Just In: I LIKE SNOW!!!

If you know me at all, you probably know that I have always hated snow and cold and winter in general. I don't want to go out in it, on foot or by car. When I decided to move to BB, I made Dad promise he'd drive me around when it snowed and I had to get somewhere. One of the reasons that the online job seemed perfect - I would't HAVE to go out in it. It took me 25 years to move back to BB because I didn't want to deal with snow.

I don't really remember hating it in DE but I also only remember one or two snow storms. It was in DE that I learned what an ice storm is all about. But I also had a 4WD truck so I guess I just dealt with driving in it when I needed to. My memories of DC snow are getting a day or two off here and there and that people would just abandon their cars in the middle of the street. Every year they acted like it had never snowed before even though we generally got at least one decent storm each winter. And Texas snow wasn't really snow. The few times it was, we got lots of days off school so I didn't have to deal with it. Same with the ice. Lots and lots of ice days over the years!! In fact, eight years ago I was in the middle of a week off due to ice - I went nowhere!

Fast forward to 2019. I now live in BB and own a 4WD truck again. And snowshoes. I have appropriate clothing for the cold (though not like the -40 polar vortex the midwest just experienced). And guess what? I LIKE SNOW!!! I was actually bummed yesterday because it rained all day instead of snowing!! It did finally snow once it got cold enough. Just an inch or so though.

I took off on my snowshoes this morning to see how much the woods got. Maybe two inches as I got a little higher. I'm sure it was a lot more even higher because that rain would've been snow up there. Anyway, as you know, my most favorite place on earth is in the woods. Today, I mostly was on the established trail but most of the time I was the only tracks. It was AWESOME!!! I'd show you how beautiful it was but I left my phone at home on accident. But I was kinda glad that it was just me and God, roaming through the snowy woods, the sun trying to peak through the clouds and trees. Seriously just amazing.

We are supposed to get even more snow tonight and the next TWO days. Hopefully it's snow!! We might even get a snow day but I hope not. I have plans for the day we'd give up in May!! Besides, I can drive in it so might as well go to work!! I do already have plans to take Slugs with me tomorrow afternoon, snowshoeing in the woods :)

Moral of the story: people CAN change!!

Winter Break ending

Slugger and I thoroughly enjoyed our 17 day break together. To celebrate our last day, we went for a hike. We ventured off to the PCT near here. Dad and dogs and I had found it earlier in break. Slugger and I decided to head "south" toward Big Bear. We were probably 30-40 miles of trail from being anywhere near there.

It was an interesting trail with interesting people. I'll leave it at that. We went about a mile and got to a very big water hole. Slugger REALLY wanted to go in. I chose to turn around. We even saw some horses on our way back!! Slugger did VERY well, considering.

Here are pics from the outing.

Slugger Turns 8!!!

Life's been a little odd the last few months with the moving and such. I wanted to make sure today was special and memorable (do dogs really remember?). And I thought it'd be nice to take advantage of our new location.

We woke up at a decent hour and had breakfast. Well, he didn't eat. He was too excited!! Ha. I tried to explain, but I don't know that he really understood. I mean, telling him we were going to Wrightwood meant nothing to him - he'd never been there! Oh, but I had!! 

Once I put on my hiking boots, THEN he REALLY got excited!! We set off. I didn't turn when I was supposed to, but we got there. Wrightwood is as beautiful and small and quaint as I remember. I am pretty sure it's been 25 years since I've been there! LOTS and LOTS of memories came flooding back as I drove up Elm to see the camp I counseled and camped at many times as a teen.

But this trip was about Slugger, not me!! We hurried on to hike. We didn't end up where we'd intended because I didn't want to walk UP a road just to get to trail! So we went out of Wrightwood a few miles to Inspiration Point (an aid station on the AC100!!). We ended up on the PCT.

It was SO beautiful and quiet and absolutely perfect. We both needed to be out there, ya know?! We turned around just before we got to one mile and ended up taking the road back near the end so our total was 1.6 miles. Not bad since we'd walked 2+ in the neighborhood yesterday. His knee seems to be doing okay. My toe on the other hand is definitely not right. That'll be a story for September though!

view of the desert

This picture does not do this view justice at all. it was STUNNING! Every time I looked that direction, all I could think was "God, thank You". Definition of "awe-inspiring". It's looking down toward LA. I swear if it were a clear day you could see the ocean but I think that'd be way too far.

would've been better without the power pole. not sure where the power was headed. 

we thought about turning around here but went a little further

this tree reminds me of something - Dad, get it?!

looking toward the desert and our new home

We stopped at the ranger station but it was closed. We want to explore all the trails!!!

When we got home, Slugger got his birthday gifts...

A crunchy, squeaky Raccoon...

A "beef strap" which he carried around, hid a couple times, and then ate.

Now we're both recuperating from all the excitement. I think he's enjoying his day! Too bad every day can't be our birthday!!!


NOTE: If you're paying attention, yes, Slugger just skipped a year. Last year, we celebrated his 6th birthday. When he had his knee surgery in November, the surgeon suggested he was a bit older than that. So, we skipped 7 and are going straight to 8! It's all made up anyway :) 

Backpacking the PCT

I brought along my backpack to CA cuz Dad and I had talked about doing some sort of excursion. We wanted to take the dogs so it needed to a well thought out adventure! After much discussion, we came up with a plan that would work for everyone. We wanted to carry everything on our backs that we needed to camp. But we didn't want to go too far. Also, this was Tuck's first camping trip so we weren't completely sure what to expect from her. Of course, she sleeps in the front yard many nights, even in the snow, by choice, so chances were good she'd be a great camping dog!

We set out for Yellow Post site #31. This is a campsite on a dirt road, but still in the woods. The key is that when campfires are allowed, you can have them there. If you just go camp anywhere in the woods, you can't. These days there are no flames allowed anywhere. Except a propane stove with a permit, which Dad happened to have! The Yellow Post sites are a great place to camp in the woods, away from other people, but still have your car with you. Site #31 was quite large, with a picnic table and a fire ring (with bright pink tape over it so we wouldn't use it) and several cleared locations for tents. However we didn't set up camp at this point.

We donned our backpacks, fully loaded for camping, including Slugger, and we set off down the road that we had just driven in on. We hiked up the road to the PCT and then went North (toward Canada) on the PCT for a little ways. Dad had put in his GPS device a spot where we needed to turn right off the trail to go cross country back to the campsite. I'm not a big fan of "bushwhacking" but we got there eventually. We hiked about 2 miles in all.

Slugger with his backpack on, heading up the road.

My companions

One of the views on the PCT

Taking a little break

Checking for lizards. 

The backpack doesn't stop him from exploring!

Now that we had hiked with our backpacks, we could set up camp. We pulled everything we needed out of our packs and started pitching tents!

He got right in to check it out!

Slugs helping Grandpa 

Our tents! And an adorable pooch!

Once the tents were set up, we wandered around a bit and just sat and enjoyed the peace and quiet.

It was soon time to make dinner. We had bought prepared backpacking meals at REI that just need boiling water. Dad has a fancy, tiny, lightweight stove that we set up to boil the water. Then we had to wait for the food to rehydrate. I had chicken with risotto, and Dad had Mexican chicken with rice.

I need to get me one of these!!!

Rehydrating

After dinner, we relaxed some more and watched the sunset through the trees. So peaceful and wonderful!

Sunrise the next morning was also beautiful but I didn't snap a picture until the sun was basically up. But still absolutely gorgeous.

We packed up and drove away!!

Tuck did GREAT as a camper and I am SOOOO proud of Slugger. He never gets to be off leash because he's a sight dog and if he sees something, he goes after it. Fast and far! Well, not this time! Slugger spent most of the evening and morning off leash and did incredibly well!! He never wandered very far from me and when he did, he came back when I called him!! The site was big enough that he could go exploring and never be out of my sight which was nice. There was, however, one little incident when he saw a deer. He took chase. Tuck then chased Slugger. Neither really came when we called (while running after them) but they definitely took notice and stopped their chase. They then wandered around sniffing looking for where the deer had been. I wouldn't say they came even then, but they didn't go further away either. After that, I put Slugs on his tie out but it was about dusk and he needed to be. And we were just minutes from heading into the tent anyway. The next morning I let him be off leash and he was a model puppy :)

I had Dad take pictures before we left. 

Me with the backpacking dogs!! (both off leash!!)