[nagdu] Hiking on trails with guide dogs and bears

[Cathryn Bonnette]

I've had similar experiences with an 85 lb. German shepherd in the Santa
Barbara Mountains, and with my current 50 lb. shepherd, Abby, on trails in
Orange County- no bears so far.  Abby was hilarious.  Even if we started out
the last in the group, she would carefully move up to each group, and figure
out a way around them until we were at the head of all. She doesn't look the
type- her image is cuteness with puppy looks and a very social personality.
It's fun to work with her.
Cathryn (& Abby) 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Ed Meskys
Sent: Monday, April 12, 2010 1:14 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Hiking on trails with guide dogs and bears

In 03 my wife and I went to a science fiction convention in San Jose, and 
then stayed in the area for two weeks of tourism. We took a three night 
camping tour into Yosemite National Park. (We found about it in the San 
Francisco Hostelling International dorm. Anyhow, first day we were driven 
from the campsite to the upper part of the park, and were told to climb a 
mountain (Hamilton??). I was 67, and my wife a month short of 57, and the 
next oldest person in our group was around 30. We were told that about half 
way up the mountain was a rest area with benches, a lake for swimming, and a

shop with refreshments. We were told we can stop there, but the bold were 
encouraged to go all the way. It was a steep, rocky trail, but did not 
involve technical climbing with pitons (spelling?) and ropes. We did 
beautifully, my SE dog Judge doing well getting me over rocks, tree-roots, 
etc. But I always have much more difficulty going down-hill, so I chickened 
out and stopped half-way to the rest area. I sat on a large rock and 
listened to my BookPort. My wife, Sandy, went on to the rest area, rested, 
and came back to meet me. I needn't have worried about the trip down. Judge 
did a marvelous job of picking a trail, often going the long way around to 
avoid a steep drop, or other obstacle. Sometimes I had to use Sandy's 
shoulder for balance, but we made it down beautifully. She said she could 
see Judge really thinking and choosing a path.

No bears, but a marvelous experience, and Judge working beyond anything he 
had been trained for.

Ed Meskys & Gyro 


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