Pack Hike - a beautiful 10 miles!
Gorgeous day, just little on the warm side at 77 degrees in the afternoon. The site this time was right near my home growing up, north of Stillwater, MN (beautiful country, I still miss it!) William O'Brien State Park, it runs along the St Croix River north of St Paul, and is the border between MN and WI. We met and had pack weigh-in at 10:15 (Chewie's weighed 11.5 pounds), and started out at about 10:45am. The 1st section was along the river and 4.7 miles long.  Our 1st water and rest break at about 1.7 miles. Time to lose the jackets! The full packers:  The "short loop" packers who just went >2 miles -  Chewie taking time for a little off-trail exploring!  At about 12:30 we finished that loop - just in time for the Club's potluck lunch. Not pictured were the grilled burgers, fresh tomatoes, apple cider and even had apple crisp!  After they had a short club meeting, we hit the trails again  Tim and 3 of their wonderful Winterstar Mals (the 2 girls were ready to come into heat and have been having a MAJOR coat blowout, we jokingly called them the coyote girls!) Tim and wife Karina were the event organizers.  Chewie at the same break, about 7 miles into the pack hike -  Our only tree across the trail, but a big one!  The group almost done, still going strong!  The 5 dogs with packs did the entire 10 miles (Major the Mal joined for the last 5.8 without a pack, just to walk) From the left: Julie and her Swissy Indy, Karen and her Mal Kozmo, Tim with Mals Sassy and Major, Karina with Mal Penny and me with Chewie. Karina was taking lots of pictures, and I will add hers when I get them. We have a group photo she took, as well as pics of the dogs getting their packs weighed in. |
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| Looks like great exercise for 2 and 4 footed walkers. I'm really enamoured of Chewie's super toned and muscular hindquarters! Power! How long did the hike take? |
| Sheepie butts are beautiful but Chewie's is Mr. Universe. Lovely autumn hike, good time! |
| We did the 1st 4.7 miles from 10:45am to 12:45am. Not sure what time we started after the lunch and meeting - maybe around 2?? and we were all done and paperwork signed by 4:45pm - and that was 5.8 miles in the 2nd half. We walked at a brisk pace, but had water stops for us and the dogs whenever they needed it. So it would be 10.5 miles in about 4.75 hours. The packs are removable - if you look at some of the pictures, they are off and they just have the base, harness part on. We ripped off (it's velcro attached) the packs at every break, leaving just the base part on. They also had the whole thing off for the lunch break. The lunch pavilion was was cool and a nice cement floor - dogs loved it! |
| How fun!! Glad the weather was good too. |
| Looks like lots of fun and a beautiful day! Cindy |
| A question about the pack, is that to make it work for the dogs? i.e. not just a meander to a dog park, but a job for the dogs? |
| What a great way to spend the day! Kristine |
Baba wrote: A question about the pack, is that to make it work for the dogs? i.e. not just a meander to a dog park, but a job for the dogs? Yes - it's part of their working titles for their breeds (Both the Mals and the Swissy) They need the following to earn a packing title: A) 4 10 mile hikes carrying 30% of their body weight or B) 1 overnight 10 mile hike where they pack in 5 miles, stay overnight, then pack out 5 miles; and 2 more regular 10 mile hikes. The Samoyeds need to do 3 pack hikes that are 5 miles and carry 25% of their body weight to earn their packing titles. I think they have an overnight option as well.  |
| A requirement for for Chewie's Honourary Samoyed title too I bet? |
Mad Dog wrote: What a great way to spend the day! Kristine It was very nice. Then I went and drove by my old farm where I grew up, and then drove down to where Todd was harvesting sweet corn and took some pictures. Wouldn't you know they were one mile from a horse facility where I go for agility trials?? Todd was beyond shocked, as I had it in my Garmin and literally drove cross country right to his field!  |
Baba wrote: A requirement for for Chewie's Honourary Samoyed title too I bet? Actually, he has all the Samoyed ones already!  According to all the records Gabby (and Chewie) have done, both are WSXM - Working Samoyed Excellent Masters. Of course only Gabby has the official certificate!  But Gabby's breeder Helen is the SCA (Samoyed Club of America) working dog title committee head, and the one who verifies records for awarding titles. SHE even says that Chewie has met the requirements!! So now I am working toward Malamute titles  Tim and Karina think it's great! |
got sheep wrote: Baba wrote: A requirement for for Chewie's Honourary Samoyed title too I bet? Actually, he has all the Samoyed ones already! According to all the records Gabby (and Chewie) have done, both are WSXM - Working Samoyed Excellent Masters. Of course only Gabby has the official certificate! But Gabby's breeder Helen is the SCA (Samoyed Club of America) working dog title committee head, and the one who verifies records for awarding titles. SHE even says that Chewie has met the requirements!! So now I am working toward Malamute titles One wonders, once again, why one let you have pick male in an OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG litter since you seem hellbent on passing him off as as many working breeds as you can muster?  Kristine |
Mad Dog wrote: got sheep wrote: Baba wrote: A requirement for for Chewie's Honourary Samoyed title too I bet? Actually, he has all the Samoyed ones already! According to all the records Gabby (and Chewie) have done, both are WSXM - Working Samoyed Excellent Masters. Of course only Gabby has the official certificate! But Gabby's breeder Helen is the SCA (Samoyed Club of America) working dog title committee head, and the one who verifies records for awarding titles. SHE even says that Chewie has met the requirements!! So now I am working toward Malamute titles One wonders, once again, why one let you have pick male in an OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG litter since you seem hellbent on passing him off as as many working breeds as you can muster? Kristine Hey, he's done gotten titles in all the OES venues as he can - except tracking - so we must expand into new territories.....   I did have to admit pheasant hunting was one activity he has never tried and likely never will..... |
| oh dawn, http://www.veryfunnypics.com/pics/view/ ... t%20skiing |
| Thats alot of walking...but looks like FUN. |
| You do so many great things, it makes me want to move to Minnesota! |
Ahhhh  I looooooove chewie in his red back pack!!!!Look at all the dogs with their own packs. That's such a great exercise. Chewie is multi-talented like CIA field agents and he can blend in anywhere~ |
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