Final Hike of 2018

Hey Tribe,

With Christmas finished and the excitement ebbing, we needed something to pep us up and help adjust our mood.  TheNurse has impeccable timing and sent a text wondering when we were free for a hike and we quickly chose Twin Peaks trail (remember the bear encounter?) to try again. 

Post Christmas feels

The bears would probably be sleeping, we hoped, like all sensible mammals should be during winter, but that didn’t prevent TheGingerBeast from being a little worried about our adventure.  She’s new to our team.

Our conversation before the hike went like this.

Snow was in abundance as we pulled into the nearly deserted parking lot at 6:00pm – two stalwart and snow-laden trucks were the only evidence that this popular trailhead is used year round.  Naturally, Fly and Kona immediately engaged in epic battle and took advantage of the open space to put on a light show for us as we arranged packs and adjusted trekking poles.

Our hike was rather peaceful, with the exception of the perpetually wrestling furry companions who kept us dodging and hopping out of their path of destruction.  TheGingerBeast kept the conversation going with questions of “Would you rather…” while TheNurse and I huffed and puffed our way through the powdery snow and up the gently sloping switchbacks of the trail.  We concluded a long time ago that we are not athletic – just determined – and unashamedly slow as hikers.

At the first bench, we paused to take in the view, as well as to gasp in the crisp wintery night air.  The lake was just visible in the moonlight, with its blanket of white snow contrasting against the dark tree covered mountain slopes, stretching parallel to us and away around a bend in the deep valley toward an unseen glacier that is its source.  One day, we will pay the glacier a visit.

On we hiked, up into the unending trees and bends in the trail.  The path petered to only a sliver of a trail the further we continued – other hikers apparently turning back before reaching the second bench that marks the end of the established trail.  Hunger began to make itself known to our group of dinner negligent girls and I was ready to turn back if we didn’t reach the second bench soon.  Jokingly, I told TheNurse to run up ahead and see if the bench was near, knowing full well my hiking twin was just as spent as I was; to my admiration and surprise, TheGingerBeast volunteered and without hesitation, began running - literally running - up the snowy incline and was quickly swallowed up by the darkness.  Fly was ready to charge up the trail after her, but was held in check by my unwillingness to move another step unless warranted.  We waited.  TheGingerBeast didn’t return.  We shouted and waited.  Nothing.  After some worried debate, TheNurse and I decided we would press on and see if we could find our brave and missing companion and the dogs eagerly charged ahead to close the gap.

Fly checked out ptarmigan tracks in the snow.

We found her, coming back to meet us, jubilantly exclaiming that she’d found the elusive second bench and we followed her encouraging words up to the wooden and snow covered seat.  Summit snacks were shared as we took in the stars and hoped to see the Northern Lights that were purported to be brilliant and visible that evening.  All we saw were a scattering of stars and cloud cover that was lit up with the distant city lights, set against the black outline of the surrounding mountain peaks.  It was lovely, though not what were had been hoping for: sometimes what you get is just as nice, if you have a willing spirit and an open mind.

TheGingerBeast, TheNurse, and Kona squint into my headlight beam.

TheGingerBeast, like Cinderella, had to be home by midnight, so we made a speedy descent, pausing at the lake overlook again to re-admire the view and watch the headlights of some people moving about under the trees far below us at the otherwise quiet lakeside campground.  No bears were met this time, though Fly did do some concerning sniffing and posturing at a few points as we made our way downhill; she would stop and intently peer into the woods, before moving on and I decided not to point it out to the others, because ignorance is bliss, right?  The smells didn’t bother Fly enough to worry her, so I decided to trust my dog and didn’t let it bother our group either.  It could have been a moose, or a grouse, or some far off night creature just living its life and glad the noisy humans were vacating the area.

Kona's glowing eyes were the only ones we encountered, thankfully.

In all, it was a great night hike and a fantastic way to end our 2018 hiking season.  I am so excited for another year of hiking, adventuring, and spending time with the beings whom I love.

Merry Christmas 2018!

Hey Tribe,

Just a quick note to wish you a Merry Christmas!

We are spending the day with friends and family and playing in the snow.  There's talk of a deep fried turkey in the afternoon, which should warm us up from these below zero temperatures we have had for the past few days.  The snow is sugary soft and fluffy and perfect for running and frolicking without getting too tired.

Best wishes, keep warm and happy!

AKSSD Parade Float

Hey Tribe,

It’s the holiday season!  Are you excited?  I know we are: we love all the colors and sounds and smells that appear around this time of year.  A time when people seem to smile a bit more, interact with complete strangers, and dress a bit more vibrant: carolers unexpectedly grouping in a coffee shop to serenade caffeine addicts? Yes, please!

Since Fly and I have joined the AK Solstice Search Dogs group – have I mentioned that yet? Oh dear, I’m woefully behind on my posts! – Anyway, our group apparently annually enters a parade float in our local Lights Parade and Fly and I were asked if we would be part of the team that rides on the float.  Some of our group’s dogs do not enjoy crowds, other dogs, and/or loud noises like the fireworks display that was scheduled for the finale of the parade, but Fly is a champ and those things don’t seem to bother her much, so I eagerly said ‘yes’ we would participate.

We met early to stage the float and get last minute details, and incorrigible light strands, sorted out.  All our team members wore battery-operated lights and the dogs sported vests with lights pinned on them, so they could be seen better by the crowd.  Fly was eager to meet and sniff the other float riding dogs – some dog handlers don’t want other dogs bothering them when we are training, so this was Fly’s chance to socialize and she made the best of it!  Tails were wagged, sniffs exchanged, and a small game of play ensued atop the float – much to the consternation of the humans who were trying to keep squirming dogs from getting tangled in our lights.

Eventually, as darkness fell, our float began to slowly roll along the snowy street.  The movement settled the excited canines and they acted like riding atop a hay bale loaded trailer was their everyday activity.

People cheered and waved.  “Doggie!” was exclaimed by many a small snowsuit clad child.  Fly put her two front paws on my knees and stood so she could get a better look - that, or she knew it put her at a better position for being noticed.  We heard calls of “Beautiful dog!” and “What kind of dog is that?” directed in our direction after that.  Fly grinned and behaved as if she were the parade queen, looking this way and that at her admiring subjects.  She was very much the little diva.

It was a wonderful evening!  Though, at the end, the fireworks touched off directly behind us as we were rolling back to the parking lot and frightened all the dogs, who were not expecting such a thunderous concussion of sound.  The gun dogs settled into acceptance of the noise, though Fly was uncertain and shaky until our float reached our destination and I brought her to the truck.  With the noise dampened, she resumed her usual demeanor and I bid our team members good evening.

Our float took third place, by the way!  If you happen to be a lover of parades and have 40 minutes of time to kill, you can watch the parade here, as well as the fireworks.

We hope your holiday season is off to a wonderful start and that your heart is happy and at peace.

The World's Only Corn Palace

Hey Tribe,

There were many fun and interesting places we visited during our winter road trip, but there is one place in particular that I wanted to share with you.  The “World’s Only Corn Palace” located in Mitchell, South Dakota, is a gem of a tourist destination, as is the surrounding town, with its romantic historical houses, sturdy brick buildings, and narrow streets festooned in holiday cheer.

We found a locally operated restaurant, packed full of hunters and senior citizens and guessed, correctly, that the place served decent food.  When we stepped through the doors, the smell of freshly brewed coffee greeted us, though we had to wait a bit to be seated.   After eating a delicious breakfast of perfectly cooked eggs, buttered bread, mountainous hash browns, and thickly cut and incredibly flavored bacon, complete with piping hot coffee, I dashed out to the truck to grab my travel mug which the waitress had generously offered to fill for me.  I also grabbed our trusty map, which told of the nearby tourist attraction of the corn palace. 

They even have a website.

Asking for directions was met with cheerful smiles, a free map of the tiny town, and a friendly wave as I scurried back out to the truck to share my new knowledge with the waiting Fly and TheFather.  Following the signs for the palace was easy, though I kept being distracted by all the delightful architectural details of the homes that lined the streets.  We found a generously sized parking lot (thankfully, since we were pulling a trailer) and gleefully discovered that parking was free.

Since the street was lined with curious sights, I brought Fly along, intending to return her to the truck when I was ready to enter the palace.  We strolled along the empty sidewalk and got to watch men on a scaffold re-decorating the side wall of the palace.  I learned later, that the palace wall decorations and murals are changed regularly, so a visit one season will look different the next season.  Also, it’s essentially an enormous bird feeder, so I’m sure the walls need refreshing each season for that reason alone.

The sign on the front doors of the palace made me do a double take – dogs were welcome in the building!  There were other signs showing the management’s stance on other public discussions, such as “nursing mothers welcome” and a reminder to lock vehicle doors if guns were kept inside them.  What a palace.

"We are pet friendly!" 

Fly and I cautiously stepped through the threshold of the calm palace and were greeted with a quiet smile from an attendant who handed me an informational brochure and gently encouraged me to sign their guestbook.  TheFather was already engrossed in reading a history of the corn wonder and we joined him to gaze at the large black and white photographs displayed along the walls.  It was a time machine like experience to see the same building we were currently standing in, but with people dressed in a different era’s clothing styles.  Photograph after photograph led us through history, from horse drawn carriages to electric cars; I was a little sheepish as I pulled my eyes away from the full length, bustle and corset, lace edged gowns of the prim hat wearing ladies and tried to straighten my rumpled flannel pants and tame my errant hair.

The interior of the palace.

Some of the displays.

As close as we could get to a successful photo.

Being the only visitors in the building right then, we decided to do a bit of search practice with Fly.  So, TheFather made his way up to the second floor and hid and then I showed Fly his hat and gave her the “find” command.  She flew up the stairs so fast, I pulled a hamstring trying to keep up with her, and she easily found him tucked around a corner in a little, dimly lit photo gallery.  It was so successful, we decided to do it one more time; this time, Fly couldn’t see which way TheFather went and I didn’t know either.  We waited a decent amount of time, to allow him to find a hiding place and then Fly again sniffed the hat and I said, “Find!”  Around the corner we flew, slowing at the staircase, circling once in an open area with glass railings, before Fly proceeded down a long, photo covered hallway and then snapped her head at a junction with another hallway.  Without hesitation, she turned right, down the new hallway, instead of heading straight in the direction we had been in, and we passed several open doors before Fly turned right again and wagged her tail in happiness as she spotted TheFather sitting in a seat.  Good find, Fly, good find!

Where is he?

Found him! (sorry for the blur, I was moving to keep up with Fly)

Our training complete, I looked up to discover we were in a large auditorium or stadium, with a full size basketball court down in the center.  It was unexpected and impressive.  I gaped in amazement at the corn murals around us, until a woman mopping the already spotless floors greeted us and Fly and I walked over to be social.  I cringed a bit as Fly’s furry body and my shoes passed over the woman’s newly mopped area, but we didn’t leave any trace of our passage and she happily patted Fly’s head before returning to her task.

In all, if you find yourself near Mitchell, SD, do spend the time to visit the corn palace and the friendly folks whom you will meet.  It’s free and dog friendly!  But maybe fix your messy hair first though - it is a palace after all.