Packing

I'm leaving on a backpacking trip with javachickn on Saturday, and I am looking forward to it rather a lot. My heart hurts, and I need to disappear into the mountains for awhile.

Rogue saw the packs come out and knew immediately what it meant; she gets this alert, excited, serious look to her. Coba and Chaos were blithely unconcerned. Boy, is the parfait in for the surprise of his life. (He has a blue backpack and tiny black booties to shield his paws from the granite. It's adorable. He has no idea what it means). Wilderness trips really connect me with my dogs, and improve all of us.

Chaos is, of course, far too young. I'm trying very hard not to let Pryde and Jez know I'm going; they wouldn't understand being left behind for their favorite thing. Jez isn't going because Pryde can't, and I don't want to leave him alone for a week. (The puppy does not count). I also have to admit that while Jez could probably do this trip, she might get too sore for it to be really enjoyable for her; she is ten, and is slowing down. It is a reasonably ambitious trail, lots of elevation with a couple of high mileage days. I guess she will go on the shorter trips from now on.

Life is about change and beauty and sad.