Originally Posted by
4dogsinbackcountry
Well, I must say that many of the posts in this thread betray an anti-dog on the trail bias. Sad because you've corrupted this person's desire to thru-hike the PCT with his/her dog out of what can only be, given the anti-dog on the trail bias, a disingenuous desire to "protect the dog."
I have, over my fifty years, put in many trail miles, almost all with a dog. And given I live within 15 miles of a section of the Pacific Crest Trail, I've had my dogs hiking with me there as well. In fact, I've done many long stretches of the PCT up and down the State of CA and on only two occasions has the dog with me gotten an injury, both pad issues. But I have had more foot problems than my dogs. And I would argue most of you on this thread have suffered debilitating blisters at one time or another on a hike. Caring for our own feet is as important as caring for the dog's. No, I conceded I have not thru-hiked the PCT alone or with a dog, but I know I could and when the time comes it will be with a dog.
See, what's lacking in the anti-dog arguments in this thread is objectivity. If you are going to hike with a dog, you've got to prepare the dog for the hike--just as you would if you were taking your inexperienced brother or sister with you on a long backpacking trip. In fact, I would submit that most of you would not even consider taking your inexperienced brother or sister on a two-day 20 miles out on the PCT, 20 miles back trip because you know that on the second day your brother or sister would hardly be able to move, let alone walk. And their feet would most certainly have debilitating blisters. The same holds true for dogs. Just as you would be selective of which human you take with you on a backpacking adventure, so too should you be selective of the type of dog you take. IT's simple common sense. That said, the answer is NOT: "Dogs have no place on the PCT." That statement is just plain daft.
Here are the arguments I have been confronted with over the years by morons bent on banning dogs from the rails all together:
1. Dogs harass wildlife. (My answer: Much less than people do. I've see some real stupid people out there.)
2. Dogs poop on the trail and the owners don't remove it. (Answer: True, but then so do people, especially on the PCT around Campo and the Border. In other words, there are just as many irresponsible no-dog hikers as there are with-dog hikers.)
3. Dogs pollute the streams and water sources. (Answer: Absolute bologna. If you want to know what animals pollute the streams and rivers, look no further than humans, free grazing cattle, and horse--especially horses. I was once resting on a rock [with one of my dogs] near Vasquez Rocks, on the PCT, in Agua Dolce. A train of horseback riders came through. The rock I was on lay next to a small seasonal stream. Since it was early Spring, the stream was higher. As the horse passed, the riders exchanged pleasantries with me, I with them. I noticed that their saddles bore the PCT insignia--part of a PCT horseback group. The last rider stopped his horse in the small stream to let it drink. WHile he and I talked, his horse urinated in the stream--A LOT of urine. These people were no doubt a part of the horse lobby trying to get dogs banned from the PCT [except THEIR dogs], yet I have NEVER seen a dog urinate in a stream. NEVER)
4. Dogs should not be allowed on trails because they are a danger to people. In other words, dogs bite. (Answer: Yes, some dogs do bite; but some people rob hikers, beat hikers, even kill hikers. If you ban dogs because some dogs bite, then you must ban humans because some humans rob, beat, and kill. There are stories every year on the PCT of hikers suffering at the hands of other hikers.)
5. Dogs can't handle the heat and will die out on the PCT. (Answer: Some can't handle it and should not be taken out there, just as some humans cannot handle the heat and should not be taken out there. Use common sense. And I can here it now: not many dog owners use common sense. Spare me. If you take a dog or person on a hike with you, you've not only got to watch yourself for heat exhaustion, you've got to watch your hiking partner too, dog or human.)
6. If you bring a dog into the wilderness, you'd better be prepared to carry them out when they get hurt. (Answer: True, but you'd better be prepared to carry your 180 pound cousin out of the wilderness too if you take him with you--and I would much rather hump out my 90 lb dog than my 180 lb cousin. And who's going to carry you when you falter and need help?)
I could go on and on. The arguments are weak and banning dogs from the backcountry or trails is NOT the answer. I don't necessarily like kids, but banning them from the trail is NOT the answer. Who am I to tell you not to bring your kids because they MIGHT (like a dog) bother me, harass the wildlife, pollute the water sources, poop on the trail, and even bite? If you enjoy being with kids or on a horse in the backcountry, great! I enjoy being with my dogs. What's the problem? Why do you feel so entitled to a superior point-of-view, so much so that you seek to ban dogs from the trail and backcountry? Did not John Muir, the oft-quoted environmentalist say, "A dog is absolutely essential to the wilderness experience."?
I give two first-hand PCT examples of the hypocrisy out there:
1. I was once hiking the southern most section of the PCT with one of my dogs and decided to camp near to a small lake. We had hiked 18 miles that day over rocky rolling terrain and I felt we'd travelled far enough. Not once during our trek did we encounter even one person, but not long after I set up camp, two PCT thru-hikers came along and decided to camp within fifty feet of me. While setting up there camp, one of them kept eying me. I waved and he came over. I said hello and offered my hand in greeting, but he said, "I was just wondering how you keep your dog from harassing the wildlife?" No "hello' or "how was your day?" Just started right in. I scoffed and said, "My problem is not in keeping my dog from harassing the wildlife, but rather in keeping people like you from harassing him." The I said some thing that are not appropriate to post here. Needless to say, the two promptly moved their campsite further away. My dog did nothing to them, nor had I, but they had done something wrong to us.
2. The second encounter was with two Fish and Game rangers leading a mule train on the PCT around the back of Mount Whitney. I was with a friend this time and not my dog because the portion we wanted to hike did not allow dogs. WE came across these horseback Fish and Game guys leading this mule train back from restocking fish in some backcountry ponds and lakes. We struck up a conversation and I notice they were trailing an unleashed Yellow Labrador Retriever. Before we parted ways, I had to ask, "I was just curious why you can bring your dog into the backcountry but I can't bring mine?" They two looked at each other for the answer. Each shrugged and then one said, "Because we can. You guys have a nice hike."
So, to my friend who wants to hike the PCT with his dog, I say go for it. Prepare not only your dog, but prepare yourself for morons who are bent on harassing you for bringing your dog on the trail. It's sad that you can't even avoid these people in the backcountry--in nature--which is likely the reason for the hike in the first place. And stand up to the Park Service. Fight for the right to take your dog in the backcountry just as these hypocrites can have theirs.
Dogs are not then problem; people are the problem. I've had more fun and gotten more joy from backpacking trips with my dogs than I've ever gotten with people. Dogs were meant to be there too and you can see the joy they get from the experience.
Pacific Crest Trail
Hiking the PCT with a large dog
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( Yogi's book has this example as well. )
) . There are dogs who do the PCT and even the CDT, but that is the very big exception to the rule.
