Where Do We Begin

Grief always brings me to the question "Where do we begin?" We know we have to go on and find a new way to breathe and act and react when we lose a part of ourselves, but what will be the first step?

For me I need to get to the core of what I learned or what gift I received along the way. With the passing of Athena the results of that thinking are massive.

We have been fortunate to have had great dogs since Rufus first joined us in 1990. They each challenged and loved and infuriated us along the way and each passed on their own lessons. Athena was unique in that she was the only rescue dog and her first 3 years or so were not ideal. Nearly 8 months in and out of the Tacoma Humane Society including 2 one month chunks where she was eventually returned took away her belief that she would ever be anywhere for more than a short stay - no forever home was in her future.

She came to us armed with tests which she employed regularly to see if we had the type of commitment she wanted. She was a runner - taking off at every opportunity. She did that at least 30 times until we realize that we couldn't chase after her because that was what made the game fun. When we quit so did she. She kept part of that history in her memory as she almost always came in the back door because that was the good way to do come back.

It was only after our return from a month long trip to Peru and Ecuador (where we had Pam's dad stay home with her) that she finally let down her pound dog wall and decided that we were going to be there for her an that our home was her forever home.

There was nothing subtle or gradual about her change. When she gave herself to us she did so immediately and completely. The immediate pressure I felt to not let her down was more than balanced by the unconditional love that she erupted with. And then we got to know her.

At her core, Athena wanted just to make people smile. She had a "collection" process which involved lots of goofing and face kissing and she was more than willing to slip you the tongue if you weren't paying attention. Trips in the car and city walks were her favorite stages to entertain new people - to give them their own little bit of Doggess love. She would use the room in the station wagon to make sure all other drivers and passengers got a full show.

She never forgot anyone she "collected" as one of her fans and she loved old friends coming for a visit. She was an empath and knew just what everyone needed mostly before they did.

She earned a bunch of names for many different reasons. Bird - because she preferred drinking from a bird bath on the deck to her water bowl. Kid, Tiny and Itsy Bitz because she didn't see herself as big as she was, Bugga Bugga for her mischievousness.  Sunshine for her cheery attitude. Punk for her precociousness. But the most appropriate were Doggess and the Regal Beast because she had a way of carrying herself that was without equal - like a lioness maybe.

We brought her home and on the same day we went to dinner at a friend's home and left her for 6 hours free to roam the house. When we came home we were shocked to find that she had just settled in and din't chew anything or make an messes. She was always able to wait out the rain for extended periods before doing her business. Often that would lea to a 3 legged pee (to keep from peeing on her feet) and occasionally the rare 2 legged pee where she would balance on her front feet only while peeing. TMI? Okay. I'll move on.

She liked her clothes. Pam made her knit ruffs that she would give up if you had an instant replacement. She also liked her rain coat - enough to check out her own reflection more than once, and her snow gear.

She was a natural trail dog. She had a nose for the trail even when covered in snow. The trails she was most familiar with she liked to use her goofs on. Her favorite was to pretend to take a wrong turn just to get me to speak up and give her a hard time. She'd turn and give me a big, goofy smile and carry on. She liked sleeping in tents with us and learned quickly that mosquitoes were not in the tent. She would wait - not patiently - while we set the tent up and dive in at her first opportunity. She was all dog when it came to a chance to roll in elk poop. She was all smiles after that.

Almost all of the games we played were designed by her. She liked the game where we argued over food items the best. She would growl and put on a big show of how serious she was about me not stealing her treats or popcorn. She was so committed to it she would save some popcorn for that purpose. She ordered popcorn to be made on a regular basis.

In her quietest moments her kisses were small and intentional. She was so much in love with us that it could be hard to accept sometimes. We feared early on that stars that burn as bright as she did didn't burn for long. We were fortunate to have her big bright light shine on us for more than 7 years though we would have selfishly had it shine for much longer.

There was only one way to love her and that was as fully and openly as she loved us. We will miss her forever and treasure our time with her for just as long.

Catching Up

I just realized that I haven't posted in a while - a little over 12,000 feet of elevation gain and a little under 40 miles to be exact.

We hiked from Box Canyon to the high point just before Indian Bar with Phyllis and Tami on a glorious late summer day. The trail is part of the Wonderland Trail and was in great shape. We hiked a little over 13 miles and 3852 feet of elevation gain. We enjoyed some new to us views of Mt Rainier and it was the first harder hike that Tami had ever done.

The next week Pam, Chris L and I hiked up the Ira Spring Trail to Mason Lake and Mt Defiance and logged another  12 miles and over 4000 feet of elevation gain. Again, the trails were in great shape although some signage at Mason Lake would help hikers find their way to the continuing trails to Mt Defiance, Pratt Lake and others. 

We took a wrong turn that cost us a little walk through a mucky marsh and a mile or so. We did make the peak and were treated to great 360 degree views.

Yesterday Pam and I headed up Crystal Lakes Trail and decided to hike through to the Pacific Crest Trail at Sourdough Gap. Once there we decided to hike out to Chinook Pass on the PCT and then come back. All in all we managed 14.5 miles and 4155 feet of elevation gain and were on the trail for just over 6 hours total time.

The trails and views were just as great as the last 2 hikes and we ended up with 40.92 miles and 12,012 feet of elevation gain for our efforts bringing our yearly totals to 452.76 miles and 105,261 feet of elevation gain. 

The Chinook Pass end of the trail.

While the weather is still acting like summer we will keep knocking out the best late summer hikes we can, but we know it will be time for rain pants and snowshoes soon enough. 

Be very well and more soon (I promise).....

Stevens Canyon And Two Peaks Out Of Sunrise = Good Weekend

Pam and I headed out Saturday with a poor weather forecast to do a hike we had never done. We still haven't since we parked at the wrong lot and ended up hiking a different section of the Wonderland Trail.

We had intended to hike from Box Canyon to Indian Bar and back and ended up hiking Stevens Canyon Trail to the Wonderland Trail to where it crosses Stevens Canyon road just past Martha Falls and back. The totals were 11.75 miles and 2755 feet of elevation gain. We had set out to do 16 miles and over 5000 feet of elevation, but since it was drizzling and then raining we were happy with our effort.

The trail was very pretty. We didn't get any long views, but the light was nice for the pictures we got. There were some sketchy log bridges, a washout in a steep section and some great waterfalls.

Not happy with under 12 miles on Labor Day weekend after we managed about 42 miles and 12,750 feet of elevation gain last year we joined Sherrie and Rob at Sunrise to bag a couple of peaks. 

I was quickly reminded that the weather is a little different at 6400 feet of altitude than at sea level. It was in the upper 30's with a stiff breeze when we headed off to hike up Skyscraper Mountain. I was in my normal summer hiking shorts which was pretty cold until the sun broke through.

We made the distance to Skyscraper quickly and made the summit easily. I claimed it for the Benevolent Kingdom of the good king Paullie Paullie which is customary on summits. We had some great shots of Freemont Lookout and Mountain which was our next destination.

By the time we were on the trail to Freemont the clouds had settled down on us. We hit the lookout first for some pictures and then headed up a couple hundred feet of elevation gain to Freemont Mountain Summit. 

We decided on the way down that a third peak wasn't in the cards so we left McNeeley for another day and headed down. We managed 11.44 miles and 3044 feet of elevation gain making our weekend respectable at 23.19 miles and 5799 feet of elevation gain.

 Now we are getting packed up for 2 hikes on Mt St Helens, Mt Defiance (Oregon) and PCT days at Cascade Locks including a little trail maintenance on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Be very well and more soon.....