Pix from our trip out West

Woofs to all! My Dad created a new shutterfly photo site---we don`t like the changes made at Webshots where we previously uploaded our pix---and uploaded several photos to use for a 2013 calendar. They depict highlights of our recent trip. The photos with descriptions can be viewed here.

Click here to view these pictures larger

White Sands National Monument

Woofs to all,
I will be featuring as my primary photo pix of our trip as I upload them from key events. This one shows me hiking in White Sands New Mexico. The sand was a dazzling pure white and it was easy to imagine that you were hiking in a vast snowfield,save that it was warm! It was a wierd feeling. Check my dogster plus photo book for a larger image!
Wes

Finishing up our latest trip

Woofs to all!

It has been a long time since I last barked here but my Dad and I have been away on a long road trip out West and have had very little internet access. My dad has an ancient laptop from 2002 and it will only work if physically plugged in. Since we camped out virtually the whole trip,we couldn`t take advantage of motels for internet access and wifi wouldn`t work since it had to be plugged in somewhere. Anyway we finally reached my cousin Julie`s place in FL today and can at last post some news.

Dad and I headed west in late Sept stopping first at White Sands National Monument in southern New Mexico. There are vast dunes of sparkling white sand here that look like a vast snow field save that it was hot,if you can imagine,it was like hiking in Antarctica in warm weather---WIERD!


Next we headed on to Grand Canyon where I had to be boarded at an animal Hospital due to dehydration suffered in the desert of White Sands. Fortunately,I made a quick recovery here and dad still did his week of backpacking down in the Grand Canyon. We also hiked trails on the North Rim of Grand Canyon on our way back home.

After the Grand Canyon,we headed into California and hiked trails in Death Valley and Yosemite. Yosemite was awesome with trails that traversed high rock spires with sweeping views of the valley far below. We hiked along the rocky pacific coast then headed back home thru the Nevada desert,hiking the rim of Lunar Crater there. In Utah,we hiked past the colorful rock spires in Bryce Canyon National Park and explored the rugged vistas of Canyonlands Nationasl Park. Continuing eastward,we hiked the vast sand dunes of Colorado`s Great Sand Dunes even experiencing some snow here that dusted the dunes. It was cold here as well,one morning our subaru`s thermometer registered 1 degree F! We hiked the vast prairie of Kansas,a scene reminiscent of the old movie DANCES WITH WOLVES. Near trips end,we even were able to kayak in the warm waters of the FL everglades. We will be posting pix soon.

Wes

A visit with Pam,Flicka,and Lucas

Today was our 2nd day on the road. On day 1,Dad managed to drive 950 miles to reach ST Clairsville ,MO where we camped overnite in a rest area. At the start of our trip as we journeyed out the PA turnpike,Dad`s subaru clicked over to 100,000 miles! Late in the day,we passed thru St Louis,MO and the famous arch was nicely lit up against the backdrop of the lighted city skyscrapers.

Today we passed thru OK and stopped to visit with Dogster pals Flicka and Lucas. I enjoyed a nice evening stroll around Pam`s property with them. The boys live on a nice rural property in a peaceful,secluded setting. We really appreciate being able to stay here overnite since we arrived rather late in the day.

Heading West starting tonight.

Woofs to all!
Dad and I are starting our annual trip out west to the Grand Canyon and California tonight. We are traveling a different route this time as Dad`s sister down in FL has a prior commitment at a dog show and will not be there.(we hope to visit FL on the way back) We will be headed more or less directly west and should be around St Louis MO by tomorrow nite. Then it`s on thru OK,TX,NM,and finally AZ where Dad plans an 8 day backpacking trip down inside Grand Canyon. I will have to stay in the South Rim kennel while he is down in the Canyon,but he plans to give me a few hikes around the Flagstaff area both before and after his hike. We hope to also explore some new ares out west later on as well. Our internet connection during the trip may be spotty,but we will post updates when we can.
Wes

Hiking in the Delaware Water Gap

Dad recently took me on a 6 day backpacking trip in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in NJ. We hiked the Appalachian Trail and various side trails thus doing some nice multi day loop hikes. We were able to swim in some lakes and streams. Dad even managed to paddle across the Delaware River on his Thermarest sleeping pad! The weather was sunny except for thunderstorms on the first and last days. Dad even found a few more geocaches in the area! Some pix of our trip follow. The Delaware Water Gap is one of our favourite summer hiking areas!

Delaware Water Gap Aug 2012

Blue Ridge Parkway

After our hike in Shenandoah Park,Dad and I proceeded on down the Blue Ridge Parkway. This road is a scenic 2 lane winding road across the crest of the Appalachian mts in VA and NC. We explored some places along the way and finished the 460 mile Parkway in Great Smoky Mts National Park where we did a short day hike to the top of Mt Leconte. Some pix follow.

Traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway

Highlights of our recent trip to Shenandoah Park,VA

Some photos have already been posted on Dogster,but there are a few more here from the start of our trip as we hiked for 10 days in Shenandoah Park,VA. Clicking on next will advance the pix.

Hiking in Shenandoah Park

Highlights of our 2012 spring trip.

Just a brief woof here. I am featuring photos of favourite scenes from our recent trip as my primary photo. I will change it periodically. On day 3 of our hike,we explored the Rose River Falls area where this pic was taken. Dad and I love Shenandoah National Park!
Wes

Recent trip to Virginia,Florida,and the Outer Banks of NC

Woofs to all!
Dad and I have been rather busy and have not been online much since returning home from our recent trip. We are trying our best to play catch up now!
First off,both of us sincerely appreciate all the concern that was shown to us when Dogster friends thought we were missing. We were simply overdue in getting back from our trip. All was well with us. We are touched by all the well wishes though!

Dad and I left home in mid may and spent 10 days backpacking in Shenandoah National Park. Next we drove the entire 400 plus mile length of the Blue Ridge Parkway south to NC and Great Smoky Mts National Park. Dad had always wanted to travel the Blue Ridge Parkway and it sure was a scenic alternate to I-95!

In Florida,we drove down to the Keys and Dad used our raft to paddle out to some islands there. We enjoyed the white sand and green water at Key West.We also hiked a bit of the Florida trail in Big Cypress Preserve(trail flooded in many parts here and a ZILLION mosquitos)and around Lake Okeechobee. We visited with Dad`s sister and my Dogster cousin,Julie in north Florida then started home.

In SC,dad decided to spend some time rafting on Lake Marion. We spent a few hours rafting on the lake,then as Dad was deflating the raft,I caught the scent of a critter and gave chase. It took Dad a while to find me but we were reunited the next afternoon when I made my way back to the boat launch. SCARY time there!

Since we would be late getting home anyway,Dad decided to explore the Outer Banks of NC. He originally intended to spend only a few days here but kept finding interesting things to do like raft along Pamlico sound and explore isolated beaches and renting a kayak to visit an island 3 miles out in Currituck sound. We were late getting home,but it was a super trip! I will soon be posting pix but one is already up now as my primary photo.
Wes