Some dogs like backpacking, some don’t. Retrievers usually do, especially if there is occaisional swimming at pack off break time. Pack on swimming is a nono. We thru-hiked the AT nobo last year with our 7 year old lab Bella. As my wife Woodrose says, Bella could teach dogs how to backpack. Bella has hiked every AT mile with exception of the GSMNP and Baxter, plus a few hundred other section hiking miles. We know of only one other dog who thru-hiked last year, a ten year old Springer named Woody , with his daddy Forever North. Long distance hiking solo with a dog would be very difficult in our opinions ; hard on the dog, and unless the owner hardly ever goes to town, etc. Many people, businesses, motels, stores, don’t like or accomodate dogs; rest and resupply is way easier and more fair to everyone if two people can share canine responsibility. Of course the leash comes off in the woods, but you must train your dog not to bark ,growl, or threaten others.(If they do, they must be trained to come to you and get back on the leash.) Many people are terrified of dogs for their own good reasons. The longer the hike, the more feral the dog becomes, and hungrier, too.Of course a dog, hiking 10 hours a day instead of sleeping on the porch, needs way more food. Whatever social and domestic norms a dog enjoys at home are denied on the Trail; the dog is, in effect, homeless. Where you stop and pitch your tent is your dog’s home for that moment; of course they will remind other dogs and folks of this fact. Bella carried 8 lbs of food typically in her Caribou backpack. She weighs about 60 lbs. She fell three times on South Kinsman in the Whites. First pack off descent was Dragonstooth in Va. The Mahoosuc Notch, all packoff. She had worn thru the pack and two sets of patches by the time we got to Monson, where I glued on the third set. Maine was so vertical that her pack wore her elbows bare from steep descents (like Chairback)Conditions of dogs’ feet are critical to the hike. Bella sleeps every night in my arms under my quilt in our tent. Coons and bears don’t visit. Bella does not bark or chase any wildlife except hated squirrels.(100 ft, 20 seconds) (Chipmunks are OK) We retired her Caribou pack and got her a new Granite Gear pack and are pleased with it. We returned to the AT this spring for Trail Days, spent four nights in our tent on the Trail, and Bella was in hiker dog heaven, but was reluctant to share the Trail with what she must consider lesser dogs. She loved Bonzo’s RIO, had words with Yeti’s Savannah at Hardcore. We are going to attempt the PCT nobo in 07. I will be 60, Bella will be 9(x7=63); she can’t go in the desert or in California parks, and we can’t imagine hiking without her. Train your dog to hike and share the most special bond you will ever know. Peace is the only way. Muleskinner.
Muleskinner
