It's a Husky Thing - Siberian Husky Forum
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.


A forum for owners of the Siberian Husky.
 
HomeSearchLatest imagesRegisterRegisterLog in
Congratulations Nikita, Archer, and Cheyanne!, our November HOTM winners! HOTM Will Be Taking An Indefinite Break!
Husky of the Month
Congrats Nikita, Archer, and Cheyanne,
our November HOTM Winners!
Husky Cuddles!





Thanks to all for this month's entries!
Forum Rules
1. Here we prefer clarity to agreement. Obviously not everyone is going to agree on a topic; here we prefer to talk out our differences in a respectful manner to ensure mutual understanding and respect.
2. Read the Stickies and Announcements. Each sub-forum may have specific rules which trump the Forum Rules in cases where there may be conflicting information. Read the rules of each board before you post so that you are clear on the expectations of the staff.
3. Respect ALL Staff and Admins. These people volunteer of their time and MUST be respected as well as their word adhered to. They are responsible for maintaining a free, open, clear and organized forum. Anyone found to be openly undermining any official ruling by a staff member will be warned.
4. Signatures: One picture only and no links. Images: To keep the forum looking neat and tidy, we ask that members insert just one picture only in their signatures. The picture should be no more than 200x500 pixels and should be of an appropriate subject, for example, your dogs and their names. Should you need assistance creating an appropriate signature, please PM an Admin and we would be happy to help! This is to ensure that signatures remain a welcome addition to our forum instead of a cumbersome distraction. Links: Hyperlinks in signatures--unless to a personal blog or photo stream of your dogs (like Flckr or Piscasa, for example)--are strictly prohibited. Please PM a staff member with any questions or concerns regarding this rule.
Rescue Spotlight
Our current rescue spotlight is:

Delaware Valley Siberian Husky Rescue!

Top Dog Website Award Winner!

Top Website
for
Siberian

Huskys


Share
 

 Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012)

View previous topic View next topic Go down 
AuthorMessage
Polar
Puppy
Puppy
Polar

Join date : 2012-02-25
Location : Castle Rock, CO

Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) Empty
PostSubject: Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012)   Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) EmptySun Apr 01, 2012 8:38 pm

Since I will start working next week, I decided to go hiking somewhere in the mountains while I still have a little free time. I checked out a book called "Canine Colorado" from the local library, which lists a lot of things to do with your dog in Colorado. Herman Gulch had a high rating in the book, plus it is easily accessible from I-70, so I decided to do it.

We've been having 70-degree days in Denver for close to a month now, I thought the snow should be thinning out by now on the mountains. So I didn't bother to bring snow shoes. Turned out I was very wrong...


At the beginning of the hike, Polar was happy to see some patches of snow.
Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3300915



Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3300917


Great weather, mine was the only car in the parking lot when I pulled in, so didn't see anyone on the hike in.
Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3300918



Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3300920



Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3300922


The snow was getting icy under the shade. I put on a pair of Yak Trax, which worked fairly well on the icy bits.
Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3300923



Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3300924


Bird?
Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3300925



Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3300926



Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3300927


I'm getting mostly butt shots on this trip...
Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3300928



Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3300930



Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3300931



Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3300933



Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3300934



Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3300935



Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3300936



Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3300937


The snow was still pretty firm early in the morning, so I had no problem walking on the crust even without snow shoes.
Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3300938


But as the day went on, the temp started rising, I started postholing.
Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3300939


First, it was maybe every ten steps, I'd punch through the crust and posthole to my thighs.
Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3300940


Then it slowly became every five steps.
Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3300941


Every couple of steps.
Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3300942


At the end I was high stepping every step, basically doing the stair master on pretty much flat ground.
Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3300943


It was exhausting work, I decided I had enough and turned around.
Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3300944


Taking a break.
Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3290945



Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3290946



Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3290947



Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P3290948


By the time I got here, the snow had soften up from the sun, and I was postholing every step.
Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P1010949



Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P1010950


Last shot of the scenery before the camera's battery died.
Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) P1010951


So in terms of preparedness, it was a rather sad day.

Failure #1: No snow shoes. I'll chalk that one up to being from Florida.

Failure #2: My camera ran out of juice 1/3 into the trip. No worries! I brought back up! So I thought. After changing out the batteries, the camera died within 30 secs... what I thought was freshly charged batteries turned out to be the set I drained from last time! Doh!! Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) 1625187496

Therefore, much of the trip went undocumented, which is too bad cuz we went on a little an adventure. After I decided that I had enough of postholing in thigh deep snow and turned around, I stuck to the edge of the snowfield and the trees, where the snow was thin to make it easier on my thighs. Then I spotted a fairly steep gully with pretty solid snow, so I decided to climb up the gully to gain the small summit to our north. After getting up the summit, which I'd say is roughly around 12,000 feet, I made a beeline for the parking lot down a different gully, which I believed would bring me back to the trail I was on. I was right on that count, but I didn't realize the snow was much deeper and softer in this gully. After a bit of a struggle going down this gully sinking to my thighs every time I step down, I decided to glissade down the snowfield, which worked really well. Even Polar took the cue and started glissading down on her belly. After regaining the trail I was on, we were back in the car shortly, with just enough time to drive back to Denver and avoid the worst of the rush hour traffic. Good trip, all things considered.
Back to top Go down
cmanding
Nutrition Subject Moderator
cmanding

Female Join date : 2010-10-12
Location : Denver, CO

Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) Empty
PostSubject: Re: Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012)   Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) EmptySun Apr 01, 2012 10:54 pm

Fun pics!

Hubby and I were going to do this trail on Friday on our way to the Ritz for the weekend for our anniversary. The temps supposed to drop tomorrow and stay cool but I think it warms up a little again toward the end of the week. Do you think we should pack in our snowshoes and throw them on when we need to? Would the pups be OK farther in on the trail where you started postholing more often?

_________________
Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) 41765413
Back to top Go down
Polar
Puppy
Puppy
Polar

Join date : 2012-02-25
Location : Castle Rock, CO

Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) Empty
PostSubject: Re: Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012)   Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) EmptySun Apr 01, 2012 11:13 pm

cmanding wrote:
Fun pics!

Hubby and I were going to do this trail on Friday on our way to the Ritz for the weekend for our anniversary. The temps supposed to drop tomorrow and stay cool but I think it warms up a little again toward the end of the week. Do you think we should pack in our snowshoes and throw them on when we need to? Would the pups be OK farther in on the trail where you started postholing more often?

If I were to do this trail again in a week, I would definitely bring snow shoes. It's better to have them but not need them, than to need them but not have them.

Polar was postholing too, but not as bad as I was. She only went in as far as her belly, and being on four legs, her weight was spread out more so she was punching through the crust a lot less than I was.
Back to top Go down
harrise
The Gentleman


Male Join date : 2009-06-16

Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) Empty
PostSubject: Re: Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012)   Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) EmptySun Apr 01, 2012 11:25 pm

How was the depth hoar? Did it pack with each step? It was all loose and free where we were on Saturday even at a slushy 50 degrees. It was borderline dangerous for the dogs. Plowing Styrofoam from the human knees up after 11:00am. Plunge stepping in watery crystals on the descent doesn't begin to describe the mess we were in. Man it was hot out there this weekend.

Now I see why all the recent reports are ski descents of Herman.
Back to top Go down
cmanding
Nutrition Subject Moderator
cmanding

Female Join date : 2010-10-12
Location : Denver, CO

Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) Empty
PostSubject: Re: Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012)   Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) EmptySun Apr 01, 2012 11:53 pm

Polar wrote:
cmanding wrote:
Fun pics!

Hubby and I were going to do this trail on Friday on our way to the Ritz for the weekend for our anniversary. The temps supposed to drop tomorrow and stay cool but I think it warms up a little again toward the end of the week. Do you think we should pack in our snowshoes and throw them on when we need to? Would the pups be OK farther in on the trail where you started postholing more often?

If I were to do this trail again in a week, I would definitely bring snow shoes. It's better to have them but not need them, than to need them but not have them.

Polar was postholing too, but not as bad as I was. She only went in as far as her belly, and being on four legs, her weight was spread out more so she was punching through the crust a lot less than I was.
Thanks for the heads up!

_________________
Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) 41765413
Back to top Go down
Polar
Puppy
Puppy
Polar

Join date : 2012-02-25
Location : Castle Rock, CO

Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) Empty
PostSubject: Re: Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012)   Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) EmptyMon Apr 02, 2012 8:55 pm

harrise wrote:
How was the depth hoar? Did it pack with each step? It was all loose and free where we were on Saturday even at a slushy 50 degrees. It was borderline dangerous for the dogs. Plowing Styrofoam from the human knees up after 11:00am. Plunge stepping in watery crystals on the descent doesn't begin to describe the mess we were in. Man it was hot out there this weekend.

Now I see why all the recent reports are ski descents of Herman.

No it didn't pack at all, it was all airy beneath the crust, like you're stepping into a big air bubble. Maybe it will be better with today's cold snap.
Back to top Go down
massak
Puppy
Puppy
massak

Male Join date : 2012-03-03
Location : almost heaven wv

Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) Empty
PostSubject: Re: Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012)   Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) EmptyMon Apr 02, 2012 10:04 pm

careful with the doggie postholing in the corn snow! ive seen dogs get temporary injuries around here that way. polar looks happy getting to be the dog he is meant to be!
Back to top Go down
Sponsored content




Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) Empty
PostSubject: Re: Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012)   Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012) Empty

Back to top Go down
 

Polar goes hiking: Herman Gulch, CO (3/29/2012)

View previous topic View next topic Back to top 
Page 1 of 1

 Similar topics

-
» Polar goes hiking: Herman Lake, CO (5/27/2012)
» Polar goes hiking: Herman Lake, Pettingell Peak, Woods Mountain (8/16/2013)
» Polar goes hiking. Yunnan, China
» Polar goes snowshoeing: Eldora, CO (3/2/2012)
» Roll Pack Scrapbook - 7/31/2012 (UPDATED 11/22/2012)

Permissions in this forum:You cannot reply to topics in this forum
It's a Husky Thing - Siberian Husky Forum :: Advice and Discussion Forums :: The Great Outdoors-