It's a Dog's Life

On days off,  I take my German Shepherd Eiger on long hikes.  The choices within a half hour’s drive are multiple, and each hike is gorgeous.  There is dense forest rich in undergrowth, glass-clear streams and waterfalls with snow-capped mountains all around. The glacial lake and rivers are light gray, colored by the pulverized rock ground by centuries of slow-moving ice into a fine flour rich in minerals that feeds the ocean life.

Eiger loves it here.  I keep him on leash in the forest for fear of bears and porcupines, but when I reach open space on a beach or a field, I let him run.  He plunges into the icy waters and hauls big sticks around.  The cool weather suits him.   

Evening walks to Nugget Falls by Mendenhall Glacier are a favorite

My goal is a ridge walk but getting to the top is no mean feat.  The mountains here rise at least 3,200 feet straight up from sea level and at a precipitous tilt. For the first time, I am feeling my age and lack of cardio fitness. I no longer can launch myself into the endeavor trusting on my base-level strength. (I also was laid out flat for a full week with a nasty virus that kept me out of work and set back any fitness regime. Work to be done.)   

Mt Roberts from Perseverance Trail

Blue lupins are blooming in the sunny areas, dwarf dogwood in the shade, and the brilliant yellows of dandelions and buttercups are everywhere. If it rains, it’s mostly a drizzle and often clears up to sunshine later in the day.  What’s not to enjoy?