Signs of My Place

How do I know where I belong?

Not here

This tells me I'm close



This is my neighbourhood



My creek sings a welcome song.





The forest gets all dressed up when I'm near



I know where I belong.

Changing Path

The path changes day by day

straight through wonders

screeching around sharp corners of worry

hesitating in a forest of doubt

slowly stalking the years

encountering others

stretching out into some future

wide open to possibility.

Cliff Walk

Enderby Cliffs Provincial Park
7 km up, way up
2 paws up

A shady trail with squirrels and chipmunks, lots of pups with their long legged humans. There is no water so be sure your humans pack extra for you. You'll get thirsty here. Bring a leash, you may be tempted to explore the edge of the cliff!

Change

There is a change going on around me. I sense it in my paws and with my nose. There are less lazy hours relaxing on the deck, fewer campfires and bar-b-ques, and less bugs sucking my blood. There are more hours getting firewood for the woodstove, more chilly mornings of frost and soup is back on the menu. My fur is thick and shaggy, collecting up dried seeds and grass and dust. It's another beautiful season for me to explore and enjoy. I am Thankful.

Lunch with The Hermit

Hermit Basin Trail, Glacier National Park
Short and steep
4 paws up

Here is is trail to test your lung capacity! There are streams to cool you off, squirrels and marmots for amusement and not many humans or dogs. The plants are colourful and the late season huckleberries are sweet.

This is my second visit with The Hermit. He is still sitting alone on top of the mountain with nothing to say.

The basin is a pup's playground with rocks, streams and meadows to explore.

He needed a rest after all the whistling!

Dipper...a perfect name for the bird that bobs in water.

Low

I've viewed the world from the tops of mountains

I've had my head in the mystery of the clouds,

My voice has echoed through high places

As I sing the songs of awe.

And yet

My feet are down and my position is low

Low is what I know

and is my place of residence.

Being low, I enjoy the wonders of

a world that can be big

or small.

Being close to the earth, I'm

cradled and

covered and

grounded and

surrounded.

For connection, I am low.

When I am leading on the trail,

or following,

When I am off the trail,

with obstacles to surmount.

 Gems of the forest depths,

and curiosities are common.

Up above

or lower

and slower,

there is beauty

in the small world of the low.

Ways of Relaxation

Humans have varied methods of relaxation, for example,

spinning wheels

fishing for blueberries

shooting beauty

the second heat of firewood

floating 

splashing 

any kind of water thing you can think of

NOT relaxing are,

the first heat of firewood

fishing for dust bunnies

Pups have fewer methods of relaxation, for example,

the nap

another nap

There is a place where the relaxation of humans and canines meet,

and it is good.

The Edge

Helmcken Falls Rim Trail
Wells Gray Provincial Park
2 paws up

Don't go here if you get vertigo. But if you are like me and you enjoy waterfalls, take this trail. It is fairly level with lots of shade. There are not a lot of dogs or humans, but bring your leash for safety. You can get a drink along the way from the banks of the refreshing Murtle River.

Flowers and Falls

Trophy Meadows Hike
Wells Gray Provincial Park
2 paws up

This is where the flowers live!
If you go on this trail, you will find streams where you can drink and a lake or two at the "end" of the trail.
There is no shade from the sun for a long time. You will meet other dogs and their humans. You'll need your leash. Humans love this kind of thing...flowers and such.

Moul Falls Hike
Wells Gray Provincial Park
1 paw up

This is a short easy trail. Be sure your humans don't cop out at the top of the falls. Get them down the stairs to the base of the falls, where the action is! This is where you can finally get a drink and get wet. You will need your leash. If you're furry, you will find this to be very hot on a sunny day.

Watching

I watched the bird

lost and awkward

broken legged

sullen

tentatively seeking

a place

like a fourteen year old

I watched the buck

slender and confident

open eyed

curious

calmly finding

a place

like a forty year old

I watched the turtle
still and wise
solidly grounded

reflective

finally knowing
a place

like an elder

I'm BACK

Hi, it's me! Due to some technology and human malfunctions I've decided to start a new Blog. My old one "chilithehikingdog.blogspot.com" is still there if you want to see it.

It's summer now and I guess I don't need to tell you what happened to the guy at the cabin last winter with the toque and red scarf. He disappeared and left behind his heart. I have a feeling he loves it there and will be back.

This has been a sunny season of friends and family. There have been lots of hikes in the mountains and some canoeing. Here is a photo montage of the months since I last wrote...

                                                                       Me at Mt. Rose

                                                                   Me at Sheila Lk.

                                                              Me at Caligata Lk.

                                                       Me contemplating tennis vs fetch

                                                                 Me at Moul Falls

                                                              Me chillin' on the deck

                                                             It's not just about me....