Leader of the Pack

Adventure Pack

We lingered at the stream for a while on our way up the mountain today as Milo and Rucksack were especially enjoying the water.  We made it up to the intersection with the Amphitheatre trail and hung out in the shade at the foot of the rock formation there for a little while.  Mamacita and Milo took the opportunity to lie down while Rucksack and Roger Roger were a little more restless.  Rucksack found a small chunk of wood to carry down from the moun...

Adventure Pack

It sprinkled on us for a bit during today's hike.  We took cover under a canopy of trees for about 5 or 10 minutes while the worst of it passed over us.  Milo and Oliver were off leash and they didn't seem to really mind the rain as they lingered out in the open before I convinced them to join us where it was relatively dry.  We passed by a lot of people who wanted to say hello to the dogs today, and everyone in the pack got some love.  Benny go...

Adventure Pack

Benny wandered off the trail downhill into the brush by the stream and lingered there for a bit today.  Oliver stuck right behind the pack as he walked off leash and then led most of the way back down.  Sputnik and Roger Roger got into one little wrestling match.  Rucksack has been doing a better job lately at staying by my side and not pulling ahead when he's walking on the leash.

Play Pack

Thompson had an unpleasant c...

Adventure Pack

Thompson was grateful to reach the stream today and didn't want to come along with the rest of the pack when it was time to move on.  Eventually, I managed to convince him.  Milo was just as eager to get in the water but he listened a lot better when I called him up the trail.  Mamacita was especially reluctant to drink from the water spout today and waited to quench her thirst until we were at the stream.  Rucksack and Roger Roger walked along ...

Adventure Pack

We encountered a couple rangers on the trail today who were stopped with a couple other hikers and their two dogs.  The other dogs growled and pulled at the pack and everyone did a great job of walking by without reacting.  One of the rangers then stopped us to check on my commercial permit and after sitting there a little while, another dog passed by and then Oliver and Sputnik, apparently restless, barked and growled at the passing dog.  The ranger...

Adventure Pack

Milo was reluctant to move on from the stream each time we passed over or near it today.  One time, he and Mamacita couldn't wait to get in as we walked along a rock face that was raised above it by a couple feet, and they both slid down into the water.  Rucksack and Roger Roger joined them when we went a little further up where the water level met the rock level.  Benny went off the trail after his nose at one point when he came upon something inter...

Adventure Pack

Milo took a particular interest in a young German Shepherd mix we passed by a couple times on the trails today.  He sidled up to the pup and didn't want to leave him - or maybe he was just looking for an excuse to take a break.  Benny and Mamacita were both content with just a passing sniff.

Play Pack

We walked all around the perimeter of the park when we first arrived.  Brewster, Benny, and Coco all stuck pretty c...

Adventure Pack

Roger Roger found a big, long stick in the brush while we were waiting for a couple of his packmates to relieve themselves.  He gnawed on it while we waited and then tried to carry it along but it was far too big for him.  When we got to the stream, Sputnik went fishing for sticks in the water and pulled out some that were stuck under rocks.  Rucksack found a good chunk to carry and Roger Roger and Sputnik treid to steal it from him, but I told them ...

Adventure Pack

Milo got a face full of some kind of seed when he wandered through the brush early on during today's hike.  Later on, Thompson and Rucksack had the same, while Roger Roger managed to catch a bug in the curly fur on his snout.  A quick pet got rid of the seeds and I flicked the bug off of Roger Roger's nose for him.  Mamacita managed to stay clear of any clingers along the trail.

Play Pack

Benny and Sputnik both walked r...

Adventure Pack

Roger Roger and Sputnik started off the hike with a bit of wrestling when we paused to talk to a couple other hikers who asked about the dogs.  One was asking about the breeds of the packmembers and when I told her that Sputnik was part Rottweiler her friend immediately guessed his other half to be Blue Heeler.  As we made our way up the mountain, Oliver lingered behind, sniffing out interesting spots and leaving lots of scent marks.  Benny kept up r...