Here are some pics from our trip to Killarney this weekend.

The trip didn't go exactly as planned - I adjusted Neb's workouts to make sure he'd be in shape for this trip, but I did a lot of stuff off of pavement, so his paws weren't tough enough I guess.

There's still a fair bit of snow there, though lots of spots without snow. The trail was about 50/50, and the snow that was still there was knee-hip deep, and what has been happening is that it melts, and a layer of ice forms over top. A friend of mine who is up there had let me know about the conditions, but I'm an idiot who's very used to Luc's paws of iron, and for the first time, didn't bring booties.

Neb's paws are not as tough as Luc's The combination of walking through mud and water (ankle deep mostly), which softened his paws, and then on the sharp ice, cut his paws. My poor boy. So, we started off Thursday, and made the decision to base camp about mid-day so Neb could have some time off. Luc and my friend Iulian went day hiking Friday, and I hung out with Neb at camp. We went out a day early on Saturday, so that we weren't hanging around, and I at least could get a run in today and ride the trainer, plus I got to spend Easter Sunday with Toby.

We tried fashioning booties out of sock but even with triple duct taping them on they kept falling off, so Neb wore duct tape on his feet on the way out, which is what I use for most of my first aid needs, and as always, it came through, he was good on the way out. He was a bit quiet yesterday evening and this morning but he's much better this afternoon and evening, though I'm obviously going to give him some healing time.

Anyways, so that's a long story about how I'm an idiot, but - here are the pics! I got some good ones of the dogs.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=113807&id=630190844&l=b9114bac08
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=113808&id=630190844&l=b576a47e57

Because we were the only people on the trail, in a backcountry campsite, and b/c Luc is so good about staying in camp, I let him be off-tie out at the site. And I DID sweep the campsite, which was huge, for poop, or got it when I saw him, but I obviously missed a spot, b/c....I got some great pics of a beautiful moth (I don't think it was a butterfly), and was showing them proudly to Toby last night - I used the zoom so as not to scare it off, and thought it was on a stick, but when we opened them up, Toby was like 'it's sitting on pooh'. I laughed and said the only people I knew who would probably appreciate them were Leerburg people (dog pooh and pretty moths! whoo!) but sadly I didn't post the obviously poop-y ones online, so....

Edit: This trip was planned before Teagan got the knee arthritis dx, and she already has hip dysplasia, and I was worried it would be too much b/c we're trying to be careful (edit again: for the trip as we had planned it. She would've been fine as it worked out). For the most part, other than one fastpacking trip this summer where we're 80k in 2 days, I'm modifying the trips to fit her, if anyone was wondering why she wasn't there.

Tender pads or not, you have two of the luckiest dogs on the planet. What a wonderful way to spend an Easter weekend!

We were busy trying to complete our chicken coop (part of our "feeding raw" commitment) so it was a borrrinnng weekend around here! Hopefully the raw, home grown chickens and rabbits will make up for the lack of cooool spring vacations!

Whoa Luc has grown into a HANDSOME dog. At first I was wondering who the white one was, then saw the spots on his back.

Was the butterfly stuck in the ice, or just landing?

Great pics, it seems like a nice trip into a remote area.

Those are some great looking dogs and pictures.

I'm loving the weasel (?) pic's, too.

Too bad Teagan is missing out the awesome fun! Hope you had a nice time with your dogs. I'm supposed to go camping tomorrow with friends, but I had to turn it down. I hurt my back about two weeks ago.

Thanks guys!

Lindsay, sorry about your back. That sucks! Hope it gets better soon

A chicken coop, Barbara, that is cool!

Jennifer, I know (edit: I think you mean Neb....Luc's the black GSD). I was looking at the pictures of him this weekend and was struck by how much he's matured - it's his 1 year birthday this Saturday! And how much he looks like a little Husky at times too....he's my little Alaskan Husky

The butterfly wasn't stuck - the first pic is on some rocks (the perspective might be weird) and the second butterfly/moth is on Luc's poop

Scott, thanks! It's actually a mink. I spent some time debating while I was up there what it was - my first reaction was river otter but I knew that wasn't right, and it wasn't a muskrat, so....I wondered about mink but I spent some time on google images and definitely a mink.

Iulian and Luc also met some deer on there day hike. Luc got nervous (that's my boy....he probably had no idea what they were, he's actually been around deer before out in the bush but he's always been busy sniffing grass and missed them. First time I took him backpacking we came across a big buck just standing there and he was oblivious.) and started barking and scared them off.

Then they came across a dead deer, with just some lower leg left, and apparently Luc tried to eat it (which made me proud) but Iulian wouldn't let him (which I have no problem with, not knowing how the deer died, though Iulian said it looked like wolves had taken it down, I'm not sure he's an expert on that, and from what he said the skeleton was fully intact).

Teagan will definitely be on the next trip! She loves backpacking. Since we were back early we did some special stuff just her and I yesterday.

Oh! Oh! And note Luc wearing his Katahdin coat - he can go to the washroom in that, it's got a hole in the back and a little spot for his junk. Kept him warm beautifully, it rocks. One of the mushers on this board, Lynne Cheffins, recommended them to me. I want to get one for Neb for next year. It's just the shirt or you can put on the 'shorts' portion. Very handy.

Jenn, great pictures! Neb is looking very grown up and husky-like, with that 1 blue eye.
Interesting shot of the lichen...nice!

I did mean Neb, it just came out as Luc . It looks like he's having a blast in your sig pic...rolling in stinky stuff, keeping his harness smelling nice and rancid, ie fresh as roses for dogs

Looks like a great time for the boyz! Yay!

Holey cow, Neb has changed.