Hiking (with the hounds)

Cricket is 11, has a heart murmur and spine problems. She is still up for walks and exploring. If she starts running around too much, she pants a lot. When I think of what she went through at a year old, it is a miracle she is still here. She had a reaction to a multi-vaccine shot that was not treated properly and ended up with liver problems.
Shadow is 9 and hasn't slowed down at all.

Edit: Last week they rousted a bear on our walk and there were no signs of aging with those two. fortunately the bear didn't retaliate.

 

Yikes on the bear, I remember the cougar. I have not seen a bear at our new place, but they are around.

Oliver has a slight murmur as well, I just don't let him push it anymore. He will do the panting as well sometimes with little to no exertion, but he has always done that, I call him a hufflepuff hound. He has a bunch of fatty tumors that we are not treating either, and hot spots, both pretty common I'm told.

 

Curious Woodwidow do bears in your area hibernate? Here they do to preserve fat during winter because of lack of food..
Generally they are crankiest after awakening from hibernation, but wouldn’t we be if hadn’t eaten in months! And as always mothers protecting cubs

 

Not a true hibernation. I don't think it gets cold enough for them. they get slower and have short periods of naps when the temps drop. Compared to the main part of the province we have no winter here. Temps hover just above freezing and only drop below for a few days at a time. I found this article about bears on Vancouver Island.

The bear is quadripodal, but does often stand on its hind legs to look around, or to reach the upper branches of bushes when foraging. They are omnivorous and opportunistic feeders, usually eating the best of what is available. In the spring and summer, this consists mostly of succulent roots and shoots, any berry crops that are available, and assorted grubs and insects. They will also wander down the beaches at low tide to find crabs and any other easy meals. In the fall, the salmon return, and the bear turns its attention to spawning salmon, which provide a high percentage of the bears’ yearly protein intake. Winter is sparser on food, and the bears rely on the reserves of fat that they had built up over the summer. Contrary to popular belief, the bears do not truly hibernate, but enter a state more similar to a deep sleep. Unlike true hibernators, their metabolic activity is still close to normal, and their body temperature does not drop more than a few degrees.

 

Thanks Woodwidow here they sleep from shortly after thanksgiving to usually late March

 

Wish I could do that.

 

Then you would miss deer season.

 

Rifle season ends here weekend after Thanksgiving which is also end of bear season.

 

I believe that deer season starts the Saturday before Thanksgiving and runs through the 2nd week of December. Chaz will correct me.

 

Katahdin

A few pages back in the thread is Katahdin from the other side of the mountain. Just myself and daughter #1 this time. The peaks and knife edge were in the clouds this day.

Camped at Roaring Brook.



Chimney pond trail from Roaring Brook to Chimney Pond about 3 miles and 1500ft gain.


Chimney pond with the spine of Katahdin. Baxter peak (5200 ft) to the right and Pamola peak (4800 ft) to the left with knife edge between the two.


From Chimney pond to Baxter via Cathedral about 2500 ft gain.






Knife edge from Baxter peak to Pamola peak.










Helon Taylor from Pamola peak back to Roaring brook.





Cool wind shaped boulders

 

You guys look like you enjoyed the trip. Thanks for the pics.

 

Very nice pictures.

 

Always nice to be up with the clouds.

 

wait we have both met Dave I thought he was well grounded!

 

Nice pics Dave.
The Knife Edge is a workout ..congrats on that with your girl.
Rangers on Katadyn and Baxter have a tough job handling evacs. Usually those thinking that the weather at the base will stay the same
at the peaks. Many evacs have had to be done at risk when hikers aren't prepped for the trails and weather and their condition.
Baxter in winter is a whole other ballgame.
Good job.

 

Yikes - 32yrs ago I did that trip! It was a day trip from UMO to Sandy Stream Pond and Chimney Pond so we did that part several times. Then a few years later up Abol and down Helon Taylor, followed by a hitchhike back around.

 

This was my third climb, and have now done all the trails to the peaks, except Dudley, which is still closed due to a rock slide years ago. I'm told the new superintendent is committed to getting it reopened.

Unforgettable memories with her for sure! The Knife Edge is the real deal! You make plans and I'll go with you if you want.

 

One last hike with my daughter before she has to go back to life in the big city.

On MDI Cadillac (1500ft) and Dorr(1100ft) make for a nice loop. There is a saddle on the south ridge of Cadillac that is drained to the east by Cannon brook. This is usually always flowing and quite a bit in the spring but it was just a trickle today.

Cannon Brook trail.







South ridge of Cadillac





Down into the notch between. The two summits.




Looking back at Cadillac from Dorr.




The Ladder trail down the east face of Dorr follows this massive headwall.