Stash
Active member
Last week I asked a few questions on this forum about hiking with dogs and got some valuable input. This week the weather and schedule worked to get Nellie out for her first hike. She's a lab/whippet rescue who's not the best around people and other dogs but loves a good walk.
I wanted a moderate hike in the eastern Whites. Nothing too long or too steep. Not to many crossings or at least none that would be overly difficult. I initially looked at the loop of North Moat and Red Ridge but a few pictures showed some challenging scrambles and the write-up with a couple of those “difficult at high water” sent me elsewhere I saw a nice little loop called White Ledge Trail and the write-up sold me. A little over 4 miles. A loop, so we’d have less of a chance of running into folks and dogs than on an out/back and nothing too steep.
Nellie gets excited about car rides. Not sure why. It’s usually to the vet or to get a bath. Today was no exception. Once I got us packed she was in the back in a heartbeat and ready to go wherever we were going. She had to know something was up, though, because she usually lays down shortly after leaving. On this one she was looking out the windows for the two hours to Conway. We found a spot off the gated driveway to the White Ledge campground – closed for the year – and got ready to go. I put on the yellow vest we use for night walks and attached the 26 foot retractable leash. I’d planned on attaching the leash handle to my pack so I could use poles but decided against it. Good call. Her excitement continued as we set off up the road. Nellie pulling me along. I let her pull for a bit as she was simply too excited at the prospect of getting into the woods to stop her. Once we made it onto the trail and my pace picked up she settled into a more relaxed pace – at the end of the lead but not pulling.
On we went through a nicely winding mix of large pines, over a minor crossing, through more dense areas and then we started to climb. Nellie stayed on the trail quite well with only a few chipmunk chases. These were quickly ended with a “Leave it!” and a tug on her leash. As we started up her pace slowed a bit but she was always ahead, eager to go. Total enjoyment. We got to a section of ledge and slab toward the top. No hesitation. But she was showing a bit of tiredness. We paused not too far up this section for drink of water, then on to the top.
We stopped for lunch near but not at the top on a large section of ledge. I found a shady spot to sit and Nellie immediately headed for a mossy section to lay down. I tend to avoid walking on plant life in these kind of areas but assumed that the harm done by her would be comparable to that of other four legged creatures. She went through a bit of water at this point but had no interest in lunch. I was a bit surprised by this but wasn’t about to force the issue. I let her rest there while I ate my sandwich and a pair of hawks watched us from above. They were pretty big – sizing up Nellie for dinner? After a bit Nellie got up and wandered, seeming ready to go. I checked again so see if she’d eat – no – but she had a bit more water before we moved along.
The trip down was a bit of a challenge. She’d get ahead on the ledgy parts but I had to watch to make sure she still had enough left in the retractable to cover any sections where she’d hop a couple feet to the next level. Really didn’t need a pendulum. Her pace was as quick as I’d let it and I realized how much I depend on my poles for balance as I worked my way down. The last section though the forest a stream crossing (no rock hopping for Nellie – plow right through and cool off) ended the hike nicely.
As we were approaching the car another was trying to squeeze into the only spot left. I offered my spot as soon as we could get loaded and we were quickly out. This time Nellie wasn’t looking out the windows. I think she was out cold by the time we hit the 112 intersection of 16. She popped a head up a few times but never really moved much ‘till we were coming down our road. Once in the garage we were met by Rocky and escorted into the house.
Happy Nellie for the experience. Happy Rocky to have his “sister” home.
I think we’ll do it again.
A few pictures...
I wanted a moderate hike in the eastern Whites. Nothing too long or too steep. Not to many crossings or at least none that would be overly difficult. I initially looked at the loop of North Moat and Red Ridge but a few pictures showed some challenging scrambles and the write-up with a couple of those “difficult at high water” sent me elsewhere I saw a nice little loop called White Ledge Trail and the write-up sold me. A little over 4 miles. A loop, so we’d have less of a chance of running into folks and dogs than on an out/back and nothing too steep.
Nellie gets excited about car rides. Not sure why. It’s usually to the vet or to get a bath. Today was no exception. Once I got us packed she was in the back in a heartbeat and ready to go wherever we were going. She had to know something was up, though, because she usually lays down shortly after leaving. On this one she was looking out the windows for the two hours to Conway. We found a spot off the gated driveway to the White Ledge campground – closed for the year – and got ready to go. I put on the yellow vest we use for night walks and attached the 26 foot retractable leash. I’d planned on attaching the leash handle to my pack so I could use poles but decided against it. Good call. Her excitement continued as we set off up the road. Nellie pulling me along. I let her pull for a bit as she was simply too excited at the prospect of getting into the woods to stop her. Once we made it onto the trail and my pace picked up she settled into a more relaxed pace – at the end of the lead but not pulling.
On we went through a nicely winding mix of large pines, over a minor crossing, through more dense areas and then we started to climb. Nellie stayed on the trail quite well with only a few chipmunk chases. These were quickly ended with a “Leave it!” and a tug on her leash. As we started up her pace slowed a bit but she was always ahead, eager to go. Total enjoyment. We got to a section of ledge and slab toward the top. No hesitation. But she was showing a bit of tiredness. We paused not too far up this section for drink of water, then on to the top.
We stopped for lunch near but not at the top on a large section of ledge. I found a shady spot to sit and Nellie immediately headed for a mossy section to lay down. I tend to avoid walking on plant life in these kind of areas but assumed that the harm done by her would be comparable to that of other four legged creatures. She went through a bit of water at this point but had no interest in lunch. I was a bit surprised by this but wasn’t about to force the issue. I let her rest there while I ate my sandwich and a pair of hawks watched us from above. They were pretty big – sizing up Nellie for dinner? After a bit Nellie got up and wandered, seeming ready to go. I checked again so see if she’d eat – no – but she had a bit more water before we moved along.
The trip down was a bit of a challenge. She’d get ahead on the ledgy parts but I had to watch to make sure she still had enough left in the retractable to cover any sections where she’d hop a couple feet to the next level. Really didn’t need a pendulum. Her pace was as quick as I’d let it and I realized how much I depend on my poles for balance as I worked my way down. The last section though the forest a stream crossing (no rock hopping for Nellie – plow right through and cool off) ended the hike nicely.
As we were approaching the car another was trying to squeeze into the only spot left. I offered my spot as soon as we could get loaded and we were quickly out. This time Nellie wasn’t looking out the windows. I think she was out cold by the time we hit the 112 intersection of 16. She popped a head up a few times but never really moved much ‘till we were coming down our road. Once in the garage we were met by Rocky and escorted into the house.
Happy Nellie for the experience. Happy Rocky to have his “sister” home.
I think we’ll do it again.
A few pictures...
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