Dogster

return to top

Butch`s adventures with his dad 1995-2000

Nearly 10 years at the Rainbow Bridge

Paws to all. I have been here at the Rainbow Bridge for almost 10 years now. In that time,I have had many grand adventures and met lots of new Bridge pals,but the occasion of my upcoming 10th anniversary has caused me to reminisce a bit on my life back on Earth with my Dad. We would take a trip to Alaska each fall and hike the wonderful trails up there such as the historic Chilkoot Trail in Skagway used by the stampeders in the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898,and the Kesugi Ridge trail in Denali State Park which afforded majestic views of the Alaska Range and Denali (Mt Mckinley)itself. 10 years ago in August 2000,dad and I enjoyed what was to be our last rafting summer together on the Delaware river. We traveled to Alaska in the fall of that year---our 5th time there---and had another wonderful trip hiking in the majestic mountains all around that state. On the way back home,in Montana,dad and I stopped at a rest area near Craig and we took a short walk there as we had been driving for some time. Dad left me outside while he went in to use the restroom as I was a very calm dog and there was hardly any traffic on the Interstate in northern Montana. For reasons unknown to my Dad (and to this day,I`m still not completely sure why I did it) I walked across Interstate 15 while he was inside the restroom and was tragically hit by a car. My heart was aching with pity as my spirit watched Dad emerge from the restroom,call my name several times,and finally discover my body lifeless by the side of the interstate. I tried to comfort Dad as he cried over me and finally covered up my body with loose rocks creating a grave for me by the roadside. This was Oct 6,2000. My spirit then departed for the Rainbow Bridge as Dad drove away down the interstate. I barked a goodbye and Dad must have heard me because in the days and weeks following the accident,he had second thoughts about leaving my body in the roadside grave. It so happened that his sister was going out to Montana to visit a friend in Feb 2001 and by amazing coincidence this friend lived near the site of the accident. They drove out to the rest area near Craig,recovered my body,and had me cremated at the nearby Lewis and Clark Humane Society in Helena----the same shelter where Dad adopted my brother Smiley.

A few days ago,this friend drove by that same rest area and e mailed this to my Dad :
Just got checked in to the room in Great Falls and have to head over to the
> park for the show, but wanted to let you know that I went by where we picked
> Butch up at. I was going to stop and put some wildflowers on "his rocks" -
> but there is construction and the rest area is closed off. Actually, they
> have the rest area all torn up, tons of equipment parked there, and I'm not
> so sure "his rocks" are even still there!
>
> Anyways, was thinking of him, you & John and wanted to let you know! Feel
> free to share this with John - I don't have his e-mail addy handy!
>
> Hugs,
>
> Peg

So it has been nearly 10 years since that day in Oct 2000 and while I miss my Dad,I eagerly await our eventual reunion.
Love you Dad,
Butch ♥

1997 Alaska Trip part 2

After our little hike in the Carcross Desert,we drove across White Pass on the Klondike Highway and soon reached the Alaska border which is located at the summit of White Pass. From the summit of White Pass,the road descends crossing a suspension bridge spanning a rocky canyon then continues down to the Gold Rush town of Skagway. Dad and I spent 4 days hiking the Chilkoot Trail in Skagway and then toured the town itself after our hike. We walked down to the docks to view the cruise ships that sailed here from Seattle and Vancouver via the Inside Passage. I`ve posted 2 new pix of White Pass and the cruise ship on my page.
Butch

1997 Alaska trip Part 1

Greetings from across the Bridge!
In Sept 1997,Dad and I took our 2nd trip together to Alaska. We travelled there in dad`s 1994 Geo Metro which was still a fairly new car back then. We drove thru the US as far as North Dakota before entering Canada at the Saskatchewan border. Then it was west across the Canadian plains until we reached the town of Dawson Creek in British Columbia. This is where the Alaska Highway begins. We drove north on the Alaska Highway for about 500 miles before arriving in Canada`s Yukon territory which is adjacent to Alaska. Here we did a bit of hiking in the Carcross Desert. This is a small area of sand dunes surrounded by majestic peaks. It is actually the floor of an ancient lake.We then travelled on to Skagway,Alaska to hike the Chilkoot Trail,a famous trail from the 1897 Klondike Gold Rush. I`ve posted a few pix from this trip. More details later. Dad and I shared 5 Alaska trips together before I crossed the Bridge in 2000.
Paws,
Butch