BrownStone Squirrel

Another weekend at BrownStone. One really stupid and loud squirrel moved into a retaining wall. My three Chinooks spent countless hours over three days determined to get the squirrel. Tons of the namesake BrownStone boulders were displaced.

The dock building materials were stacked against the top of the wall creating more squirrel hiding places and more excited searching.

 Koyuk resting in the 90 degree heat. The wall started out higher than her head. 

 "Ha, we'll get the squirrel tomorrow!"

Finally the squirrel escaped to the pile of shingles and I get to add a retaining wall rebuild to my to-do list.

Waldo 100K Ultra-marathon Support

Since 2002, I have person/dogged two small trail intersections in the wilderness for the Waldo 100K Ultra-marathon. Some really insane people from all over the world have decided that running 100K including 5 peaks, at altitude, in one day, is the thing to do. These same crazy people start at 0300 and run from the base of the ski area to the top as the first few hundred meters of their marathon. My job is less strenuous. I hike in 3 miles; set up some trail signs; sit for 10 hours and ring a cowbell to cheer on 150 people who run by once in the morning and quite a few less coming back by in the afternoon. This year since it was predicted to be 104 degrees and I knew I would need extra water. I only took one dog - Trask my heavy-freight, eager to please Chinook. We started at the trailhead in the dark.

"OK it is 0645 and we are here, now what?"

 0815 "I think I hear someone coming"

Finally enough light to take a picture of our trail junction post.

I put the easy-walker on Trask to keep him from choking himself whenever anyone came by. Trask LOVED greeting the runners and the PCT thru-hikers on their way from Mexico to Canada.

Many of the runners and most all of the thru-hikers took time out for some Nooktime. Homesick hikers got extra special loving and the sweat kissed off their faces (any any other body parts Trask could reach). Along with water and his treats,  Trask carried in sweet goodies for the thru-hikers.

Resting up for the next lovin' opportunity.

It was hot. We moved constantly to new shade and drank all but a swallow of the gallon of water and thermos of coffee we carried in.

 Getting to evening time.

The last of the days rays on Trask as he patiently waits for the last runners.

We made it back to the trailhead at 1845. It was still in the 80's and our last swallow of shared water was a memory.

BrownStone Cascade Mt. Trask is the best. He loved every moment and looked forward to the next. He also made Chinook admirers out of a lot of people on the trail.

More Birthday News

Water, glean, preserve vs blog. Produce is coming on overwhelmingly fast. I have found myself too worn-out to spend on-line time. In the meantime, wonderful birthday photos have been coming in.

BrownStone Cascade Mt. Mazama (Bramble)

Cooling with a birthday swim.

 BrownStone Cascade Mt. Karuk (Alaka'i)

Special birthday treat...

 and birthday day at the beach.

 BrownStone Cascade Mt. Loowit (Tule Loowit)

On a road trip.

 BrownStone Cascade Mt. Klah (Luca)

 With her forever mom.

Counting her chickens.

 BrownStone Cascade Koma, CGC (Laika)

Kay Lee and all - 

I thought you would enjoy seeing these photos of Laika working as a therapy dog with the Girl Scouts at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in  San Diego today.  The Golden Retrievers are Brady and Annie who are two of Laika's friends who work as therapy dogs also.

Cheers!

Jim