Mountaineers Forums

I have been going out hiking regularly with my dog but so far have been sticking with local peaks and trails.  I'm wondering if anyone has experience with backcountry hiking / camping with dogs.   Things to consider in terms of impact, regulations, staying out of trouble with wildlife, etc.

I have been thinking about this for sometime now.  I know people have very strong opinions one way or another.  I recall talking to Steve about a trip to Black Butte and a barking dog...

Many times I have been planning a climb and part of the planning is what to do with the dog.  Those with good networks of friends and relatives can usually swing it with little problems.  Those without regularly impound the pooch for a weekend at the best/first/only place available.  So what I have been thinking and have been piecing together is a "seminar" series on hiking with dogs.  A series that covers rules and regs, behavior issues, first aid, health and training, what to bring extra for dog(s) and more. Part of the series would also be a network for other hiking/camping/climbing enthusiasts for the trips you leave the pooch at home.  Again, I am only piecing it together as I have time, so don't look for it during climbing season!

Brad Henshaw (dog owner)

 

Interesting idea, Brad.  I think a lot of rules and regs and info can be found on line, but the networking would be the most helpful for me (exchange dog care, or other people who want to go hiking and/or camping with their dogs but don't want to go alone).  

 I did N. ridge route on Mt. Washington recently with my dog and saw fresh cougar tracks.  I wonder if I am flirting with disaster - my dog is small, about 11 lb.  She seems to know to stay close to me but occasionally runs ahead or gets sidetracked in the forest.  She's not much into barking.   Even if we were camped near someone else, an occasional dog noise couldn't be worse than some of the other noises emanating from some sites. 

My dog loves to hike, so it's worth taking some risk and inconvenience to take her out.  I've heard of just one incidence of cougar attacking and killing dog (in a campsite at Mt. Rainier).   I wonder how risky it really is to take a dog out in the wild.  There is some risk associated with putting a dog in a kennel or having someone else take care of them as well. 

 

Biscuit the Climbing Dog was believed to have been killed by a cougar.

Please tell us the story of Biscuit the climbing dog. 

For several years, shorts of Biscuit climbing rocks pleased crowds at the Banff Film Festival and other places.  The original short is present in the DVD Front Range Freaks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9vVI_hXZYM

Wow, Biscuit was an amazing little dog !   Are you sure he didn't die in a rock climbing accident ?

http://www.climbing.com/news/passages/biskit/

Thanks for that info.  Biskit was a female, Jack Russell terrier, and was alone in the forest, after jumping out of the pickup (? it sounds like it was during the night) and not returning.   Her remains and collar were later found, along with evidence she had been killed by a cougar.  Two years ago in Colorado.  :-(

 

Tonja and I regularly take her dog Suki to the crag with us.  He gets pretty stressed out if we doing multi-pitch routes, not relaxed at all.  Maybe its 'cause he's a shepherd.

Sounds like you have a "rock climbing dog" there.  It's a challenge to juggle taking care of the dog and still do multi pitch climbing.  Be careful !   

 I am not doing any rock climbing at the present time but took my dog Maggie hiking up Granite yesterday.  No cougars in sight, just other people and dogs, and beautiful mountain scenery.   I didn't want to break trail around the back so we went up the ridge and I carried Maggie in a couple of places so she wouldn't fall in the holes where the snow is melting out along the boulders.  There is still quite a bit of snow along the ridge and beyond.

The use permit at the trailhead had official Alpine Lakes regulations including, "Dogs must be leashed on all trails off I-90 east to the Rachel Lake trail and off US-2 west of Stevens Pass.  Dogs are prohibited in the Enchantments permit area and Ingalls Lake."

Our dog is getting a little old to go backpacking anymore.  Last time we wen't, I thought I would have to carry her the last few miles (she's about 40lbs).

We usually keep her on her leash when we're on busy trails, like the ones along I90 and 2.  Other hikers appreciate it and she doen't mind.  When we take her off leash she sticks close to us, she has some sheep dog in her and she likes to make sure her flock is ok.  Kevin likes to have his dog wear a dog backpack when they are hiking, he says that other hikers have a better reaction to the dog when he has a backpack on.   "Oh, how cute" rather than "your dog is big a scary"

We take our dog to the crags, but not if we're going to do multi-pitch climbs.  She wants to be around people and when we leave her she wimpers and barks which is anoying to us and anyone in earshot.  I've read an account of a cougar being seen at the base of static point, sniffing around climbers backpacks when the climbers are a few pitches up.  Also, I've heard stories of coyotees drawing dogs away from their owners and then killing and eating them.  

When I was a kid and we went backpacking/camping the dog always slept outside. Lisa makes me let the dog in the tent at night. I once made the dog sleep in the vestabule, and in the morning her nose was swolen up from being bitten by misquitos all night.  I felt terrable.