Snakes are out, is your dog safe?

I'm starting to see more and more snakes out and about, now that the weather has warmed up.  Conversations with other dog folks have turned to snakes and dogs on the trail.  Recently, a couple of people have asked me about the rattlesnake vaccine.  I have to confess that I really don't know that much about it, but generally I try not to give extra shots to my dogs.  My dogs have all had snake aversion training and, for me anyway, that's enough.  However, my hiking buddy has also taken all of her dogs through snake aversion training and she also makes use of the vaccine.

There are some good arguments for getting the vaccine and they can be found at this FAQ.  This article by the  UC-Davis School of Veterinary medicine presents some things to think about when considering whether or not to give your dog the vaccine.

Copeland Mine Road Hike

Our most recent hike is one of my favorite short hikes in the Gila National Forest.  When I need to get the dogs out and I'm not really feeling like a strenuous excursion, I just load everybody up and we quickly head down to Copeland Mine Road.

It's an unmaintained 4x4 road in the Burro mountains, not too far from the Continental Divide Trail.  Usually, no one else is there and the dogs can run and chase lizards to their heart's content.  I generally do a short loop of the road that ends up being maybe a mile and a half, but if I'm feeling energetic there are all sorts of possiblities with this road and it can even be a nice long meandering hike as the road connects with other trails in the forest, and exploring side canyons is always an option.

There's no water available on this trail, but once the monsoons start there are plenty of puddles for the dogs to cool off in.

The trail is generally shady and comfortable, for both man and beast, making it a favorite summer jaunt.  In the winter, however, I tend to avoid this trail because the ease of accessibility makes it attractive to trappers, and after one of the dogs encountered a trap, I just decided to avoid the area during trapping season.

Ft Bayard, Dragonfly Trail

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One of the great things about the Silver City area is that there are so many really great trails. One gold mine of trail networks is Fort Bayard. Just off of Arenas Valley road there is a parking area and trailhead that is barely off of the blacktop. This is where the pack of Labs and Tollers met for a great short hike on Dragonfly trail to Twin Sisters Creek. This is a relatively high traffic trail area, so be mindful of horse and bike riders as well as other hikers you may run into.  Petroglyphs along this loop make the hike attractive to many people, but access to water is what we like even more.

There are many trails within this area.  The Gila National Forest also has a nice trail information page, along with a downloadable PDF map of the area

We did meet some horseback riders at the trailhead, but they were loading up as we were getting ready to head out. Other than that no one else shared the trail with us.

Ceilidh had the best time on this hike.  At ten, she is still quite active, but doesn't run around as much as the young dogs.  This trail was easy enough that she was pulling at the leash as much as the younger dogs, and running around like a puppy at times.

This is a great place for late fall, winter, and spring hikes, but can be a little warm in the summer.  The hike starts out in dry open juniper country and then works its way down to the creekbed where cottonwoods and water are a welcome relief for thirsty dogs.  Another great thing about this area is that the trail itself doesn't seem to have that many stickers along it, though there are cockle burrs in areas where there is water.

Once the trail hits the creek bed if you turn left  there is a great swimming hole not too far up the bed where even after nine weeks of no moisture of any kind there was enough depth for the Labs to do more than just wade.  If you turn right, the trail will loop around past the petroglyph site, and eventually make it back to the trailhead.

Mater showed off his water entry skills by getting big air and jumping in over and over. Pete had a blast as well, moving rocks off the bottom, swimming and generally enjoying being wet, despite the harassment from Jed.

The Tollers enjoyed the water as well. Everyone took advantage of the chance to go for a swim. Even Sue, who normally doesn't like cold water, went for a swim around the hole.  All of the Tollers screamed for sticks to be thrown into the water for fetching.

Along the way we ran across lots of elk tracks but no elk.  The dogs did manage to flush a couple of cottontails, which made for a fun chase, though the retrievers weren't anywhere near fast enough to actually capture one.

Merry Christmas!

Dogs first encounter with hot, hot, hot sand

I took the dogs and some kids up to the Turkey Creek area on the Gila River for a nice river hike on a hot weekend. We ran into an unexpected obstacle for the dogs, really hot powdery soft sand.

I parked the truck about 75 yards from the water's edge and we had to walk from the truck to the river before we could get going on our hike. When I first let the dogs out they ran of like crazy fools so I had to whistle them back in and leash them up until we got to the river.

Once on leash and walking at a slower pace the dogs started fussing and checking their feet like they were picking up stickers or getting bitten by ants. Turns out the sand was really, really hot on their pads. I hadn't even considered that happening. Luckily it was just a short walk and there was enough vegitation for the dogs to get some relief on the way. Once down at the river all was well. I'm going to file this experience away so that it doesn't happen to us again. Usually on our hikes, because of the time of day or year, we don't run into sand that is this hot.

First River Hike of the Season

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On Monday, the dogs and I joined our hiking buddy Bonnie and her Labs, Pete and Jed, for a casual hike down the Gila River. My dogs spend a lot of time on the Gila either hiking or hunting, but it had been a while since we had been out for some serious exercise. They were ready for some off-leash, out of the yard, recreation. There were many lizards to chase and the current in the river was still pretty strong, so water retrieves required a good bit of effort on the part of the dogs.

The dogs also had a blast chasing whiptail lizards. They never catch them, but sure do enjoy the chase. Ranger optimistically tried digging the little critters out.



All in all it was a great afternoon with enough exercise to wear the dogs out for a day or two.

If you are planning a hike in the area that involves any river crossings, at this point the current is still pretty strong. The water level has fallen from spring runoff highs, so navigation is not as difficult as it was in April, but still requires taking care and paying attention. The deepest channels we crossed on our hike were about 4 feet or so and not too wide. The smaller dogs had to really work hard crossing the river when we were going upstream, but all were able to make all crossings without any help.



The dogs were not intimidated by the current at all. All were willing to fetch as many times as sticks and other objects were thrown with no hesitation.

Saddlerock Canyon

Saddlerock Hike

Last Sunday, we loaded up the dogs and went out for a jaunt off of Saddlerock Canyon road. Most of the hiking was spent just meandering around off the beaten trail. It was great to get out, the weather was great and a good time was had by all.

Follow the Buddy System

On Friday, after six days of being missing in sub freezing weather in the Gila National Forest, 67-year-old El Pasoan, Robert Sumrall was found barely conscious, but alive, thanks to the help of Zulu, his lab mix dog and hiking buddy. When found, Zulu was lying on top of Sumrall's body. I'm sure that without the extra body heat from the dog Sumrall would now be dead.

Zulu, who ran off when rescuers approached Sumrall, is still missing and is now the new focus of search and rescue teams. Hopefully she will be found alive and well soon.

All of this brings to mind that old rule about the buddy system. I often hike solo with just my dogs for company, but I never hike solo without my dogs. Do the dogs qualify under the buddy system rule, I wonder, or should I be rounding up human friends to come along on my jaunts? Probably a little of both. Recent lost hiker stories have gotten me thinking about how safe I am in the woods. My self-assessment has turned up some risky behavior.

I often hike with just the dogs for company. I also often go for hikes without letting anyone know where I'm headed or that I'm headed out at all. Maybe it's time for a change.

Barn Owl-Shot of the hike

The dogs flushed this critter on our evening hike yesterday. They chased it for two laps around the canyon which was enough time for me to get a great shot as it passed by with my new "nifty 50" lens.

Boston Hill Trails

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Boston Hill is a unique place. It seems vast even though it is quite finite. It's an area which used to be an old Silver Mining site which is a maze of trenches left over from miners following silver veins with shovels and dynamite. The trenches, which were left behind, offer a unique rather easy hiking experience right within the city limits of Silver City, New Mexico.

There are three entrances that I know of to this rocky wonderland: between the High Desert Humane Society and the Catholic Cemetery on Cooper Street, on Market street near its intersection with highway 180, and on the bypass road which connects hwys 180 and 90. All three are easily accessible from paved roads.


Dogs hiking in this area are required to be on leash and under control, though that doesn't necessarily mean that they are. There isn't a reliable source of water available here, so if you're planning to explore at any length, you're going to want to bring water for yourself and your dog. Another thing to watch out for in this area is the wildlife. Last year there were multiple instances of rabid fox in the area, so it's not a good place to hike with an unvaccinated animal and wildlife encounters should be avoided if possible.

Gila River Trail Hike

Gila River Hike

Yesterday, we loaded up the truck with retrievers took a much needed trip to the river for hours of fun and about six miles of hiking up and down the Gila River Trail. The dogs and humans had a blast. Once again, we took along our Lab buddies, Pete and Jed, as well as their owner, Bonnie.

The drive to the trail had the truck exhibiting more than a couple of new rattles, but it hung together and we all made it there safe and sound.

Jed and the girls started out the hike demonstrating their agility by climbing a sycamore tree, then all the dogs got down to the serious business of playing in the river. The girls were in fishing mode, while Pete concentrated on picking up rocks from the bottom and carrying them to the bank. Jed was on critter patrol and unfortuantely for all involved, he did manage to find a skunk towards the end of the hike. Thank goodness the dogs were not riding home in the cab of the vehicle!

Everywhere you turned there was another stunning scene. The colors were lush and the landscape breathtaking. All of the cacti were blooming and we were treated to a spectacular sunset.

Lake Roberts Swim and Evening Walks

Last Friday, I loaded the girls into the pickup and headed out for the Gila. There wasn't really a plan, we were just looking for a good place to hike. We saw lots of flowers growing on trees/bushes along the way. I was actually thinking about going to Sheep Corral Canyon, but the truck pulling a horse trailer in front of us turned down that road and I really wasn't in the mood to share a trail, so we kept going. All of the campgrounds along the way had at least two campsites set up, so we kept driving...

We ended up at Lake Roberts. Even on a weekday the summer crowds were filling the campgrounds. This time of the year if you're looking for solitude Lake Roberts isn't the place to be, but the girls were really up for a swim so I headed for the parking lot near the boat ramp. Luckily we were able to find a semi secluded inlet where I could toss a bumper for the girls to fetch in the lake without disturbing any fishermen. The girls had a blast! They really needed to get out and do something.

Now, since I've been slaving away at work and the girls are left to their own devices most days, I'm making an effort to get them out for an evening walk around the neighborhood. I have a new "tangle-free" leash which allows me to have both dogs on one handle that attaches to two leashes with a swivel d-ring. It sort of reminds me of a really heavy duty piece of fishing tackle. It allows the girls to get out to the end of the leash and twist and twirl around each other without staying tangled, as the swivel immediately untwists the two leashes.

We're enjoying our little evening jaunts, even if they aren't hikes per se. The nights are still pretty cool around here, so it's refreshing and it is getting me away from the laptop and outside getting my pulse up.

Springtime in the Gila National Forest

For those who've never visited the Gila National Forest in the springtime, knowing a few things before heading out hiking or camping could save some frustration. Spring is not my favorite season for hiking here, for two simple reasons, weather and water.

Take today for example, it's a sunny, warm 80º F afternoon and gorgeous. Great! let's go camping! Not so fast little trekker. Tonight temps will probably dip into the low 40º range, and they are predicting the possibility of snow for tomorrow. That's OK if you've got the right equipment and two or three retrievers, or another person, to snuggle up with for warmth. Layers are a must. You can have all four seasons in the span of a couple of hours sometimes in the spring. This changeability of the weather is probably why I mostly dayhike instead of backpack these days. My creaky body likes its creature comforts after a day on the trail. Click here for an hour by hour forecast for the GNF from the weather channel.

Another weather issue in the springtime is the wind. It can be brutal once it starts to blow, and it seems to blow, often gale force winds, from the beginning of April through the end of June continuously. The wind can be avoided by only hiking in the mornings or in the evenings after it dies down to a breeze, if that happens before it's too dark to see the trail.

Issue number two with spring hiking here, water. Always call ahead to check the weather and water conditions before heading out for any extended hiking. Once you're away from the river, it's pretty hard to find water in the spring. You've got to pack it in and if you've got dogs, you're going to have to pack it in for them too. Retrievers like their water, lots of it. Doggy packs for water are a must if you want to pack anything other than water.

One nice easy trail where you will find water is the Catwalk Recreation Area, near Glenwood, New Mexico. Any of the trails along the Gila River itself will also have plenty of water, but also will involve multiple stream crossings, which could be uncomfortable in colder weather.

I try to pick my trails based upon the availability of fresh water for the dogs. That way, I avoid having to deal with carrying in lots of water. But, sometimes a trail calls and there's no choice but to load up the water bladders and go.

Backyard Hiking Again

On Sunday, Ranger, Ceilidh, Sue and I hit the trail just up the street from our house for the first time since October. The guys were jazzed to get out for a run and checked out all of their favorite places, looking for treasures.

For about half of the hike the dogs enjoyed a rousing game of "Follow that Sue", in which Sue goes tearing around the woods and the other two try to keep up. On the back side of the hike Ranger and Sue disappeared and I couldn't hear their tags. That usually means that they are up to something. When I whistled them in, Sue appeared, smiling and smelling quite musky. Ranger was a little tougher to call in, but when he did come he presented me with a nice javelina leg. They had both obviously been rolling in the carcass and were in a state of stinky high heaven.


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Honey's second off-leash hike on the CD Trail

My new camera arrived today, so we headed back out to yesterday's hiking spot for some pictures. Honey again did well off-leash. I was even able to whistle her in from chasing a jack rabbit. As you can see she had a blast.

Honey's first off-leash hike

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Honey has been here for almost two months now. Today, I decided it was time to see exactly how bad she would be off-leash on a hike. I had been warned not to let her off leash because she would bolt and wouldn't come back. I've been working on recalls with her in the yard, in the house and on a 40 ft. long line on hikes and she'd been doing pretty well. With the pack along, and the relative success I had observed on the long line, I decided the only way to truly test her progress was to unsnap the lead.

We hit what I call the Lucky Irishman section of the CD trail here in NM. Its a short section just south of Jack's peak that parallels NM 90 along the SE face of the Big Burro mtns. It's a pretty easy section that goes up and down arroyos and along some interesting terrain with lots of neat rock formations and a variety of vegetation. The terrain isn't too strenuous and the trails have recently been revamped by summer work crews.

Honey did really well! She ranged out pretty far, but she also checked in regularly and came in when I called her. I was happy with that. She stayed close to the pack, if not exactly right in the middle of them. She ran and explored and played, but she also made sure that she knew where I was.

I play hide and seek with my guys on hikes to encourage them to keep an eye on me. If they get too far out of sight, I look for a good hiding spot and wait for them to find me. Usually Ceilidh always finds me first, because she's my tracking dog and she also tends to stay a lot closer to me than the younger dogs. This was still the case on this trip. Ceilidh found me first, then Ranger, then Honey and last of all Bronco Sue. I was happy with the result. I didn't have to go searching for any dogs and at the end of the hike I didn't have to chase anyone. I tolerate quite a bit of ranging and independence with my dogs. The distances I let them range might make others a little nervous.

South Side of Jack's Peak trail

It was a great day for a hike in the sun today, so I took the pack to the south side of the Jack's peak section of the CD trail.

We do this section quite a bit in the fall/winter because it gets quite a bit of sun and is nice and warm in the cooler months.
The rocks soak up the heat from the sun and radiate warmth which feels great on a cool day.

In the spring it's too windy and in the summer it's too hot. Right now, it's just right. The dogs had a great run. Honey, the rescue continues to learn about coming when called. She's still not ready to run loose with the pack, but she's getting better about paying attention, listening and staying with the group.


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Honey's first hike on the CD Trail

Today, I took the gang, along with our new foster dog Honey, for a hike along the Deadman's Canyon section of the Continental Divide trail. I'd been warned not to allow Honey off leash in an unfenced area, so she got to run around on a 40 ft. purple tracking line from Palomine Lines.

She had a blast, but I can see why I was told not to let her off leash. I think she could’ve easily run off into the wilderness if I’d let her go. She used every foot of the line and was asking for more. She probably would’ve stayed with the pack, but I wasn’t in the mood to spend half the day trying to find her if she didn’t, so we played better safe than sorry.

The rest of the pack ran loose and enjoyed being in the woods once again, after quite a long absence. We came back with coats full of seeds and lungs full of fresh air.

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What we saw on our trek Sunday

We ran into this little guy while out on the Gila river Sunday morning. As you can see by the pictures Sue did not listen when told to "leave it" and once again had to learn the hard way. Luckily, there was no actual dog/bobcat contact.

Bobcat

4th of July in the Burro Mtns.

Fourth of July 07

The dogs had a full 4th. They started with a dip in the kiddie pool in the yard and then off to our favorite close hiking spot in the Burro mountains. It's a little forest road that winds around just below the continental divide trail. I often take them to this spot because my car can easily get there and frankly, it's a pretty easy terrain for hiking with usually no one else around.

The monsoons have finally started here and now there are nice little mud puddles for soaking in when the dogs get hot. There are lots of tall pines in this area and we've run into all sorts of critters here as well. The dogs and I had a great time on our morning jaunt before coming home for the usual illegal fireworks displays in the evening.

The things you find on a hike

Yesterday, I took the dogs for a short hike behind our housing area. We often do this little two mile loop and often we find interesting things on our treks. This time, we found what looked like what was left of a wild turkey carcass and a couple of coveys of quail. We were down to the last 1/2 mile of the hike when we ran across a Husky on the trail.

I saw her before the dogs did and figured that the owner was somewhere near. I leashed my guys up and prepared to go on with the end of the walk. But, there was no one anywhere about. The dog was obviously well fed and had recently been brushed, so I figured she was being a typical Husky and had gotten out and gone for a walk on her own. I was able to get all three Tollers connected to one Flexi-lead and used Ceilidh's leash on the very thirsty Husky. Luckily she had tags on with her phone number and I was able to quickly get her back to her relieved owner. I'm always glad when there's a happy ending.