[nagdu] Backpacking

Wed Jan 25 05:37:31 UTC 2012

Giggle. What was a pig doing there???

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Abigail Lanier" <lanier.abigail at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 9:23 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Backpacking

> Speaking of llamas, I was walking into my local coffee shop yesterday when
> Alexa and I encountered a pig. Yes, you know the kind, the small, some
> times pink, curly-q tail, oinking piggie. I do live in the mountains of
> North Carolina where most anything goes, but this experience really had me
> giggling. It was kind of sad though, because there I was, the only human
> around to my knowledge, standing in the rain with my perplexed canine and
> a pig.
>
> On Jan 24, 2012, at 5:37 PM, Larry D. Keeler wrote:
>
>> Get a couple of llamas tpo carry all the stuff and the dog could double
>> as a herder for the llamas!
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tami Kinney"
>> <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 4:13 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Backpacking
>>
>>
>>> Julie,
>>>
>>> Also, this is a very educational discussion. /smile/ I'm reading it all
>>> and wondering how many things I would forget to think of if I suddengly
>>> got a chance to head off on a nice backpacking trip one a natural
>>> trail...
>>>
>>> Which I long to do, so I'm exercising my guide dog hiking brain cells by
>>> trying to figure out how I would solve all of those things... /smile/
>>>
>>> People have given good answers to some of the things I haven't gotten
>>> around to thinking about, like water purification and all.
>>>
>>> The weight bearing part, I'm not sure of, since the dog needs food,
>>> extra food for the extra work. So would I!
>>>
>>> If I come up with a brilliant solution to that in light of the fact that
>>> I am but a delicate little woman, I'll be sure to clue y'all in...
>>> /grin/
>>>
>>> Tami
>>>
>>> On 01/24/2012 05:08 AM, Julie J. wrote:
>>>> Abigail,
>>>>
>>>> What specific things are you concerned about in regard to a week long
>>>> hike vs. a day trip?
>>>>
>>>> Is it sleeping arrangements and making sure your guide is warm and
>>>> comfortable?
>>>> Is it the extra weight she will need to carry and getting used to
>>>> packs?
>>>> Maybe working her on off road terrain?
>>>> Are you concerned about interference from wildlife or illness from
>>>> unpurified water?
>>>>
>>>> I think if you could be more specific about what your concerns are,
>>>> we'd
>>>> be able to offer more help.
>>>>
>>>> Julie
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 1/23/2012 9:56 PM, Abigail Lanier wrote:
>>>>> Mark,
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you for your response, but I am really looking for advice in
>>>>> regards to hiking with a guide dog. I've done lots of camping and
>>>>> hiking before I got my guide and even some short day trips with her,
>>>>> but as I said in a previous message, I"m looking into a week long hike
>>>>> of the Appalachian Trail this March and I want to take Alexa with me.
>>>>> I'm doing lots of research and considering the pros and cons of taking
>>>>> her. Her health and well being is just as important as mine.
>>>>>
>>>>> Abigail
>>>>>
>>>>> On Jan 22, 2012, at 11:30 PM, Mark J. Cadigan wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> I go backpacking all the time. For water purification I just use the
>>>>>> purification tablets you get at any camping or army surplus store.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> You can set up your tent completely independently; it just depends on
>>>>>> practice, and having a small tent. Chances are, if you are
>>>>>> backpacking you will have a small tent.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> For food, I like the freeze dried food. It's a lot easier to carry
>>>>>> than canned food.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeffrey
>>>>>> Young"<jeff.young8806 at gmail.com>
>>>>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
>>>>>> Users"<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> Cc: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
>>>>>> Users"<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2012 7:20 PM
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Backpacking
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thanks Tami. We probably won't do any hiking in the first year, but
>>>>>>> maybe some car camping.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Abigail, the biggest issue on a long trip is water. It doesn't sound
>>>>>>> as though you are, but if you or anyone is backpacking in a dry
>>>>>>> desert area, I would not recommend bringing a dog. The reason being
>>>>>>> that you have to pack all of your own water. This can become very
>>>>>>> heavy, and packing the additional water for the dog would be hard to
>>>>>>> deal with. Ideally you will only need to bring two or three leaders
>>>>>>> along with a water purification system. You can get water from
>>>>>>> streams, but it needs to be purified so you or your dog do not
>>>>>>> contract geardia. I'm sure I misspelled it, but it's also known as
>>>>>>> backpackers disease. It's easy to cure when near a hospital or vet,
>>>>>>> but not in the wild, especially because you won't have a functional
>>>>>>> bathroom.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Check with the organizer of the event to see if he or she is
>>>>>>> bringing a purifier, that way you won't need to by your own. Another
>>>>>>> thing is to make sure you are familiar with your own equipment. IE
>>>>>>> setting up your tent on your own ETC. You will need a hand with most
>>>>>>> tents, but you will need to make sure that you can do the majority
>>>>>>> of the work. Everyone else on the trip will have their own
>>>>>>> equipment, and having to help someone else a lot can be annoying to
>>>>>>> them.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> This is all stuff I learned on the trips we took. I was twelve and
>>>>>>> theirteen on most of ours, and my dad came on one and basically told
>>>>>>> me if I wanted to keep going I needed to be more independent.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Good Luck, and don't hesitate with any other questions. Also, you
>>>>>>> can find a lot of first time resources online.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>>>>> Jeff Young
>>>>>>> Home of the world's healthiest energy drink. No Caffeine, no added
>>>>>>> sugar. E-mail me for a free sample today.
>>>>>>> Phone: (318) 243-3003
>>>>>>> E-mail: jeff.young8806 at gmail.com
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> http://actoverview.com
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Jan 22, 2012, at 3:55 PM, Tami Kinney<tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Jeff,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> These are all excellent suggestions of things to consider. And
>>>>>>>> congratulations on your soon-to-be first child. You will certainly
>>>>>>>> be too busy to go camping! /grin/ Unless you decide next year your
>>>>>>>> brave enough to put the kid in a backpack and go for it. I know
>>>>>>>> people who do and don't know whether to admire their courage or
>>>>>>>> wonder about their sanity... Just kidding.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Another piece of good advice I got from an avid guide dog using
>>>>>>>> hiker and camper was to always wear sunglasses to protect your eyes
>>>>>>>> from low hanging branches, just in case. And also to wear a
>>>>>>>> baseball cap, for the same reason. This is certainly something I do
>>>>>>>> when using the cane on a trail, and good thing! With the tame
>>>>>>>> trails we usually do, I'm not as motivated to remember when I'm
>>>>>>>> using Mitzi, but I really try to make it a practice. Just in case!
>>>>>>>> /smile/
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I've only gotten out on short day trips with Mitzi so far, but one
>>>>>>>> thing I did, knowing I wanted to add more of that in the future,
>>>>>>>> was to use the off leash obedience I'd taught her to give her
>>>>>>>> freedom to explore the first time or two, while I used my cane to
>>>>>>>> navigate and try to figure out how I planned to use her as a guide
>>>>>>>> dog. So then, when I did start doing trails with her in harness, we
>>>>>>>> were able to work out the kinks together pretty well. I haven't
>>>>>>>> gone on any of the really good backpacking and camping trips I
>>>>>>>> would like to. Yet. But I do like using more than one tool,
>>>>>>>> depending on which works best in which environment. Well, and Mitzi
>>>>>>>> really does do the jingle guide and squeak guide thing, in addition
>>>>>>>> to leash guiding, so that gives us a lot of flexibility.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> That wouldn't work for everybody and every dog, though, so on a
>>>>>>>> safety first basis: Don't do it unless you're sure your dog will be
>>>>>>>> safe. Honestly, I can't see myself trying it at all with a
>>>>>>>> program-trained dog, simply because the pups are protected and
>>>>>>>> streamlined for guide work, not for running wild and free in the
>>>>>>>> wilderness... Mitzi ran free with a big pack o' poodles and other
>>>>>>>> dogs until she was 7 months, so the other dogs taught her the
>>>>>>>> fundamentals of doggy safety. That made socializing her and all in
>>>>>>>> the city quite the adventure, but it has given me a lot of freedom
>>>>>>>> to train from the beginning towards the outdoor life. She does
>>>>>>>> really well at city slicker stuff now, of course, but that doesn't
>>>>>>>> mean we can't throw off our fancy duds and hit the trail! /lol/
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> One way to work with a dog without risking letting it run off leash
>>>>>>>> where it doesn't know the dangers or might get too excited and run
>>>>>>>> off and forget to come back would perhaps be to do some long leash
>>>>>>>> work with dog while you use your cane. Our dogs are about as not
>>>>>>>> stupid as dogs can be, after all, and they really do seem to grasp
>>>>>>>> that their purpose in our lives is our safety and theirs. So giving
>>>>>>>> the dog a chance to observe some of the special obstacles and other
>>>>>>>> challenges of hiking a trail could be to give the dog an
>>>>>>>> opportunity to watch you take them on and figure it out with your
>>>>>>>> cane. If that makes sense. Also, I have found it to be a good way
>>>>>>>> to plan *how* I want to hike with my guide when the time comes that
>>>>>>>> she will be in harness and I will be using a rigid cane or trekking
>>>>>>>> pole in the other hand for gauging distances up and down.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> If that makes sense. /smile/
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Tami
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On 01/22/2012 12:09 PM, Jeffrey Young wrote:
>>>>>>>>> So I have done extensive backpacking as a boy scout, but I haven't
>>>>>>>>> had a chance to do any with my guideDog. One thing I'd recommend
>>>>>>>>> is to bring a cane along. A good sturdy cane not a telescoping
>>>>>>>>> one. The cane would serve two purposes. One as a walking stick.
>>>>>>>>> Most backpackers use a walking stick. A walking stick is
>>>>>>>>> especially useful on steep rough terrain.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Secondly, when hiking you may encounter many obstacles that your
>>>>>>>>> dog might not normally encounter. You can use the cane to explore
>>>>>>>>> the obstruction before moving on. Also, make sure your dog is well
>>>>>>>>> fortified against flees and especially ticks. I don't remember if
>>>>>>>>> you said in the first email, but you might want to find out how
>>>>>>>>> rough the hiking will be and how many miles per day you will need
>>>>>>>>> to travel.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> If you and your dog only travel a mile or two a day on city
>>>>>>>>> sidewalks and you are expected to travel six or seven miles a day
>>>>>>>>> on the trip, then this could pose a challenge of potentially
>>>>>>>>> overworking your dog as well as yourself.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I could probably come up with some other tips, but I don't want to
>>>>>>>>> ramble to much. If you have any general backpacking questions feel
>>>>>>>>> free to let me know. Also, I'm sure we have some other backpackers
>>>>>>>>> on the list.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I should add that I can't wait to take Hansel on a trip, but we
>>>>>>>>> are having our first child in August, so their won't be much, if
>>>>>>>>> any camping this summer.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Jeff and Hansel
>>>>>>>>> Jeff Young
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Home of the world's healthiest energy drink. No Caffeine, no added
>>>>>>>>> sugar. Email me for a free sample today.
>>>>>>>>> Phone: (318) 243-3003
>>>>>>>>> E-mail: jeff.young8806 at gmail.com
>>>>>>>>> Website: http://jhyrumyoung.drinkactweb.com/
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On Jan 22, 2012, at 9:57 AM, Abigail Lanier wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Julie,
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> The book's title is "Blind Courage" and I am going to try and get
>>>>>>>>>> a copy of it.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> The good news is that I already live in the mountains of North
>>>>>>>>>> Carolina and Alexa and I are fairly used to hills and such. We
>>>>>>>>>> have done some hiking, but I wouldn't say that we are well
>>>>>>>>>> seasoned or experienced hikers.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> I'll let you know of our "progress" :-)
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Abigail
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> On Jan 22, 2012, at 9:01 AM, Julie J. wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Abigail,
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> I have been backpacking, but not with my guide. The trip I went
>>>>>>>>>>> on was 5 days in Colorado in the Rockies. I'd estimate the pack
>>>>>>>>>>> I carried was 50 pounds or so. It was just about all I could do
>>>>>>>>>>> to carry the thing. *smile* Of course that was just my stuff. I
>>>>>>>>>>> agree with Nicole to have your guide carry her own food.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> My suggestion would be to get a pack for yourself and for your
>>>>>>>>>>> guide now and start building up your strength to carry it. Add
>>>>>>>>>>> in a little more weight each day, practicing going up and down
>>>>>>>>>>> stairs to simulate mountain hiking. Your guide won't be used to
>>>>>>>>>>> carrying weight and will also need to build up strength to be
>>>>>>>>>>> able to do so comfortably. There are a lot of web sites that
>>>>>>>>>>> talk about dog backpacking, you could check out some of them to
>>>>>>>>>>> get an idea of how much the maximum weight is that your guide
>>>>>>>>>>> could potentially carry. I'd subtract a bit from that because
>>>>>>>>>>> guiding is work too.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> There is a book about a guy who hiked the entire Appalachian
>>>>>>>>>>> trail with his guide dog. NLS has it. I want to say it was
>>>>>>>>>>> called, "Blind Courage" but I could be misremembering. I've read
>>>>>>>>>>> a load of dog books and they sometimes get cross-wired in my
>>>>>>>>>>> head! *smile*
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Best of luck,
>>>>>>>>>>> Julie
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>
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