CrackersDog

Yes, I'm a West Highland Terrier, 16lbs, and 4 yrs old.

Trip: Crackers versus the Volcano - Dan Dog Direct Date: 6/4/2011 Trip Report: The trek began Saturday morning June 4th in the year of the Rabbit . , 2 miles from the Schreibers Meadow TH at aproximately 3000'. Instead of going up the railroad grade, highcamp and western edge of easton/deming glaciers, Dan and I take the group straight up the hill, "Dan Dog Direct". By 3pm, we arrive at the true summit of Baker, elevation 10,781 ft. We hang out for an hour, take another nap, and eat newman peanut butter biscuits and smoked salmon. On the descent I'm packed into a well fitted carriage for the ride down, "backpackable". An hour later, I'm lifted out and plopped back on to the snow after riding the 7300' feet, with no falls, yeeha! All in all, the snow conditions were pawrfect as I floated on top with my 20 point crampons. Only one minor crevasse, everything is still filled in with lots of snow. We never roped up. So far my peak bagging list includes Baker, Snowking, and Mt. Adams. I'm not allowed on Rainier, maybe... as Seizure Alert dog... but somehow that doesn't seem right. 16 miles round trip, ~ 7800 gain maybe 12,000+ steps for a 6" legged animal Clothes make the man. Taking a break from the snow in my birthday suit. Bolshoi troupe's tighty tight Dan, neighbor fisherman Mike, and Crazy-cracker. Take me... to the volcano! Jonah feeds Mike a double shot Starbucks and a smoke for a pick me up. A snowmobiler is hanging out with us too. Can you find me in this photo? Twin sister range in background. Here I am doing a sun salutation. Okay fine, you got me, I'm peeing like a bitch because there weren't any trees to lift my leg to... Nobody knows anything, Dan. We'll take this leap, and we'll see. We'll jump, and we'll see. That's life, right? With no air at this elevation we resort to using sign language. Ahh!! There's nothing like being on top of her the very first time... peek-a-boo excellent Geisha dancing from Ken Small Jr. Dan making sure the water is okay to drink. Wherever we go, whatever we do, we're gonna take this luggage with us! Gear Notes: 25oz water, biscuits, smoked salmon, ID collar

To: Kinnikinnick and PChaus You two define copromania. Maybe an extra chromosome is to blame? Thanks for educating the rest of us!

Indubitably.

Trip: Mt. Baker - Park Glacier/Cockscomb Date: 2/24/2010 Trip Report: This past Saturday I convinced my owner to take me out for a longer than usual walk… Joe, Jonah, and I (Crackers) left Bellingham at 6:30am, got a flat tire at Nugent’s Corner and returned back to pick up another P.O.S. car to head east on SR542. We finally started hiking by 10:30. I was naked besides my collar. However, I did get my feet lathered in Musher’s Wax to prevent snowballing. My companions were on skis. We hiked along the Ptarmigan ridge and made camp near Camp Kiser around 4ish. I had dinner and napped for 3hrs while the others melted snow and made an extravagant pork tenderloin dinner. The next morning, we started at 6:30ish hiking towards the Portals, the Rainbow Glacier, and then on to the Park Glacier. On traversing an extremely steep icy section to get on to the Rainbow glacier, one of my companion’s skis slipped out and down he went. I couldn’t understand why the humans had such poor balance and traction! I made quick easy work of anything they found problematic. We hiked the Park Glacier to the Cockscomb ridge, where I took another nap. I could tell my partners were running out of gas as well. We made it to 9,800’ and I would have went for the summit if they had but instead I was forced to ride the 4,000’ ski descent inside my partner’s pack . Upon getting to camp, I had more food and water and another nap. Then we packed up and headed north back to the car. It got dark, but luckily, my companion had brought my headlamp. We made it back by 8:30. In all I hiked over 18 miles in the snow and did over 6,500’ elevation gain. Not quite the gain I accomplished on the Mt. Adams summit last summer, but nonetheless respectable for someone with 4” long legs. Not getting the “winter ascent” was a bummer but I’ll be back!! Gear Used: 2 cups dry organic dog food water fleece lined Mutluk dog boots synthetic snow suit down hoodie head lamp Musher Wax doggles (didn’t use) hat (didn’t use) Pictures: Don't mess Rhime Forrest, Jonah and I Eating dinner Getting a few powder turns on the way up. Napping at 9,800' Chillin' in the the pack Hiking out with Joe