HikeArizona.COM

SO....this past Saturday as my son and I were coming up the BA, we had just started up that first formation past Indian Gardens and to my total shock comes a couple abound with their puppy Akita in tow!!! Whaaaattttttttt!!!! Ahhh.. tourists of course and apparently oblivious about the "No Dogs below the Rim" policy!!! Of course, I am baffled how they could have missed the ginormous sign at the trailhead but I digress. I've been here six months and I'm below the rim a minimum of twice a week and this is the first pup I've seen down there. I was super nice and let them know that what they are doing is illegal and COMPLETELY UNSAFE FOR EVERYONE!!! They seemed genuinely horrified about their ignorance but still guys...come on...it's the Grand Canyon--USE YOUR NOGGIN!!!

Don't get me wrong, I'm a doggie fanatic! I love my pup but I would never bring her down there even if it was allowed. She's hyper and I don't trust her or any other dog for that matter not to A. Get too excited and accidentally knock someone into the Abysss and/or B. Go sailing off the canyon wall herself!!! Dogs below Rim = Bad Idea.

@treknjen
He is...and so is the guy who signed him up on Hikearizona.com. Oh...and it wasn't me

@treknjen
Aww ... I haven't seen Granger in awhile!
And I am always recommending "Salt & Soap" to people.

@treknjen
I was not a handler, just a lowly grunt 11B, however, by choice...what a decision that turned out to be...was in Iraq (Ramadi 07) myself, when it was still a war ;) ..I bet that Baghdad gig is an awesome job though..always envied the dog handlers...

treknjen wrote:Oops...I didn't realize I wasn't supposed to post pics in threads....

It's ok to post photos in threads when they are relevant to the topic being discussed. BUT photos or descriptions of hikes should not be posted in the forum. Those should be posted in normal triplogs and photosets. (At least as far as I understand the "rules" here.)

Then there's also the super-secret personal photo albums ... But I won't confuse you with that since it's like a whole other website ;)

I spotted a pooch at Phantom back in April or may but it was alone...hmmm

Main reason they don't want pooches below the rim is the mules. Dog spooked by mule might attack, mule kills dog or bucks rider or backs up off the trail!? Meh...

Goats and llamas are also not allowed in the canyon FYI.... I asked my friends to dig into the rulebook because I wanted a pack llama for the PCT.

I am very lucky regarding dogs. I like dogs. I've had several very entertaining dogs in my life which I enjoyed very much at the time they were alive. At some point, however, I realized I do not want to be a "mom" the rest of my life, and so when the last two dogs passed away, I decided I will not get another dog. It is so much easier to deal with life in general when you do not have dogs, cats or plants to take care of. I do not want to take care of or be responsible for any other living being--not even an African Violet! I did take my dog ownership seriously, and I do think when you get a dog you are taking a chance, because you have to plan for the next 15 years with that dog. Who can plan that far ahead? And that is why there are so many sad, lonely, frightened dogs at the Humane Society, because people were selfish, and thought "Oh, what a cute puppy," but did not make a true commitment to that animal when they adopted it. A true commitment means you have to arrange your life around the dog, for the life of that dog, no matter what happens.

@cactuscat No kidding!! you sure haven't huh! Honestly, she's gotten a lot bigger...still a sweetheart though! We'll have to bring her by...OR you could just come out to Red Butte with us one day!

@friend of thundergod Ah...well still...gotta love the MWDs!! Ramadi...yeh, been through there. This last tour I was at AMAB in Kuwait City...you know..the attachment on the other side of the airport...about an hour from Camp Arifjhan...I'm assuming you've been through there if you were in Iraq. ugh...I DO NOT miss the sandbox!!

@ azbackpacker while we differ in how we feel about taking care of other living things (e.g. pets, children and African Violets), I do appreciate that at least you developed a sense of responsibility in terms of not allowing your temporary "it's sooo cute....I WANT IT !" be the deciding factor in such a decision. You are right, too many people let the "moment" make a big decision for them and its the dog, cat, bird, child, etc. that ends up paying for it. Go you!

@HIPPY LLAMAS!!!!! YEAH!!!! I used to ride camels when I was across the pond and they are mean--I rode one on a week long desert trek and it bit me daily....grr...you won't catch me dead on a mule....much less sailing down our world wonder!! Nope...not as long as my legs still work!

@ chumley ok, this makes sense. I've really never gotten into forums until now (thanks Kelly).

Super secret, eh? I'll assume I'm not cool enough yet for that = )

@treknjen
You seem cool enough... Here is Bruno's super secret photo album
igallery/album.php?id=393

@BobP - that is one cute pup!!!!

@BobP

Awwww

@Kwai Chang
@treknjen
:thanx:

@BrunoP
well this message board has officially gone to the dogs, and I like it..

@friendofThundergod
I second that

treknjen wrote:@ azbackpacker while we differ in how we feel about taking care of other living things (e.g. pets, children and African Violets), I do appreciate that at least you developed a sense of responsibility in terms of not allowing your temporary "it's sooo cute....I WANT IT !" be the deciding factor in such a decision. You are right, too many people let the "moment" make a big decision for them and its the dog, cat, bird, child, etc. that ends up paying for it. Go you!

Well, since I spent 25 years raising children, and I have a granddaughter, too, I developed my "feelings" over a long period of time. When the kids moved out, we still had the two dogs we had gotten to be a part of our family, and we had the cat my son had brought home as a kitten. We then had 10 more years, which I resented, in some sort of animal, garden or house care. I found a home for the cat which is a very good home, about 3 months ago. The dogs passed away in 2005 and 2011. I have moved out of the house and have it rented to a family. (They have two dogs, a cat, and they want to garden.)

Living things come to depend on you. This translates in some cases into expectations. And as a mom, I found I was the one on which all the expectations were placed. Now that I found a home for the cat and a family to live in my house I can truly be single, and not have to have these kinds of responsibilities. I would rather just be able to drop everything to go on a river trip, a backpacking trip, etc.

azbackpackr wrote:

treknjen wrote:@ azbackpacker I don't even have to celebrate Christmas any more, which is also a huge relief! All of these things come with expectations put upon me from others (whether human, animal or plant). I refuse to play that game any longer.

To each his/her own but I envy the fact that you do not have to deal with Christmas anymore!!! I dread Christmas now that I am older. One part of the game I would like to eliminate!

Kwai Chang wrote:

azbackpackr wrote:

treknjen wrote:@ azbackpacker I don't even have to celebrate Christmas any more, which is also a huge relief! All of these things come with expectations put upon me from others (whether human, animal or plant). I refuse to play that game any longer.

To each his/her own but I envy the fact that you do not have to deal with Christmas anymore!!! I dread Christmas now that I am older. One part of the game I would like to eliminate!

Funny, I just deleted that part of my comment, and changed it to what I actually DO, instead of what I DON'T do. But yeah, I enjoy the parts of Christmas that I enjoy, which is gift giving. I don't decorate and I don't cook. I can go to my son's house for the festivities, or not. No one has any expectations.