We can’t emphasize the importance of looking out for your best friend during this summer heat! From our friend at About.com, here are some quick tips. For more information, read our 3-part series.
If your dog is showing the first signs of heat exhaustion, rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, the first thing you must do is remove him from the confining area. Nine times out of ten, heat exhaustion occurs while the dog is confined, whether it is in a car, crate, or doghouse.
Take the dog to shade, and soak him with cool water. Do NOT use extremely cold or iced water. This will cause blood vessels to constrict and will stop the heat from escaping.
You can apply ice packs to the areas underneath his front legs, and to the groin area for rapid blood cooling. Give your dog enough water to wet his mouth and throat, but do NOT allow your dog to drink copious amounts!
Take your dog’s temperature, this is done anally to get the most accurate reading.
Prepare your dog for transport to the nearest emergency animal clinic.
Do NOT cover your dog, even with a cold towel. This will prevent the heat from escaping.
Do NOT place him back in his crate, but keep him with you, with windows down and air conditioning on high, to allow evaporation which will aid in the cooling process.
Yes, there is also a danger that dog can become too cold. Monitor the temperatures and stop the cooling process as soon as your dog’s temperature reads normally again.
Continue on the vet’s, your dog is not saved yet!
Lake Anna State Park, Virginia
Time: Overnight camping, short trails
Length: Lots of options
Gear: The usual camping gear
Difficulty: 1 paws
Scenery: 4 paws
Pack: Camping is more fun with a friend!
This past weekend, our OBH pack explored Lake Anna which is one of Virginia’s fabulous state parks. The name is probably a dead give-away, but the campsite is located at one end of Lake Anna which is a large and busy lake, especially in the summer.
We arrived Friday evening and set up in time for some delicious guacamole and chips – yum – and even had time to take the dogs for a short walk as the sun was disappearing. The park has 11 trails covering 15 miles so obviously they are short but can be combined for longer treks. From the park information we learned there are a few more difficult options but we found them to be easy and straightforward.
The campsites are on pea-sized river rock that does create a nice, clean area for setting up and sleeping. HOWEVER, you might want to bring dog boots for your pup! The stones seem to irritate their feet – not at the pad, but up in their feet. One minute they were fine but suddenly Saturday night both Karma and Cannon were walking as if on eggshells. OUCH!
Our weather was 100-degree-hot! And zero breeze! For this we were grateful for the many water opportunities! On Saturday we grabbed our camp chairs and took the Railroad Ford Trail to its tip where we found a little section of water where the dogs could be off-leash (technically a no-no and by the way the hosts at the campground are pretty serious about this!) and play in the water. The boys were in heaven! We hung out for a couple hours – long enough for Karma to learn to really swim and for Cannon to get in deep enough to take a few strokes.
The campground itself had some really nice amenities – bathrooms, showers, place for washing dishes – but sadly by Saturday night the toilets stopped working. Good thing we were in the woods – ha! We also were fortunate enough to have a site meant for campers with full electricity and running water – great for doing dishes. That night we had an amazing dinner of Arctic Char, grilled veggies and marshmallows (of course!) and slept under a full moon.
On Sunday morning, the dogs still were walking on eggshells, the bathrooms hadn’t been magically fixed overnight and it was 90 degrees by 9a. We decided it was too hot to do anything, especially since we had no way to get the dogs to the lake without using their feet! So we packed it up and went home early, having had a wonderful weekend.
This is the third and final blog in our “beating the heat” series. Be safe out there!!
There are ways you can prevent heat stroke from happening in the first place.
- NEVER leave your dog alone in the car on a warm day, regardless of whether the windows are open. Even if the weather outside is not extremely hot, the inside of the car acts like an oven – temperatures can rise to dangerously high levels in a matter of minutes.
- Avoid vigorous exercise on warm days. When outside, opt for shady areas.
- Keep fresh cool water available at all times.
- Certain types of dogs are more sensitive to heat – especially obese dogs and brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds, like Pugs and Bulldogs. Use extreme caution when these dogs are exposed to heat.
Some dogs can recover fully from heat stroke if it is caught early enough. Others suffer permanent organ damage and require lifelong treatment. Sadly, many dogs do not survive heat stroke. Prevention is the key to keeping your dog safe during warmer weather.
This is a continuation of our three-part series on protecting your dog in the heat. Here are some actions you can take if you suspect your dog is in crisis.
If you have even the slightest suspicion that your dog is suffering from heat stoke, you must take immediate action.
1. First, move your dog out of the heat and away from the sun right away.
2. Begin cooling your dog by placing cool, wet rags or washcloths on the body – especially the foot pads and around the head.
3. DO NOT use ice or very cold water! Extreme cold can cause the blood vessels to constrict, preventing the body’s core from cooling and actually causing the internal temperature to further rise. In addition, over-cooling can cause hypothermia, introducing a host of new problems. When the body temperature reaches 103°, stop cooling.
4. Offer your dog cool water, but do not force water into your dog’s mouth.
5. Call or visit your vet right away – even if your dog seems better. Internal damage might not be obvious to the naked eye, so an exam is necessary (and further testing may be recommended).
Tip: recruit others to help you – ask someone to call the vet while others help you cool your dog.
In preparing for our upcoming camping trip I again went to the wonders of the Web to remind me of signs of heat stroke since my mountain dog is particularly heat sensitive (understatement!!).
And I realized that sometimes you just can’t write something any better than someone else already has done. In this case, thanks to About.com and Jenna Stregowski, RVT for helping us understand avoid heat problems!
To make this blog-friendly, I have broken this article into sections. Please forward to your friends and remember that the safety of our dogs is more important than our desire for a long walk or day in the sun!!!
What is Hyperthermia?
Hyperthermia is a term describing an elevation in body temperature. This increase typically occurs as a response to a trigger, such as inflammation in the body or a hot environment. When a dog is exposed to high temperatures, heat stroke or heat exhaustion can result. Heat stroke is a very serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. Once the signs of heat stroke are detected, there is precious little time before serious damage – or even death – can occur.
Dogs do not sweat through their skin like humans – they release heat primarily by panting and they sweat through the foot pads and nose. If a dog cannot effectively expel heat, the internal body temperature begins to rise. Once the dog’s temperature reaches 106°, damage to the body’s cellular system and organs may become irreversible. Unfortunately, too many dogs succumb to heat stroke when it could have been avoided. Learn how to recognize the signs of heat stroke and prevent it from happening to your dog.
Signs of Heat Stroke
The following signs may indicate heat stroke in a dog:
- Increased rectal temperature (over 104° requires action, over 106° is a dire emergency)
- Vigorous panting
- Dark red gums
- Tacky or dry mucus membranes (specifically the gums)
- Lying down and unwilling (or unable) to get up
- Collapse and/or loss of consciousness
- Thick saliva
- Dizziness or disorientation
With spring little less than a month away I’m already planning my first hikes and camping trips of 2010. Still, warm weather can’t be here soon enough! This is why I recommend pulling your tent out and setting it up indoors. Sound crazy?
A few weeks ago I did just this. Setup was pretty easy since my Marmot Limelight 3 tent has a rainfly and footprint that can setup without the tent. This is meant to be used in warm weather camping and in Virginia it doesn’t get any warmer in winter than indoors at 72 degrees. Cannon got really excited when he saw me pull the tent polls out. And I gotta admit that having only used my tent a couple times, I got excited when I got a whiff of that new tent smell! The moment I go the ten setup my 80lb Ridgey was wandering around inside, waiting for me to get the sleeping bag laid down.
I made a couple small modification to this camping trip. I set the tent up over the rug in my living room to give me some extra cushion. I unzipped my sleeping bag and laid it out across the entire sleeping pad and then stacked a couple down comforters on top. We camped right in front of the tv and watched the olymipcs… it was fantastic!!!
For some extra ambiance to the night I made indoor smores. Graham crackers, Hershey’s chocolate bar and fluff – just put it in the microwave for 7 to 12 seconds and you’re all set.
Now, I’ve been thinking – for those of you who haven’t done any tent camping with your dog, this would be a fantastic way to give it a test run. You can get your pup used to sleeping in the tent and see if he’s gonna try to sneak in your sleeping bag with you. Tip – sometimes dogs can pace around the tent a lot the first time they’re all zipped up in there with you. Don’t be alarmed, this is typical. Just relax and give him some time to get used to it. If you relax then he should relax and be curled up next to you in no time.
If you’ve got any tips on how to make a bigger better indoor camping experience then we’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment here and share your tips and/or stories!
It’s been snowing here in Virginia already this year and yet I can’t help but think forward to camping season. And as everyone knows, to do camping right means having the right gear! So that got me thinking … What are some of my favorite camping and hiking items for my dog?
Karma loves his travel bed from Canine Hardware and I love that it comes with its own stuff sack. It’s machine washable and has poly suede on one side and rip stop on the bottom. I found it at Back Country K9 which has great gear of all kings for your traveling adventures.
Though we usually car camp, I still pack Karma’s gear in his own backpack from Ruff Wear. In the off season, I also use it for an occasional work out for him by adding just a couple pounds of weight on either side, making sure to keep the weight evenly distributed.
Finally, depending on the terrain you will be crossing, boots can be another must have item. Last year Karma got frostbite from playing in the snow too long and that resulted in us purchasing some Muttluks snow boots. We also bought some all-purpose boots for the summer for when the terrain takes a toll on his feet.
What better to put in a stocking than boots? Ha!
Got a question about your nearby national park? Good news, The National Park Service has created this great site to provide all kinds of guidance and answers to your questions: Oh Ranger!
The site has videos like “How can I stay safe in bear country,” links to all the national parks, featured parks and pretty much all the answers to your park questions.
I used the search tool and entered my zip code with the parameters of within 25 miles. 100 results showed up – 100! Fantastic! A Google-powered map pops up and it’s easy to see which results are close to home. From either the map or the list below you can click on a park to learn more. Keep in mind that the park service often covers the museums so in the DC area you will see some of those listed as well.
When I searched on a specific park – this time Shenandoah National Park, a favorite of OBH – a ton of information came up. I actually like this site better than the national park service’s site for the same park. The Oh Ranger! site is much more friendly and fun to navigate and has all the same information and more. The best part is, under Shenandoah Regulations link on the left, they specify where pets are and are not allowed in the park! Yay!
So not only do you need to bookmark this site, you also need to watch the bear video – it’s both educational and fun! If you do, the title of this post will make sense!
Shenandoah National Park – Central District – Big Meadows
Time: 48 hours (camping + hike)
Length: Big Meadows hike is variable
Gear: your usual weekend gear
Difficulty Level: 1 paw
Scenery: 3 paws
Pack: You and your dog or a whole pack
This past weekend the OBH crew again headed west to the Shenandoah National Park for a weekend of camping at Big Meadows (mile 51.2).
Karma and I were able to leave a few hours ahead of Cannon and Katina who were stuck at their day jobs until the week’s official end. No matter, it gave Karma and I a chance to set up and open the wine before their arrival.
Karma has a broken toe and the vet’s instructions are to keep him resting – no agility class, no playing, no running, no hiking – so we altered our plan for the weekend and did not include our normal big, three-hour hike. Instead we mostly hung out at camp and had a delightful weekend.
We had stayed at the Big Meadows campground in July and again we scored one of the walk-up sites since we didn’t have a reservation. It seems it was a good thing I got there early because the campgrounds filled up. I also learned that you could leave a note for your friend on the message board at registration in case you have to communicate your campsite. (Not knowing this, I used the payphones to let Katina know where we were.)
When Katina and Cannon arrived, they set up their new, fabulous tent and then attention turned to dinner which was grilled chicken that had been marinating all day. Yum. We stayed up later than usual catching up while the dogs hung out (mostly) on their tie-outs.
The next morning we made breakfast burritos and hot chocolate as the weather definitely had a fall feeling to it. We then spent the morning telling stories and finally took the dogs to the Big Meadow after lunch. We could tell they were ready for their adventure!
The Big Meadow is actually on the east side of Skyline Drive or opposite the entrance to Big Meadows campgrounds. We loaded the dogs into my SUV and drove to the parking lot for the meadow only because of Karma’s toe. I imagine it would take about 15 minutes one-way to walk.
One at the meadow, it really is as the guidebook describes: there are multiple paths and you just wander until you are ready to go back. There are 134 acres of meadow and what struck me was how much the meadow changed throughout the walk. It was really beautiful in a really subtle way.
Because we had to do a more laid back weekend, Katina thought that we should make it a photo weekend and we did just that. We made a concerted effort to really notice everything around us –the monarch chrysalis hanging near the restrooms; the small moments with the dogs at camp; the variety of plants that inhabited the meadow.
After about 45 minutes we headed back to the car. Back at camp I iced Karma’s foot while Cannon snuggled up under a blanket as the day cooled off. Katina made an amazing Jambalaya and dessert was the classic s’mores with hot chocolate. Cannon elected to curl up in his warm car while Karma was thrilled with the fall-like air. Silly dogs.
In the morning we ate a leisurely breakfast and took our time breaking down camp, ever aware this may be our last overnight trip of the season.
I am not a vet nor have I ever played one on TV. This is important because you should always take your vet’s advice over mine. Always. That said, I do have some tips and advice to share about making sure you are prepared when you head out on your next adventure.
One argument for always hiking with a buddy – I actually mean a person, not just your dog – is in case of serious injury to you or your dog, there is someone who can go for help. I am not a paranoid person, but it is possible that someone sustains an injury that keeps him or her from hopping out of the woods on his/her own. Also, I have a big dog and I only outweigh him by (ahem) 20 pounds so carrying him anywhere is out of the question!
So in my day pack at all times is the first aid kit from Ruff Wear. It comes with a first aid booklet and let me say, the first time you read this should NOT be on the trail when you need it! Know what information and materials it contains before you head out – you may even want to add to it.
For instance, recently I had to make a muzzle out of an old T-shirt in order to examine Karma’s foot. It worked great and I learned two things: 1) Karma is more the biting type than the submissive type when he’s hurt and 2) the T-shirt worked great. (I cut a 4” strip off the bottom of a cotton T-shirt in one long strip all the way around. I then applied the center of the strip to the top of Karma’s muzzle, then crossed it under his muzzle then wrapped it up behind his ears where I tied it around the high part of his neck.)
You should also have a little kit of other necessities that are more specific to your dog in a waterproof baggie. Karma’s contains Pepto Bismol, K9 aspirin, a tick remover (or tweezers) and that stretchy & sticky bandage stuff known by a brand name of Vetwrap made by 3M. (Be careful with this wonderful invention as you can easily pull it too tight and cause a different problem than the one you’re tying to solve. Practice on yourself to see how it feels it you’ve never used it!)
I also just read about another 3M product – Pet Care Spray-On Liquid Bandage to use on split or cut paw pads. I am definitely going to pick up a bottle of this.
Dog “booties” are another thing to have on hand. On our last hike, Karma started out great, but by the end of 3+ miles and several rock scrambles, a rear foot was hurting him. Dogs have to build up the toughness on their pads just like we would if we suddenly went from walking on grass and sidewalks to gravel. Be sure you are checking their feet throughout the hike and looking for signs of stress.
Finally, I picked up a great book that also comes with a DVD. Dog First Aid by the American Red Cross is a great reference book and video. This is a great reference for every dog owner and covers topics from giving your dog medications all the way to choking and serious injuries. Within the book it also has little disc icons that refer you to the included DVD for more information.
Got a first aid tip to share? Tell us!
Shenandoah National Park – Central District – Big Meadows
Time: 48+ hours
Gear: Camping checklist!
Difficulty Level: 1 paw
Scenery: 3 paws
Pack: You and your dog or a whole pack
We set out in the afternoon on Friday, putting us just ahead of the DC traffic on 66 heading west. Our destination was the Big Meadows campground in the central district of Shenandoah National Park and this time we showed up without a reservation as the “reserved” spots were already taken.
Most campgrounds set aside so many spots for “walk-ups” and we were told there were more than 60 of those available on a first come, first serve basis. Our home for the next two nights would be close to the amenities – bathroom, shower, host camper, entrance, small store and even a “restaurant” of sorts touting its fried chicken. I was worried it would be a busy spot in such a large campground but it turned out to be great.
Learning our lesson from our previous trip, we parked the cars and took the dogs for a leisurely hour-long walk all around the campground. Truth be told, we didn’t completely read our guide and thought we were heading toward the actual meadow but instead walked in and around the amphitheatre, picnic areas, cabins, trails and campgrounds. Regardless, mission accomplished, the dogs were happy to settle in – mostly.
Once back, we set up our site with all the trimmings. I had made great progress since our last adventure and now had a dedicated bin that was packed with all things kitchen-related including a red-checkered tablecloth, tinware plates and cloth napkins. All reusable and the tinware pieces were found in an antique store so all eco-friendly. I mean, why should we live like savages?
Dinner was a 5-cheese penne made by Katina and heated up on our fabulous grill. Of course there was a lovely cabernet to go along. When you think about how to pack your cooler and eat your foods in the order in which they might perish, you don’t have to survive on spaghetti and peanut butter (not that there’s anything wrong with that.).
The only downside in the evening was our inability to start a proper fire. I even brought fire starter thingies and still we gave up. We did not bring enough newspaper nor did we have kindling or twigs and so no toasted marshmallows for us.
The weather was fantastic and aided a great night of sleep. In the morning it was bacon and eggs to fuel our big hike. The dogs of course we among the earlier risers in the campground and so we were up and about early.
After our hike, everyone was tired and ready to lounge. Katina, Cannon and I took our places in the sun while Karma napped behind a car in the shade. Once the sun moved to take that shade away, we created some for him by stringing Katina’s rain fly between the tree and picnic table. Not the most elegant of solutions, but it worked – note to self: bring shade!
And then, late afternoon it rained. Hard. Katina and Cannon took to her car and Karma and I took to our tent. Unfortunately for Katina, Cannon had broken a key zipper earlier that day that was now letting water inside resulting in a wet sleeping bag and pad – ugh.
The rain stopped for a few hours – long enough to have a nice dinner, build a successful fire and dry out some of Katina’s things. But the wind picked up and embers were flying in every campsite. Cannon got cold and begged to curl up in his car but Karma was happy with the cooler temps and I just had to make sure one of the embers didn’t catch him on fire!
The rain started again just in time for lights out and Katina and Cannon decided against the tent and took to my SUV instead. (She has since purchased a new tent!) The wind was incredible that night – even Karma got a little nervous as to how much our tent was swaying!
The morning brought brief periods of non-rain and so we packed in between the drops and headed out earlier than planned. We had wanted to actually find that big meadow but decided not to wait around for the weather to clear and so we headed home. And yes, the weather ended up being beautiful!
I honestly don’t remember how old the dogs were – it’s one of the details I have erased from my memory – but Cannon wasn’t yet a year old and I’m pretty sure it was winter. Katina and I got the idea to pack up the cars and head to Canaan Valley in West Virginia for some great hiking and a night of cabin “camping.”
The plan was sound and we were ambitious, including laptops and games in our gear – we were going to accomplish so much! Once at the cabin it must have taken us four trips each to unload our respective cars. We were prepared!
It should be stated that this was the first time the dogs were together for an extended period of time. It is also important to note that Cannon was sporting a bandage on his foot that was protecting an injury that needed to stay clean. Also important to share is that Katina and I were rookies even though we had owned dogs before.
The two intact males started to play upon our arrival and we were constantly trying to intervene (mistake). We would let them go for a while but when it escalated beyond the point we thought was appropriate, we reprimanded and separated (futile). Meanwhile Cannon’s bandage was constantly falling off causing Katina to take him back to the bedroom and try, try again to wrap his foot in just the right way. This, too, was unsuccessful.
At one point we built a fire in the large fireplace and though the flue was open, smoke filled the cabin. After some time we figured out how to position the fire in the fireplace so as to minimize the soot in the air, but only after we opened the doors and windows and put on a layer of fleece. The dogs were unfazed.
Then there was the time when in an effort to separate the dogs, Katina tied Cannon to a chair while Karma lay panting on the kitchen floor. Cannon drug the chair down the hall after Katina getting it caught and scaring himself. Clearly that didn’t work.
Somehow we managed to make dinner and of course drink the wine but no games were played and little work was accomplished. Karma was up all night sniffing at the door and moving about the small room hoping that any minute Cannon would appear and the wrestling match would resume. Not much sleep for me.
In the morning it must have taken us 45 minutes to make bacon and eggs. I think Katina re-bandaged Cannon a few times and Karma played the role of instigator. We tried to take the dogs for a walk but with Cannon’s bandage constantly sliding off, all we got in was a lap around the cabins. Needless to say we were exhausted and we made our eight trips to the car and stopped by the conference center on our way out. By my memory the smoothest part of the trip was when we stopped at Pizza Hut on our way home. Mmmmmm, pizza.
Thankfully, the next time the dogs met for a playdate – this time at my house – we let them have the run of the lower level and we went upstairs, letting them figure it out all on their own. Without our constant fretting and intervening, the dogs figured it out. Imagine that!
P.S. Cannon went to the vet on Monday for a follow up visit. Turns out the bandage could have come off over the weekend without hurting his foot. Great.
Shenandoah National Park – North District – Elkswallow Wayside.
Just in case you forgot something when hiking, camping or just visiting the North District of the SNP, at mile 24.1 is the Elkswallow Wayside.
The Wayside is open from mid-April through fall and sells a large variety of goods in a compact space: Souvenirs, beer, wine, groceries, fuel and most importantly, firewood (remember, you cannot bring your own firewood into the park and it’s often tough to scavenge enough dry wood for a good fire!). They also have a lunch counter/deli and ice cream – a great treat for a hot day!
There is also a picnic area, staff to answer questions and a few items of clothing in case the weather changes or you need a clean, dry T-shirt!
Shenandoah National Park – North District – Matthew’s Arm
Time: Overnight
Gear: Camping checklist!
Difficulty Level: 1 paw
Scenery: 3 paws
Pack: You and your dog or a whole pack
OK, maybe “horribly” is a slight exaggeration. But let’s just say our nerves were as frayed as the ends of the 12’ web leash that Karma snapped two minutes after our arrival to our camp site at Matthew’s Arm.
But I’m getting ahead of my story, and a proper story should be told correctly.
Katina and I had decided on a quick one-night camping excursion at a site that had treated us well last year. Matthew’s Arm is about 22 miles in from the north entrance to the park. It has full bathrooms, several nearby trails and the Elkwallow Wayside store is just a few miles away for our firewood run (remember, you can’t bring your own firewood into the park).
Our little group arrived to our campsite sometime between three and four on Saturday afternoon. Our chosen site – Katina made the reservations online – was next to a couple with two dogs, one of whom seemed particularly annoyed with us, barking aggressively. Hmmm, not a great start.
So I did what I usually do, I tied Karma to the (small) tree on our site and turned to unpack the car. And suddenly, guess who’s standing next to me? Karma effortlessly broke his cotton-web long line and was now grinning wildly in front of me. When I tried to put him back in the car, he had a little tantrum that coincided with the neighboring camper with the angry dog wanting to come over to have the dogs meet. Ugh. Katina thankfully shooed her away and I wrestled Karma into the car. Whew. I was tired already. Meanwhile Cannon was patiently but excitedly waiting in his car – good boy!
So we decided to take the dogs for a quick lap around the campground to try to get the edge off our excited dogs. This lap would later prove to be not enough as we spent a good bit of the evening and next morning breaking up aggressive play among the two BFFs.
We did switch sites when we returned from our walk. Because there were open sites around us, Katina went back to the ranger station and asked to switch to a site we had noticed was empty – no problem. Our new site was against the woods and a group of boys we dubbed “Lord of the Flies” kept walking through the corner of our site in their quest for firewood. At least it gave the dogs something to agree upon – they barked and lunged in their direction every time.
When Karma busted his long line I was forced to loop three leashes together to create a decent tie out. Well – you guessed it – on one of the (last) times the Lord of the Flies crossed through the site, Karma busted another leash and met the kid at the wood’s exit. I give the kid credit, he just stood there while a hundred pounds of fur barked in his face. Ugh!
At some point before this we had opened the wine. We don’t usually drink that much, but the bottle was gone with the evening.
Oh but the fun doesn’t end there! The dogs continued to play too hard and we took turns breaking them up. They managed to break Cannon’s prong collar, at one point getting stuck together like two kids with braces. Finally, Cannon ended up in the car so we could have some peace. Oh, they also stole pieces of wood from each other, resulting in the line of the day from Katina: “It’s like buying your kid a 2×4 for Christmas.” She was right, sticks are not toys.
So finally after I ate my weight in marshmallows and Katina and I had enough, we crawled into our tents for the evening. Karma and I went quickly to sleep although some noisy campers partied late and loud into the night. Katina on the other hand ended up sleeping in her car because her sleeping bag and tent weren’t keeping them warm. Both she and Cannon (somehow) managed to curl up in the back seat of her Cavalier. She awoke to the Lord of the Flies boys staring right at her.
And so it was morning. Once Katina unfolded herself from the backseat, the dogs were ready to go – literally – and Karma drug me out of the tent after Cannon had poked his nose in to see if we were up. I was up!
At this point, Cannon is limping and Karma is pooping mulch (not kidding!) from all the wood he apparently ate the night before. A short walk nearly puts Katina in a rocky stream as Cannon decided to cross without warning. I still don’t know how she did it – in less than a second she bounded across athletically and was standing in front of me on the other side! Wow.
The dogs walked back to the site in an orderly fashion and Cannon went back into the car so as not to further injure his foot (he was fine by Monday). The original plan included a long hike this morning but that was now out of the question. Plus I had re-injured a rib so I was a mess, too. We ate one of Katina’s great breakfasts, packed and were out of the site at noon – check out time.
We survived!
As a result, we have some hints, suggestions, reminders:
- Bring extra dog tie outs! Same goes for anything else you can’t live without!
- Don’t forget you will have to buy firewood in the park because you can’t bring it in with you.
- Speaking of fire, bring newspaper or other fire starters to help the process along.
- Make campsite reservations but know that you probably can switch if your chosen site doesn’t have a tree or is next to a barking dog!
- Know that if you choose a site near a bathroom, you will get foot traffic – it’s a tradeoff so decide what’s more important to you.
- Your food must be locked up in your car if you leave your site. If you leave it out, the rangers will take your food and leave you with a note. You get the food back of course, but you have to go get it from them.
- Be nice to the rangers and all volunteers and staff you meet along the way – they make the park what it is! Say “thank you.”
- And remember, sticks aren’t toys! Bring something for your dog to do.
