Sunday, November 22, 2009

New Hike!

Warning: this post is Very Picture Intensive. Those of you with slow internet connections should just use your imaginations. For those of you with high-speed internet, these pictures are well-worth biggifying.

Okay. So, Mom and Dad took me on a new hike yesterday. Mom has this big map of all these different trails, and trail heads and things, and decided that we would 'try' a hike that was started "somewhere" off the Dalton Wash road.

For those of you who don't know Dad, "somewhere" always makes him a little nervous. He likes directions to be a little more specific than that. Especially when the road is a dirt road that seems to go up at about a 60% grade. Mom wasn't worried because she wasn't driving!

Anyhoo, after a couple of wrong turns and a glimpse of a somewhat creepy guy camping up on the mesa, Mom and Dad found a place to park that suited them, and off we went, not having any idea as to what to expect.

At the start, it was just another dirt road. Ho-hum. I won't bother to show you more dirt road pictures, as you get the idea. We went on for a while, until I decided that I needed a drink. FYI, Dad carries my water (and his), while Mom carries the backpack that has extra clothes, food, dog treats, etc., etc.

Now even if you biggify that picture, you might miss my water drinking technique.

Note the tongue curl-age. This is so I can most efficiently drink out of Dad's water bottle. (Yes, we share. I kiss him on the lips, so it's not like sharing a water bottle is that much different. I mean, I've already got Dad's cooties at this point!)

Once we got off the dirt road, we found ourselves on a very up-and-down trail with lots of slick rock. Mom says I'm a "mountain goat". Last time I checked, I was still a doggie.

Photo-op! (Neither of my grandmothers should panic at this photo - we were no where near the edge!)
Pretty cool scenery, huh?


And then back to the slickrock. I was the trail guide!

Another photo-op! This picture is well-worth biggifying; Mom and Dad seemed to be pretty impressed with the scenery. Me? I was looking for elusive jack rabbits.


See, I told you I was the trail guide! I kept my eyes peeled for this rock markers so we didn't get lost.


Wow, there's a lot of rock here, Mom! But don't worry I'll guide you safely.


This is a 'window'. It can be created by wind or water, but we're guessing wind on this one.

HI!!! Heehee!!!

More drinking. I was interested in the pool, but Dad insisted that I drink out of the bottle, instead. Spoilsport! ;-)


Me and Mom at the edge of the world! (Not really, it just looks like it!)


Me and Dad in front of more of this 'scenery' stuff.

I really don't know why Mom says I'm a mountain goat. She might be confused, though, because she's got really long legs all of a sudden. Maybe it's an 'Alice in Wonderland' sort of thing...



Oh wait, her legs are normal again! More scenery stuff. And trail markers.

There are trails that run all over this mesa, and after looking at the mesa on Google Earth, Mom and Dad want to come back and do some more exploring. Which sounds good to me, because I like walking up and down the rocks. And scoping out the occasional rabbit/lizard. So, this was actually a pretty cool hike; I'm glad Mom found it. I can't wait to go back. And I can't wait to see what other new hikes Mom finds.

Now I'm going to go take a nap with my little big sister, because looking at all of these pictures is wearing me out!

*kissey face*
-Fiona The Intrepid

23 comments:

Dexter said...

That was big sky and big country for sure. What a most excellent hike. I am glad you told me that you were not too close to the edge, though, you know how unstable moms can be.

Slobbers,
Mango

Ms. ~K said...

Isn't it cool out west?
We love it!
Great photos.
Have fun!

Sierra Rose said...

Wow!!! Fiona that was fantastic! What range was in the foreground? Can't wait for you to go back and do more hiking in such a spot!

Hugs and snaggle-tooth kisses,
Sierra Rose

1000 Goldens said...

We are feeling jealous of your great adventures. So Beautiful! Living the good life, right Fi?

The Oceanside Animals said...

hello fiona its dennis the vizsla dog hay wow that is sum grayt seenery all rite!!! i wood luv to do sum wawkies in seenery like that!!! ok bye

D.K. Wall said...

Excellent hike! We give it the 24 paw up award - which means we would love to do the trail ourselves.

P.S. - Our hu-dad is the same way - insists that we do not drink the water we find on the trail. Sigh.

The Adventures of the LLB Gang said...

WOWOWOW!! What a wonderful hike!! Such beautiful scenery!!!

Smileys!
Dory

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

WHOA!

That looked like some pawesome pawesome fun!

Your drinking style is fantastikh!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Lorenza said...

Hi, Fiona!
Yes, another pawesome adventure!
Thanks for sharing it!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

bichonpawz said...

What a fabulous set of photos!!! And a great hike!! Especially love the one of you in the window Fiona!! We miss bein' out West and think it will be awhile before we see scenery like that :(

Hugs from Chloe & LadyBug, the NY BichonsFrises

♥Mona + Prissy + Angel Weenie♥ said...

Hi Fiona,

Wow!! Fantastic pics.

Just stopping by to wish you and your Happy Thanksgivings.

Huggies....
Mona & Mommy, Sarah

Rocky Creek Scotties and Rocky Creek Ramblings said...

What a wonderful hike - our human sissy is a dessert rat - always going out there on geology trips.

XOXO
Lilly, Piper, Carrleigh and Java

Piappies World said...

Hello Fiona!
That's another fun walking adventure. Weeeeeee

Thankies for sharing.

- Scrappy, Bullet & the Piappies

The Army of Four said...

WOWZERS! What incredible scenery!!! We don't have anything like that in Kansas! Not yet, anyway. I mean, they put an ocean in last year, maybe there's hope for something like this!
Play bows,
Zim

YD, sometimes with ♥June and ♥Angel Samantha said...

What a great place for a hike! Can we come with you next time?
We know what you mean about the "pool" but humans always spoil our fun.
Hey, hope you and your pawrents have a great Thanksgiving!

Sam & June

Clive said...

Fiona

We love your photos, your hikes and most especially your great drinking technique! Most impressive!

take care
Clive

Molly the Airedale said...

What an incredible hike you had, Fiona! We are so jealous!

Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch

BRUTUS said...

Pawesome hike, Fiona!! You are so lucky!! I'm hoping next year I'll get to see some stuff like that when mom & dad drive Big Earl out west & up to Alaska! Who needs national parks when you can see stuff like that from a trail off an old dirt road??

Snorts-
Brutus the Frenchie

Mollie Jo and Bobo said...

Great hike! Love the scenery!

Wags and Licks,
Mollie Jo & Bobo

bbes tribe said...

Great hike, scenery, and pics. Wish we could have been there exploring with you. Looks like you were plumb tuckered out when you got home Fi. That shows it was good. Thanks for sharing the pics.
Wags
Ernie & Sasha

Astrid Keel said...

what a great hike, Fiona! I love that window picture... priceless!
xoxo,
Brownie

Scruffy, Lacie and Stanley's Place said...

OMD,Fiona...I don't know what was MORE dangerous...some of those cliffs you were by or sharin' drinkin' water with the hoomans...you KNOW our beards sterilize our bowl water...dunno bout drinkin' outta those water bottles...

We loved that little cave with the window that ya think the wind made...totally cool!


Thanks for sharin' all the pix...great walkies!!!

Kisses, Laciegirlie

Michele McLaughlin said...

Great pics! Happy Thanksgiving to you! Have a safe and wonderful holiday!
Paddie, Ted, Seamus and Nana