Be Prepared to Hike with Dog's Checklist

Before I get started with the actual hikes, I want to go into what Leo and I do to get ready.  Generally I get prepared the same way a boy scout would with a general list of essentials.  For these day hikes, I use a HAWG Camelbak 14L+3L water pack  Its actually a biker pack to keep my back cool.  Here is my latest upgrade from the previous blue cloud walker (all REI dividend).  Inside the bag I always keep the following:

1. Extra clothes (Weather dependent)
2. GPS w/ extra AA (Independent of phone which I turn off)
3. Sunglasses, Tilley hat and sunscreen
4. Trail mix
5. Camelbak water
6. Rain jacket
7. Flashlight
8. First aid kit
9. Water proof matches
10. Swiss Champ

Leo has his own pack that gets filled with his stuff only.  I carry mine, He carries his.  I have found that he has a very different reaction to carrying a pack versus just thinking he is getting a walk.  There is a challenge, workmanship feeling that comes out of him when he catches a glimpse of the yellow REI pack.  The best tip I have ever been given is that if you need something, they probably need it too.  Water, food, warmth, rest.  There are signs for each one of those.

In addition to my first aid kit Leo carries:

1. ID tags (I need to get him chipped)
2. Food and water bowl ( you can get away with one but in Leo's pack it balances weight)
3. Full days ration of food
4. 8 ounces of water per hour or 3 miles. At minimum i always take two 16 oz bottles again to balance out weight
5. Plastic bags for #2
6. Extra leash (most places only allow 6 ft leads but an expandable leash can be used as a tie up for a short duration.)
7. 6 treats for pit stops
8. If you carry a 3 day min first aid kit, the only additional first aid stuff I have found you need is lemon juice for skunks and a rectal thermometer.  Unless you really want to share.

 water dish

Collapse-able covered food dish

These are general guidelines for day hikes, even full day hikes.  For longer backpacking you need to multiply supplies and get prepared for camping and sleeping arrangements.

There are some additional things I personally need to keep in the car or on me:

1. Extra towel for the river that Leo always finds
2. A soft seat for the ride back to home-base
3. A gallon of water for the ride home
4. Gentle leader for controlling the initial excitement.  I find I have to pace Leo for the longer hikes (7-18 miles) because he doesn't know how much is coming.

Look out around Wednesday for another blog post about our hikes this weekend.

Happy Tails make Happy Trails.  

Last years goal

2012 I gave myself a pretty easy goal.  I wanted to get a picture of Leo and I on a hike/walk in every season.  I wanted to do this in multiple places and i did but the best result turned out to be from our very own backyard trail.  Walney Park has been a little get away for the Gee family for many years.  This park actually showed the seasons the best.  I have most of my pictures on Instagram so they are not the quality I would really like but sometimes you need a lot of quantity to make a series of photos like this work.

The first picture is just a quadrant set-up with each season shown in a 1:1 cropped image.

The second image is a little more portrait tiling.  I like this one too but for different reasons.

2013 is filled with more goals and more hikes.  There will be much more to show off and I just cant hold this to 140 characters or 500 friends.