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Tag Archives: roadtrip with dogs

Fall Road Trip with Dogs

The girls and I set off for northern Utah a few weeks ago. We planned to explore the Mirror Lake area, starting from Evanston Wyoming. When we got to Evanston, I learned of a wildfire south of Mirror Lake that had the entire area where we were going to camp and hike, under a level two evacuation notice. We could have driven through but could not stop or camp. Darn. The USFS suggested we try a place about 35 miles east of there. It was not lovely and soon smoke filled the air. We spent one entire afternoon reading books (me) and napping (dogs) inside the camper. It was poisonous outside. After two nights, we started driving north. We spent one night along the Snake River and then continued north towards the Grand Tetons. In Jackson, people were wearing masks to protect them from the smoke. There were fires burning to the east and to the west of the park. We continued north, never seeing the famous mountains. We finally ended up boondocked high on a ridge on USFS land. At that elevation, we were above the worst of the smoke and I was able to see and photograph the famous comet whose name I don’t know.

More from the Sierras

The girls and I and our friends enjoyed hiking in the high mountains of the eastern Sierra. I was challenged to breathe at 10,000 feet but all the effort was worth it. The scenery was outstanding and the skies so blue. We learned that is some places, lodgepole pine is a distinguished open-grown tree that can reach great heights, unlike here in the Cascades or the Rockies. The girls were grateful for lakes and streams. Willow ran ahead with her sister Juniper while Sky stuck right behind me, never asking to go any faster. Gus enjoyed all of it except the youthful exuberance of Willow and Juniper.

Sierra Sunrise

The girls and I recently returned from a two week road trip to the eastern Sierras. We met up with Willow’s sister, Juniper and her buddy Gus along with Mary and we all had a grand time. Willow and Juniper ran and played til they nearly exhausted themselves. Gus and Sky were relieved that they had each other. Mary and I enjoyed photographing morning and night skies along with lots of trees! Here is sunrise at our first campground in the Sierras.

Basalt and Junipers

From the lands with few trees and granite and then sandstone, we drove to the land of basalt and junipers. Lots of junipers. So many that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is cutting down or pruning many of the junipers. I don’t know why – maybe to ease fire danger or provide more rangeland for cattle. I really like the junipers. They seem to grow right out of solid basalt with little dirt. There were some cottonwoods and willows along the river.

We camped south of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in southern Oregon. It’s a very pleasant campsite with a river on one side and a spring-fed creek on the other. We were next to the creek. The dogs loved it. They could cool off any time they wanted. We toured the refuge and some areas around it and also walked and walked, right from the campsite. It was a very relaxing place.

Dogs on Granite

I was concerned that the rough rock and granite sand would be hard on the dogs’ feet but none of them had any trouble with it. And none of them had any run-ins with cactus needles! Willow and Juniper were fairly unseparable. Except when Willow found a ball and was not going to share it with anyone. She had great fun with it that evening and insisted on taking it in the car. We made one attempt at getting a four dog snapshot but it was not to be. Sky is the only that understands the concept of sitting for the camera. Willow will hold for a couple seconds but that’s it.