Sly RIP 2006-2023

 Sly was foster dog number 3 or 4 and was a stray from Ritzville.  What I remember most of those early days was that he would not walk in a mud puddle and really disliked anyone with trekking poles.  Joy deemed him unadoptable so I got to adopt him.  In short order he became our 'quite alpha' with the follow on foster dogs. Never aggressive toward a new dog but he never let them act like an alpha.  He was my buddy and we shared hundreds and hundreds of miles hiking, trailing running and walks.  I miss him dearly.

Running through the flowers in the field just below Mt Defiance, July 2009.

Learning to swim, Cottonwood Lake August 2009.

Something very interesting in the water, Granite Lake April 2010.

     Sly running down the trail all excided about who knows what, Lundin Peak September 2010.

Sly's famous side eye, coming down from Lower Wildcat Lake, August 2010.

Sly looking for treats, Pratt Mountain, November 2012.

Earl Peak June 2013

Sly having a nice cool down after running down from Earl Peak, June 2013.

Catching snowballs on the way to the Great Wall, April 2014

Taking a break on the way up to Navaho Peak, June 2014.

Little Mason Lake July 2014

Happy trail buddies

Scout Lake June 2015 

Kent's Court July 2016

Sly's thoughts?

"I want to chase the ball, not pose for a picture by the stupid fence".

Ready for a treat, Mt Defiance September 2018

Blue RIP 2006-2017

Blue is now hiking with Joy in heaven.

Blue had surgery on 7/22/2017 to remove his spleen because of internal bleeding from tumors on the spleen.  At that time it was discovered he also had tumors on his liver.  The tumors were later determined to be cancerous, hemangiosarcoma.  Blue passed 9/8/2017.

My favorite pictures of Blue

Blue's first day.  He was about a year old and only weighed 38 pounds.  Joy fattened him up to 50 pounds in no time.   May 2007

Such an intense interest in whatever caused the little ripple in the water and what a long neck, Tuscohatchie Lake September 2007.

Blue and Sly cuddle bugs November 2007

Joy got a great shot of Blue in his perfect pose with the sun on the maple leaves, Gold Creek October 2010.

Any trail any time makes Blue a happy boy, Putrid Pete's Peak March 2010.

Perfect timing with just Blue's head in the sunlight, Lodge Lake June 2010.

On the hike to Kendall Peak we were not expecting any views because of the fog on the way up.  We broke through the top of the clouds just before the summit.  Kendall Peak October 2010

Absolutely nothing better than a nice role in the snow, West Tiger November 2010.

Beautiful day on the ridge up from the Price Creek Snow-park, February 2011.

Beverly - Bean Peak Loop hike August 2011

Blue trying to show Sly how to pose for a picture, Alta Mt  September 2011.

A nice winter hike picture, Denny Creek January 2012.

Alta Mt August 2012

Happy pups after a hike up Mt Defiance August 2013.

Looking over to Red Mt where Blue was rescued, Kendall Peak September 2013.

McClellan Butte October 2013

Silver Peak October 2013

What's taking you so long? Mt Washington November 2013

Blue doing some creek maintenance, Horton Spring AZ April 2014.

Great rest stop farther down stream, Horton Spring AZ April 2014.

McClellan Butte July 2009

Blue was so excited at the first snow patch up to the Great Wall, April 2014.

Navaho Peak June 2014

Sweet boy Blue, Cedar Divide looking down to Chester Morse Lake, March 2015.

Throw a stick after 8 miles and everyone is still ready to go, Cedar River Divide March 2015.

More excitement for a stick at Scott Lake June 2015.

Best trail buddies, Kent's Court July 2016.

Mount Defiance 2017-06-05

This was Blue's last big hike.

10.1 miles and 4,334 feet of elevation.

Great day for a hike with 'see forever' views at the top.  Lost the trail in the snow at around 4,700 feet of elevation and just headed for the ridge.  The snow was compacted spring snow that was hard to get a footing with microspikes, crampons would have been the best.  Once we made it to the ridge the trail was visible for a short distance.  Rather than trying to guess were the trail is, we just kept going up the ridge.  This wasn't too bad until close to the top were it was difficult to kick steps into the snow and I had to grip my trekking  pole at the tip and use it as an ice axe. 

 

Google Maps link

Sly enjoying the waters of Mason Creek close to the start.

The "underpass" to get through an area with several downed trees.

Mason Lake is still partially covered with ice.

Lost the trail at around 4,700 ft.

Climbing up the ridge

At the top

Great views

 

Bandera Mountain with Mason Lake at the base.  The white stop before Mason Lake is Little Mason Lake.  Lake Kulla Kulla is on the left.

Enjoying a water break on the way down the old trail.

 Blue trying to pose on the Mason Creek bridge.

Almost back to the car.