Zena's First Hiking Trip

Ok, so I just realized that I forgot to post about taking Zena (the Great Dane) hiking. We went to Shaw Butte on St Patrick's day. She was soo excited, after all this was her first hiking trip.








Since I'm still a beginner hiker, I walk pretty slow going up the mountain. Zena kept pace with me, although at times she'd get a little ahead of me stop look at me and wait, as if to say "come on you can do it, just keep putting one foot in front of the other see watch me" then she would take a few steps look back at me to make sure I was coming.














Zena doesn't like to leave my side or be too far from my reach when we walk so she was extremely patient with me up the mountain, she never once pulled or even dragged me. I tried to get good pictures of Zena, but it was rather difficult when I'd stop she would stop, and I couldn't seem to get far enough behind her to take a really good photo.

However some nice fellow hiker offered to take one of Zena and I, so I was thankful for that. 

Sometimes instead of plans, you need guidelines...

So my plan today was an invigorating 6.4 mi hike on LV Yates (8) to Nature (304) to Ruth Hamilton (88) to Quartz Ridge (8A) then back to LV Yates (8) then back to my car at 40th st and Shea. It really did seem simple enough. I set out this morning around 7:30, determined to do 6.4 miles. I had chosen mostly easy trails, and then a couple more difficult ones for the way back to my car. Somehow though I ended up off of trail 8, not sure quite where I ended up, some fellow hikers said I was on Quartz Ridge. Wanting to stick to my plan, I turned around and headed back for LV Yates trail. 

Trying to figure out where I was on the map and getting my 6 miles in, seemed almost impossible. I kept finding other trails, that weren't blocked off, and didn't seem to be on the map. I finally just put the map in my pocket and decided just to hike, and enjoy the peacefulness and calm around me instead of worrying about sticking to my plan. At one point I was actually in the middle of the mountain preserve and everywhere I looked was the gorgeous mountain desert. 

At this point I knew I was no longer following my plan, so I did the next best thing, I stuck to trails that had been well traveled. Eventually I made my way back out on the north side, then headed back on trail 100 headed to my car.  Afterwords I looked at the map, and I"m still not sure how far Addie and I hiked, but it was great, and I'm glad that I put the map away and just enjoyed all the hike had to give. 

I guess it just goes to show that the best laid plans aren't always going to have the best adventures! Next time I think I will  just give guidelines as to where I will be. 

Saturdays...

Saturdays....No longer are they going to be the lazy day, where I sleep till noon, and then lay around the house and do nothing. I'm tired of saving all my house cleaning, grocery shopping and weekly cooking for Monday.  I'm tired of feeling like I never get all my weekend list done, tired of playing catch up during the week, leaving me feeling frazzled and feeling unorganized! I'm fasting from TV right now, and I figured it would open up more time for me, it really hasn't. At least none that I have been able to use wisely. I definitely need to be a better steward of my time.

Last Saturday, Zena and I went to Thunderbird Conservation Park and hiked H-2. We had fun and I was totally exhausted. Today, I took Addie hiking at North Mountain, and we did the full trail, up the paved path and down the rock on the other side of the mountain. She practically pulled me . I know she had fun, but I have a sneaky suspicion that if she were given the option to run up and down, she would be ecstatic. She was still full of energy so I took her to the park to run it off a bit more, then we headed home.

After my hike with Zena last Saturday, I came home and slept for 4 hrs. Today  I refuse to sleep all day so busying myself with chores, first I gave all the dogs a bath, then I got one :). They are not fans of this change, but they smell lovely!

Hope you enjoy the pics of our adventure today. Addie didn't really want to stand/sit still for a pic, and well me, I've never been photogenic.