No Trail up this Mountain

In my annual sabbatical into the Arizona desert around Quartzsite Bailey and Chloe join me for eight days living "off the grid".

Mountains behind the motor home to the right is Quartzsite Hill, and to the Left is a loose rock mountain with no name.

One day Bailey and Chloe joined me up Quartzsite Hill where this new American flag waved.  In the background was a tough son-of-a-gun mountain to climb.  But the next day we set off to climb it.

Picture from near the top of this tall mountain the next day.  There was NO trail up this mountain and I know why.  No one in their right mind would climb it.
This Mountain is 90% loose, sharp, and hard stone. It was a tough climb over this loose, sharp rock for both the dogs and me.  Behind Bailey's head, off in the distance, is Quartzsite Hill where the flag waved.  The hill looked like a pimple from this mountain looking down.

What you see in the above picture is the closest thing there was to a trail back down the mountain.  I must admit I was nervous as taking a wrong way down was not a healthy option.  I was sure out of my comfort zone.

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All The Money in The World...................

"All the money in the world can't buy this peace and simple happiness with two friends of man." - Ramon Garcia, Jr. 

Picture taken in the middle of Briones Regional Park at the top of Mount Mott 1/3/15.

 

A few of the shots taken during our 7 1/2 mile hike.  Even the coyotes were nice today.

These two healthy coyotes came charging down the hill after Bailey and Chloe.  My dogs paid them no mind and I gave out a "leave it" to my dogs and they happily moved along.  These two just stopped in this meadow and watched and even played a bit.  Two coyotes vs. two healthy Vizslas is not a battle smart coyotes want to take on.  Ramon asked me if the coyotes made me nervous.  I told him not so much any more, as I pulled out my Buck knife out of it's sheath.

The coyotes in Briones know Bailey and Chloe.  They should after the hundreds of miles we have hiked up here over the last five years.

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Ducks Back on the Pond

Finally the waters have returned to our ponds in the hills.  The ducks enjoy the fresh water and so do Bailey and Chloe.

Bailey and Chloe love a good swim.  Nothing more fun than swimming after ducks.

 The ducks get some flying time. They were getting lazy floating around.

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There one Minute and Gone the Next

A few years ago I posted "Faith-based training" on this blog.  How when you hike in thick fog your dogs are there one minute and gone into the white blanketed distance another.

This morning, we once again headed up to Briones Regional Park for a 4.6 mile loop in the fog.

Unlike three years ago I did not worry where Bailey and Chloe disappeared to.  They would return.



On the same bench a month prior.

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Great Fall Hill Hike - Morgan Territory

 
 
 
 

Morgan Territory Regional Park is a great get away from it all.  Up here the dogs and I can get away from all signs of civilization.  For two hours we enjoyed both the ridges and the valleys of this wonderful hidden treasure.

 

During the hike I reached a goal a long time in the making.  337 days ago I set my GZ One Smart phone to a Virtual Trek.  It counts your foot sets with a built in pedometer.

  I chose the Amudsen-Scott South Pole Station as my goal.  1,679.3 miles from the start. (I had already completed the other 15 shorter hike virtual treks).  My goal was to keep at a 5 mile per day pace.  It ended up being 5.0365 miles per day.  During that 337 days, Bailey, Chloe and me had some great adventures in the mountains and hills around mostly the Bay Area.

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Fall Hill Hike with Vizslas after the First Rain

Eight miles along the trails of Briones Regional Park this morning.  The trails were a bit muddy from the rain that had come through the area yesterday. The air was crisp.

Happy Camper - Life is Good

Chloe showing her whitening face as Bailey looks down the valley

The muscle development on these two dogs is amazing to me

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Bird Dog Kentucky Whiskey

A classic 1973 Heritage china hunter and hunting dog decanter Ezra Brooks liquor bottle #185, A Hungarian Pointer and pheasant flushed picture framed, and a pint of Bird Dog Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey.  These items seem to go together very well.

Never would I hunt with ANY liquor in the blood, but after a good day in the field, a nice glass of  quality Kentucky Bourbon "neat" makes for a fine finish of a great day.

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