked up the Ruffwear Swamp vest and it has helped my two, but it is a pain on really long trips when it gets close to 90 because you have to be able to keep the vest wet and packing water for the vests and the dogs gets heavy. If you will have lots of water spots on the trail such a thing might be something to think about.
yes amymeme my huskies love anything that rustles in the wind! They are hated by the chipmunks and squirrels in our favorite hiking spots! hehe They love winter mornings early when the temp can be 35-45! Letting my husky run off leash is always an adventure...his selective hearing is heeeelarious. He also keeps the deer out of my garden and then eats all the snap peas himself!
Twister I did wonder about the swamp vest! I was worried their body heat would just warm up the water in the vest and overheat them more! I was figuring I'd have to carry a ton more water on the southern leg of the PCT and my goal is 15 miles a day...I also thought about starting the southern leg super early in the season and hiking out at 4am everyday...resting during midday and finishing the day in the evenings....hiking here in the humboldt rain forest is super easy because water is everywhere...Not looking forward to having to carry loads of water! heh. I LOVE ruffwear.
That sounds awesome. One of my goals is to take a long camping/hiking trip with my dogs. I need to finish school and save money first but we are all working towards getting into better shape for it.
My husky is actually pretty good until it gets to about 75-80 if we are on the grass.
I have done one dog sledding race and it was awesome.
Also I am not sure if you have looked this up before.
Elise, that's a real nice article. Informative but with enough warnings that the knowledgeable owners should respect. And maybe give the less knowledgeable something to think about before tackling the trail. I really like the final warning that if the proper care isn't taken they may be costing their doge its life - if that doesn't make someone stop and think then nothing will.
Excellent article Elise..........I believe the warnings are quite fair, in the last few years, in some of the state areas of California the plague has been documented, so the warnings and the info about no dogs allowed in certain areas are quite true. Thank you for sharing this article.
It always baffles me why there is any place in nature that doesn't allow dogs. Wonder when Yosemite decided they didn't like dogs. There were dogs there some years back when I went. Dogs in my mind belong in nature better than we do, but I don't see parks banning teenage kids.
Jenn, with all the folks who are 'doing' state and federal parks / forests in lieu of 'expensive' vacations there are more dogs around. From my experience with the Big Bend National Forest and Big Bend Ranch State park they both severely limit dogs - for the dogs and the owners safety. When someone - and at least once a year someone does - takes their little pooch onto the trails and the little yapper starts barking at a cougar or a bear, simply the pooch becomes history quickly. The thing, as I've had it explained to me, is that we humans often literally don't see the critter and pass on without arousing any attention (unless we have some good smelling food) while the dogs will see / smell it sooner than we would and 'warns' its owner which prompts an attack. In this area we loose 5 - 10 dogs a year to predation, adding more inexperienced dogs to the mix (tourists) only aggravates the situation.
I know that we as a group have well mannered dogs, lol, one bad apple ruins it for the rest, or so it seems, . I do know that it was a California state park that recently banned dogs, and has given a fair warning to us humans, about camping there, they actually closed the park down a few months ago to treat the area for fleas, which is the primary source of the plague, so it was for the health and safety as to why that particular park has said no to dogs. The other issue is dog poop, people do not want to clean up after their dogs, maybe not us husky owners, but again one rotten apple. It's kind of a catch 22, they can't screen for poop bags, so might as well ban dogs in general. I agree it isn't fair.
I see the point when there are health issues involved. That goes along with the bats and white nose. You have to do what you have to do in those cases. I guess I just come from a part of the world with the mentality of every time you go into the wild you choose the risk of an animal attack. The wild is the animal's domain, not ours. I pack with the full expectation that some day the dogs or myself will draw 'something' in. We have bears and cougars and coyotes here too. But the parks are all many of us have as a place to take our dogs. If the parks stop allowing pets, stores won't allow pets, I for one won't have any way to exercise mine and then chalk up two more dogs to canine obesity as if it wasn't already out of hand. Don't get me wrong, I see the point some of these places are trying to make but that doesn't mean I am going to like it. As Renee said, one rotten apple ruins it for us all and that bugs me. I would much rather see the one rotten apple culled from the group for their stupidity as harsh as I'm sure that comes across.
As for the idiot painting on things, I saw that, but I feel about her the same way I feel about people who carve in trees. And not picking up your dog poop to me is the same as people tossing their empty water bottles to the side of the path which I see far more than dog poop. I've also seen people painting turtles, packing baby sea lions home with them, and people who have taken quail eggs as souvenirs. Now, I imagine it sounds like I think people should be banned from parks. I don't, though a competency test might not be a bad thing for some folk, lol, but it frustrates me to see animals, wild or domestic, take the blame for what is a human issue. People aren't responsible anymore and we like to let other things pick up the slack for that. Okay, sorry if I've offended anyone. This is a topic that may be dearer to my heart than the average person because this banning has started to severely affect and dictate my vacations since I have to travel with my dogs. My rant is over, I promise.
As someone who has section hiked parts of the PCT, I would say that doing a thru hike with dogs would be problematic, if not illegal. I would most of all worry about how the heat would affect the dogs. My husky is aversely affected by temps above 70 and bright sun.
Perhaps do some section hikes in forested areas with the dogs and save open, desert sections for you alone. Trinity Alps and Marble Mts. are close to you, so you can try out backpacking with the dogs in small bites. Again, be wary of the heat- spring and fall are the best times.
Essential pieces of equipment for the dogs are booties. They won't like having them on. The dogs will try to chew them off, but you can put a strip of electrical tape across the velcro closures so they can't get them off while you are moving. Of course, when you stop and the dogs have time to chew, they will be successful.
Thanks! So much great info.
we love and frequent Trinity as I grew up there and the dogs seem to tolerate 90 degrees fine BUT I'm from Trinity so I know where all the water is...I always feel uncomfortable when entering a terrain with scarce or hard to find water. I think I've lived in the coastal range too long...I'm spoiled! Yes we do dog boots. My huskies grew up in humboldt and we hike the coastal region everyday! But the ground here is perfect. not so Trinity and other parts of NorCal so they need their booties. I grew up near where the PCT crosses scott mountain.
Yes Ami a husky off leash is always an adventure! heh. It's been an interesting journey.
I'm really looking forward to joring this winter. I'm just starting to look at what I want...I'm set for bikejoring but I want a cart too...The scooter types look interesting but I don't know.
I hear yas! I hate falling down....I'm pretty clumsy in general. I fall off my bike often..I gave myself a black eye last week by falling. heh. I just expect to fall and hope for the best hehe.
It can be tricky being adventurous with dogs...I'm always checking to see if places are dog friendly. Probably one of the reasons I'm still here in NorCal...super dog friendly and tons of wilderness to roam in. I also think dogs should be able to go anywhere with us.
I generally avoid national parks and state parks unless I absolutely can't.
and it is so true one bad apple....I am amazed at the horrible treatment so many pets get. Rescues are on the battlefields. I try to actively teach anyone who will listen. Especially youngins. We need a generation who can right the wrongs going on right now. Killing 4 million dogs in shelters in one year in the USA while people are continuing to breed makes no sense. Gotta teach these kids!
and I totally get the idea that being raised with the wild offers a different perspective. I definately view the wilderness differently than many.
hi, welcome to the forums, interesting artificial thanks for the info .