A Close Call in the Wilderness

[slowp]

First of all, this wilderness area should have been named Mosquito Meadows like it was called before it became wilderness. The name fits. I feel in need of a pint of blood. Instead, they named it the William O Douglas Wilderness.

The Used Dog and I wanted to check it out. I hoped that there had not been enough time for the bloodsuckers to have hatched out. I was wrong. But, we were there so up the trail we went. A little bit had been logged out already.

We hit snow, but it was walkable. The Used Dog seems to have an uncanny ability to find the trail. So, I quit looking for blazes on trees, and followed him, although I looked once in a while to be sure. We were on about a foot or more of snow most of the way. The mosquitos were also there.

I saw a creek ahead. There was a snow free crossing, but The Used Dog did not heed my call and charged out onto the snow covered portion, and fell through. He managed to catch his front feet on the snow but was flailing. The alternative for not getting him out was not an option. The creek was below the snow and dropped at a good rate. I spotted a small tree and grabbed onto it with one hand and reached his collar with the other. He managed to get out onto solid ground but was having difficulty getting back up the steep bank. With me pulling, he got back onto the trail. We turned around and headed back.

This wilderness area is pretty flat. People have been getting hurt and killed this summer in cases similar to what The Used Dog went through. The snow may not go away this year, that's how much is up there. Scary...

Here is a picture of the hole he made.

View attachment 190030
Here is the tree that I held onto while pulling him up.
View attachment 190031
Here he is doing what dogs like to do in the snow.
View attachment 190032

 

[robfromaz1977]

Wow that could have turned out far worse. Glad you were able to save him.

 

[dancan]

A very good reminder of how things can happen and situations change fast !
Glad everything worked out .
Thanks for sharing .

 

[2dogs]

Glad you two are safe! I have to admit that when I clicked that last link the said what dogs do in the snow, I expected to see a yellow stain.

 

[Gologit]

Might be time to get snow shoes for the Used Dog.

 

[slowp]

Glad you two are safe! I have to admit that when I clicked that last link the said what dogs do in the snow, I expected to see a yellow stain.

Hmmmm. Perhaps his close call was karma. On the way up, I stopped at my former employer's place to find out whether I should buy the thirty dollar pass. After asking questions, I decided not to. They invited The Used Dog in, and he remembered his way around. He checked to see if his nemesis was there. Then, outside, he peed on the wooden larger than lifesize statue of Smokey Bear. Karma? Smokey's Revenge?:msp_ohmy:

 

[Gologit]

Hmmmm. Perhaps his close call was karma. On the way up, I stopped at my former employer's place to find out whether I should buy the thirty dollar pass. After asking questions, I decided not to. They invited The Used Dog in, and he remembered his way around. He checked to see if his nemesis was there. Then, outside, he peed on the wooden larger than lifesize statue of Smokey Bear. Karma? Smokey's Revenge?:msp_ohmy:

 

[2dogs]

Maybe The Used Dog should start carrying one of those little wooden kegs around his neck. You could fill it with coffee or dog treats. Or both.

 

[slowp]

I was kind of glad I didn't have him loaded down with his pink pack. It might have made things worse. Poor boy. He's been snoring away since we got home and even tolerated the presence of the Evil Grapple Cat on his porch.