Canine Psychology

I am constantly amazed by the intelligence that my dogs display. Every dog owner is convinced that their dog is a prodigy among canines, I’ve heard, so I suppose that I’m no different. Rascal, my oldest dog, acts like a two or three year old human child (without the ability to speak, of course). Tonight, for example, I came downstairs and found him on the couch. He knows from years of experience that the couches are off-limits. When he noticed me, he immediately hopped off the couch and ran to my side, tail between his legs and head bowed in supplication. I didn’t even say a word to him at all. He obviously knew that he had done something wrong, and he realized that he had been caught in the act. Do dogs have a conscience? Can they feel guilt? I need to call my pet psychologist and see what’s going on in his little mind.


Rascal (the good dog)

Hiking?

On Thursday, Josh and I had planned to go hiking (again), but our plans didn’t work out (again). This time it’s the weather’s fault. He’s already gone back to Golden, and he won’t be back until Christmas. I guess I’ll have to wait until the end of July to get my backpacking fix (and I’ll probably get more than I want, the way my plans are looking now). I’m saving some money to buy more gear so I can be completely self-sufficient. Last summer we had to borrow most of our gear from the church (Joe and my Dad will have to do the same this year . . . I’ve told them to save some money, but they didn’t). We bought my Dad an R.E.I. gift card for Father’s Day, so he’ll be forced to buy some stuff. We went to R.E.I. tonight, and I think he’s going to buy a backpack and a Camelbak Unbottle. He wants to think about it for a few days before he buys anything.

My Uncle Chuck called a couple of nights ago and we talked for awhile about our backpacking trips this summer. He just bought a new tent, backpack, and a few other things. We’re going to have a family reunion for my Mom’s side of the family in Estes Park July 26th – 30th. It will be great to see all of my relatives (including an uncle and aunt I haven’t seen since I was about five). We rented a few cabins and we plan to do all kinds of cool stuff: hiking, fishing, rafting, and we’ll even try to get my cousin Tanner to come to a concert with us. We’ve decided to climb three fourteeners: Mount of the Holy Cross, Gray’s Peak, and Torrie’s Peak. Holy Cross will be different from anything we’ve attempted before; for most of the trip, we’ll be on a narrow ridge the width of a street 12,000 ft. up. The wind will be unbearable, I’m sure. Gray’s and Torrie’s are connected by a ridge, so we can hit both summits in one day. I’ve heard from friends who have climbed them that they’re not extremely difficult. The only problem is that three of my girl cousins will be with us (all under 16 years old). I really hope that we don't make it halfway and then have to turn back because of them. We'll see . . .