Goodbye

Here is a picture of Othello Moose before we left for Heliotrope Ridge this summer.

Othello is gone. On a Friday, I received a statement of interest. On Saturday, less than twenty-four hours later, his home visit turned into a forever home. On Sunday morning, there was no one to share my waffles with me.

But overall I am happy for him. He was a good dog that deserves more companionship than I could offer. We had a good run, though. He will be missed.

I guess this will be my last post on this blog.

Catahoulas in the Mist

This picture was taken last weekend in Boulder Creek. This weekend is supposed to be quite blustery, but we'll probably take a hike somewhere anyway. 

More guests came by tonight and Othello was quite hospitable. He is definitely becoming a more predictable dog around others. Usually when we come into the house, he is more accommodating then he otherwise is when someone knocks on the door. HE is definitely growing out of his wild you and life on the streets. He'll probably always have the Catahoula wild streak to him. Which is good. He is definitely an active dog.

Oh, and he's getting so much better running next to a bike too. He usually gets run a few nights a  week.

Catahoula Boulder Dog

Yesterday's hike took us down south a ways near Burlington and Darrington to the Boulder River Trail (#734). I am glad that the has become energetic and predictable on the trails, and outside of his familiar surroundings and subsequent nature of Catahoula territoriality, he is like a joyful little puppy.

After a two months, I though he  would need a bath,  but he hardly smells. Runs in the forests make him smell like a day at the beach.

Catahoula Snow Dog

This weekend we hiked the Tomyhoi Lake Trail from the trailhead (3,600') up into the snow around 5200'. Othello is a crazy dog in the snow. Once the snow got to three feet or so, we decided to turn back. Next week I need to remember snowshoes. After the hike, he sleeps the whole way home,and is a mellow Catahoula for the next day or so.

We went out on a pretty long bike ride tonight around town in the drizzly. A happy dog.

VW

I have an old VW that I work on during the raining evenings. Othello Moose helps too sometimes by bringing me things that I don't necessarily need, but I do appreciate. I do not think that Catahoulas can adjust valves on a VW.

He has plenty of toys and as I sit here typing, I see that he has strewn them about the living room. He has had his run tonight, so he should be tired.

Hannegan Pass

 I haven't written much, because there's nothing new going on. Three walks a day, a healthy Catahoula that smells and acts healthy and happy.

Saturday we hiked Hannegan Peak beyond Mt. Baker. Ten miles of about three thousand feet of vertical. Of course, Othello was a champ and ran three times the distance that we hiked.

Unfortunately, my camera died. So what was probably the best vistas of all of our hike, we had no pictures.

At this point of the week, we begin to plan for Saturday. The snow line will be pretty high, which is good for more mountain hiking. But not for Othello - he is like a little kid in the snow.

Catahoula Goat Dog

Today we hiked Goat Mountain off the Mt. Baker Highway. Problem is, it was very clouded in, as well as rainy. We both became quite moist, but the snow had melted from last week so we made about a thousand feet shy of the summit. But at the time it looked pretty close to the top. One of the best things about hiking now is that there are no people out, so we had then entire trail to ourselves. My estimate is eight or nine miles were covered today and an elevation gain of 3,000 feet. 

Othello Moose in one tired, yet happy dog tonight.