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Tag Archives: dogs

Christmas Walk in Big Valley

This is our sixth Christmas here! How can that be? It’s long enough to establish some holiday traditions. And one of my favorites is to ski with the dogs on Christmas afternoon. This year there is not enough snow to groom the trails at Big Valley so we went for a walk with dogs and friends instead.

 

Luna and Wyatt Ann are delighted to be out on the trail together again!
There goes Sky
Magnificent ponderosa pines
Juniper
Frosty Wonderland
Here comes Sky
And there goes Sky with Wyatt Ann right behind her
Methow River
Juniper was the only to get in the river
Cool stick
Down river
Frosty shapes coming out of the water
These plants were thriving under the ice
Along the trail
An enormous paper wasp nest leftover from summer
This should be a packed and groomed ski trail with a couple feet of snow and no grass showing through.
Wyatt Ann
Massive wheel line. Little dog.
Here she comes
And there she goes. Almost lift off!
What’s so funny?
I got a bone!
Ken left his pole back on the first part of the trail
Hey – wait for me
A boy and his dog

 

Here is an article about the economic impacts to our community in a low snow year.

Always Good to be Home

Back at home I was hoping I would be skiing by now however the weather is not cooperating. We have a minimal snow cover at best. Some trails up high are ready to go with least amount of snow possible for grooming. A snow storm is forecast for Friday so hopefully we can break out the skis soon.
Meanwhile, we still need to get out and do something so we continue to walk in the hills. The dogs and I joined MA and Frida this afternoon. Down in the valleys, we were socked in with fog but as I drove to their house, I could see a bit of blue sky and sure enough, when we got up to Frost Road, there was clearing! It was glorious.

Frost Lake looks like the ocean with the clearing mist over it
Sun rays
Hoarfrost from all of the recent freezing fog
My house is down there in the fog
No new snow in the mountains yet
Three good dogs. Look how much Sky has grown!
Slow down little dog
Frida always looks good for the camera
MA brought her ice skates
It’s not so good.
Where is Luna?
At least she’s having fun!
Her front feet kept wanting to slide away from her when she was sitting.
Catch me if you can.

Late November

No snow on the ground here in the valley. It came and went earlier in the month and recently it has been mostly just cold and clear. Good conditions for walks with dogs and watching wildlife. There is some skiing up on the pass but it looks like it will be a while before our local trails have any snow for grooming. Seems like last year there was skiing at Thanksgiving weekend. Maybe I am not remembering right.

Handsome fellow
This one was just across the street
Coyote running away
Hi. Do you need your screen licked?
Cold mornings make for great images
Pipestone Canyon from up on top
This one was at our house
Osprey nest, also used by Canada Geese earlier in the season
No wonder she drives Luna crazy
There were lots of swans around the valley earlier in the week. Most of the smaller lakes are now frozen. This photo is from Tuesday and by yesterday, Sunday, folks were ice skating there.
Downy Woodpeckers are plentiful this time of year
A Clark’s Nutcracker caches seeds in the loose bark for wintertime foraging
I got the stick!
Shiny
I got the bone!
Is that a jackrabbit?
A boy and his dog and a photo bomb
I’m taking my stick and going home now

Puppy’s First Mountain

On Wednesday, the dogs and I hiked to the top of Patterson Mountain. It’s not a long hike or particularly challenging but if you are a three month old puppy, it might be a big event in your short life! According to the hike report it is 1 1/2 miles from the lake to the summit, gaining 1100 feet elevation. Enough to warm you up. Sky was a trooper, staying on the trail and keeping up with no problem. We encountered one other group of hikers on our way up – the Wednesday hiking ladies. We stopped and had a nice visit with them and I was warned that if my puppy went missing that I might want to check in Chris’s backpack! As usual, Sky attracted a lot of attention. We started and ended the hike with a visit to Patterson Lake and Sky almost, inadvertently, went swimming!

 

Sky considers leaving her comfy crate
Following big sister Luna
Look! I got you a stick!
Wait for me
Hurry up youngster
Tug
Finally heading up the trail
Don’t get lost
Magic forest
I was the only one that had to use the stile
Mt Gardner. I love when the snow returns to the mountain
Gardner over Patterson Lake
It was a glorious day!
On the mountain top
No puppy in her pack
Sun Mountain in front of the upper Methow
Luna
Watching Luna swim
I can catch her
Ooops. Maybe not
I’ll watch from here
Now I’ll get it!
Hey! Wait up!

November Walks

The mostly gray weather has not kept us inside at all. We try to get at least one walk everyday. The dogs (and I) would go stir crazy if we didn’t get out regularly.

 

Ken’s friend Bill came up from Yakima with his dog Rani
Black and Blue
Ahhhhhh
Sky wanted Rani to be her mentor but Rani would have none of it. She has become a curmudgeon.
Hairy Woodpecker listening
And looking
Listening
And pecking
Oregon grape in front of an unnamed pond.
Nice fall colors and reflections
Buffleheads and mergansers
Reeds and reflections
Sky makes her way through tall grass
Another view of the same pond
Nice color
Sky keeps up with Mary Ann