Betsy

It is about time you met my pound pooch, Betsy.  Took the picture today on a friend’s camera, then the challenge was uploading it.  She went home, e-mailed it to me and somehow before I had go to sleep, I figured it out.  Sorry not to have pictures of our weekend excursion, just lots of pictures of Betsy’s “adjustment period”.  We won’t discuss here,  how she was run out of Virginia and ended up in a shelter in New Jersey.  No, we wouldn’t want to embarrass her.  She’s a good hiker, with the help of a muzzle she has learned not to put out the call to the pack, but she hasn’t gotten used to her backpack  yet.  My guess is she’s at least part beagle, if not all.  She has been a challenging experience for me, my former hikers had all been lab mixes.

Anyway,  we had a great time in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey over the weekend.  Weird things have been happening with the theme, I am not sure why ” State by State Trailguide” is plastered all over but keep clicking and you will find one that takes you there.  I’ve been trying out individual state subpages to make it easier for you.

Product recommendations are moving slowly along.  That and the trailguide have kept me from the vegetarian recipes I promised.  By the way, my name is Susan and someday I will figure out how the get the posts to reflect that instead of admin.

Me, I’m headed into the Wharton track.  After what seems like a month of rain a great weekend in the Delaware  Valley.  What is great about Wharton State Forest is it is huge, located in three counties and about a million acres solitude can be yours.  Betsy,my pound pooch,  loves the trip and since there are no mountains it is never strenuous.

If you like to take your dog or cat (never took a cat, never had one I could leash train) NJ has a new pilot program for pets.

Trail etiquette should be followed at all times, from the ATC site.  They recommend leashing as follows, but I have always kept my dogs leashed.  I’ve backpacked with Labs and Beagles and at no time have I been approached by anyone complaining of my dogs being a nuisance.  With use of a muzzle I taught even the beagle no to put out the hunting call.  If in doubt or if you feel the rules to be too restrictive, please leave your dog at home.  As a female, backpacking alone much of the time, I rely on my dogs to alert me when to potential danger.  Their hearing is keener.  With their warning, I have been able to skirt areas when I do not feel comfortable with an encounter.  So if backpacking with a dog, please be mindful of others.  It is a privilege not a right, I’ve gone to meetings where adamant backpackers would like to see dogs banned entirely.  Me, I want to see ATV’s banned so I understand a passionate viewpoint.

• Do not allow your pet to chase wildlife.
• Leash your dog around water sources and in sensitive alpine areas.
• Do not allow your dog to stand in springs or other sources of drinking water.
• Be mindful of the rights of other hikers not to be bothered by even a friendly dog.
• Bury your pet’s waste as you would your own.
• Take special measures at shelters. Leash your dog in the shelter area, and ask permission of other hikers before allowing your dog in a shelter. Be prepared to “tent out” when a shelter is crowded, and on rainy days.