The real voyage of discovery is not seeking new landscapes, but having new eyes. (Proust)
About Dogs!
OK, I admit it. I really love dogs. (And all other animals, too.) (And plants, and obviously even rocks...) I'm the kind of person who slams on the brakes to herd snakes off the pavement (or gravel). Even rattlesnakes.
The Mountaineers asked me to write this book--quite possibly because I was embarking on a second edition of Hiking Oregon's Geology, was going to take the dogs along, and had actually dedicated the first edition of Hiking Oregon's Geology to my dog--an Alaskan Malemute named Wolf.
This seemed a rational idea. At first. But trails that are good for dogs (shady, soft, with lots of water) are are different than trails attuned to geology (barren, rocky, dry). Geologic hikes are often not the best place for a dog, especially in the summer when most people (and their dogs) go hiking.
So that summer I did two sets of hikes--in some cases running the trails to be sure I had covered the ground. The dog hikes were duly hiked with dogs. On two especially sunny geology hikes, the dogs stayed home. We got the hikes done and the books written, and enjoyed every minute.
Kyla: A Border Collie (+ Lab?)
Dundee: Aussie (+ Pyrenees?)
Meesha: Rotty + Aussie meets Golden?
Kyla: Adopted through Border Collie Rescue. Always cheerful, but plagued by uncertainty and general sense of undeserved guilt. Possibly Catholic. Never lacks enthusiasm. Ready to go. Just not sure where.
Dundee: Adopted from Oregon Humane Society. Conflicted about whether to herd or guard. A soft touch. Always optimistic that his worst fears will be realized. Loves cheese above all else.
Meesha: Adopted from the Oregon Humane Society. Certified as Animal Assisted Therapy Dog. Knows she is smarter than her woefully inadequate human staff.
ANOTHER GREAT DOG HIKE! Salmon Butte Trail: A good Fall walk before the snow flies. Distance: 8.5 miles. Trailhead Elev: 2000 ft. Top Elev: 4800 feet Mostly shaded, but this time of year, who cares about shade? Starts 35 miles east of Portland (Take Hwy 26 to ZigZag, turn south on Salmon River Road. Drive for 6.5 miles to trailhead. The first 1.5 miles are relatively flat. Then you'll encounter an increasing grade and switchbacks. Tops out with view of Jeferson and Hood, if you climb the whole 2800 feet and hike the full 8.5 miles. FIND HIKE ON GOOGLE MAPS
