Leader of the Pack

Adventure Pack

Mamacita, Monarch, Coco, and Sputnik hit the trail together this morning.  It's mostly dried up now, though we still came across a couple stretches of ice and a few stretches of mud.  We did our best to avoid the muddiest spots, but Monarch and Sputnik both had some gunk for me to clean out from between their toes by the end of the hike.  Mamacita and Coco managed to keep their paws pretty clean.

Play Pack

Yoda met a Bo...

Adventure Pack

We had a pleasant hike this morning. It was a bit windy but otherwise very nice hiking weather. We headed off the trail to allow some distance for nice, calm passings of other dogs, and Sputnik, Coco, Mamacita, and Rucksack all behaved themselves very politely. About halfway through our hike, Rucksack took a sudden, affectionate interest in Mamacita. For the rest of the hike, he kept trying to cross over to her because, apparently, her ears and neck were in dir...

Adventure Pack

The trail was peaceful this morning.  Mamacita, Coco, and Sputnik hiked along pleasantly.  We moved off to the side of the trail a couple times to let other dogs pass, and it was enough distance for everyone to keep calm and happy.  I'm looking forward to when the layer of ice is finally melted, since it returned earlier this week.  Footing has been a bit precarious at times.

Play Pack

Coco, Colby, Ruffers, and Mam...

Adventure Pack

The pack was in a playful mood this morning.  When they first hopped out of the car at the trailhead, Coco bowed and hopped around Monarch.  As we made our way up the trail, Monarch and Sputnik made some playful leaps and dodges with each other.  Coco and Sputnik both settled into a steady pace eventually but Monarch had a playful bounce in her step throughout, exemplified by her leaping over a bush that was at the edge of the trail rather than falli...

Adventure Pack

Mamacita and Coco were both interested in chomping on snow from the patches left beside the trail.  Sputnik was more interested in sniffing and peeing on things than joining his packmates for a bite.  Mamacita and Sputnik both got pretty worked up about the first dog they saw at the trailhead, but we had calmer encounters with some distance when we came upon other dogs during the hike.

Play Pack

Ruffers and Colby were feelin...

Adventure Pack

Monarch and Clover both joined Coco and Sputnik in drinking water from the CamelBak spout during this morning's hike.  Clover is still a bit avoidant but she gave in and drank without too much of a fuss.  Monarch has been easier to coax into drinking, and once she got going she was happy to continue lapping it up for a long while, much as Sputnik.  Coco is happy to have a drink but typically decides she's done pretty quickly.  The trails are get...

Adventure Pack

Most of the ice on the trails has melted, aside from the the ascent to Shanahan Ridge from the Cragmoor Connector.  I made my way up carefully with the pack, and once we reached the crest it was much easier going.  Sputnik and Rucksack were both eager to get going and required frequent reminders to ease up and stick with the group.  Mamacita and Coco were both more interested in lingering to sniff spots as we passed them than to pull ahead to the nex...

Adventure Pack

Coco has been very excited to hike with her old friend Rucksack again, and she shows her enthusiasm by jumping all over him when they first get out of the packmobile at the trailhead.  I was surprised we didn't see more dogs on the trail now that the weather is more mild, but we only passed a couple during our hike.  I brought the pack off to the side of the trail both times and Sputnik and Mamacita both stayed calm as the other dogs went by, as did Rucks...

Adventure Pack

Monarch was feeling playful today and hopped around with both Sputnik and Clover at two different points during our hike.  Most of the ice that was coating the trails has sublimated, so it wasn't too slick.  However, the last stretch down the mountain was still pretty slippery so I cut the fun short when the three of them all started dodging around each other again.  Coco didn't join in for any hopping and dodging today.  When we stopped for a w...

Adventure Pack

Isaac joined Sputnik, Coco, and Mamacita on the trails today.  It was still pretty slick, though the ice in some areas had melted and a dusting of snow in other areas lended a little bit of friction to ice-covered stretches.  At one point in the hike, Mamacita started feeling very playful.  She bowed and leapt around Sputnik until she got him going.  As the two of them dodged around each other, Coco started taking notice and then joined in to ma...