Super Hiker Dog

The first time we came across a stream that required hopping from rock to rock, we picked up Nietzsche and carried him across. He came along for the hike, but we knew our highly opinionated dog prefers not to get wet, so we “portaged” him across.

But that didn’t last long.

By about the fourth or fifth such brook we crossed (a very wet hike), Nietzsche was fording his “river” by himself. We laughed when we saw his skinny white legs submerged in mud nearly up to his stomach, but he just shook himself off on the other side, happy to be on solid ground again. We jokingly asked him if he liked his swim, but he just cocked his head, silently saying “Can we proceed, please?” He never gave us the ultimatum on the bank, running in the opposite direction before unwillingly being carried across. No, he was enjoying it. And by the time we hiked back to the car the next day, he was voluntarily splashing in and out of the water, not even attempting to keep himself dry by rock-hopping.

Nietzsche is a trooper, that’s for sure. And he makes hiking and camping more fun, I’ve decided. When you don’t have TV or radio or anything other than trees and the long path ahead, you can quickly run out of things to talk about, especially five hours into the woods. The ennui of the forest sets in fast. But when you’re with a 12-pound puppy standing barely a foot off the ground, watching him navigate what must have seemed as strange as Mars to his suburb-dog upbringing, the entertainment never ends.

Sure, he slept like a baby the entire drive home, and is likely happy to be resting his tired muscles and bug bites all week long in a quiet, dry, and empty apartment. But Nietzsche doesn’t regret being included on our camping trip. Because, just like humans, dogs like to stretch their legs and breath in the fresh mountain air, too.

Next time, I think he’ll carry his own backpack with food and water, maybe.

Anyway, here's some pictures from our backpacking trip into the Pemigewassett Wildnerness in NH. Enjoy!


Nietzsche was Evan's "right hand man" when it came to navigating the fork in the trail, and even though they butted heads a few times, we found our way out of the woods.


Puppy and me like to spend lots of Q-T together


Especially when Evan is sleeping


But when there's food around - forget it!