Perfect Day For a Hike to Snow Lake

P1030547_3DI admit we haven’t been the best K9 Kampers this time around. The challenge this month is to be active 30 minutes extra, 3 – 4 times a week. Right now I am so busy with school that any kind of activity at all is “extra” for us.

We just HAD to get out and hike last week. Not only was I stressed out, and Chester and Gretel really bored, but snow will be coming to the mountains soon. In the winter our adventures become shorter or we have to stick to lower (read: boring) elevations. We decided to hike one of our favorites, Snow Lake.

We got a late start and when we headed out of the City it was grey and foggy. I had to play a few head games with myself to keep motivated. As we climbed the mountain pass, suddenly the sun and blue skies came out. Instantly I felt a wash of happy come over me.

The trail was really dry for this time of year and the hike didn’t take as long as I remember. The air was crisp but warm and we enjoyed some week-day solitude on this normally busy trail.

We heard and spotted some Pika along the way. Pika are close relatives of rabbits. They make their homes under the large rocks of talus slopes. It’s pretty cool to see them because there are only two species that live in North America.

American Pika
American Pika

Gretel had fun sniffing holes in the ground.

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We got some great views. It was a wonderful adventure.

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snow lake editedN

About the Author

Hi, I’m Jessica. I’ve been studying the Dachshund breed since 2007, owned 3 of my own, and shared in the lives of thousands of others through their owner’s stories. When I’m not sharing what I know on this blog, you can find me hiking, camping, and traveling with my adventurous wiener dogs.

26 Comments

    1. This photo was zoomed in. The Pika was a couple of hundred feed away from us and several tall boulders away. Chester and Gretel are short so probably couldn’t see it. They didn’t alert to it anyway. They DO catch a scent quick though and frequently insisted in smelling all the gaps between the rocks on the trail.

    1. I felt the stress lift just driving there. My knees were screaming when I got done but, other than that, it was exhilarating 🙂

  1. Did the pups catch a pika? That would be so cool! Patches caught a wood rat a couple of weeks ago. I encourage her to catch as many rodents as possible. In our yard. Discourage them living here.

    Looks like y’all had a GREAT time! I can see why you love that hike.

    Looks like the Pika is the creature responsible for the pokemon. 🙂

    1. Well, Chester and Gretel aren’t allowed off leash on hikes and this photo is zoomed in. The pike was actually a couple hundred feet away from us. Plus the Pika is not considered a pest. There are few enough of them that they were nominated to be on the Endangered species list. It’s a real treat to see them. So…no…the dogs did not catch one 🙂 They do love to go after the fat and sassy grey squirrel in our yard though. I wouldn’t really want them to catch him but it is fun to watch them hunt after his scent.

    1. I guess we are lucky in the Northwest because we don’t get snow and ice (usually) but the rain is a bummer. I don’t mind the cold but being WET and cold is kind of miserable :/

  2. Glad you got out and got a good hike in – bet you feel better 😉 Great photos – such pretty scenery and Gretel & Chester look quite pleased with the whole thing.

  3. Pika’s are so cute…I’ve never seen one…I can imagine how stressed you’ve been with the new schedule, jobs and school…You did choose the best cure…A great hike in open air with beautiful views is a sure way to clear the brain and unkink the body

    1. If I had my way, I we would get out 3 – 4 days a week. Even though this hike (and a lot more) are an hour or less from our house, it just doesn’t happen. I love that I have the flexibility to get out on weekends though when the trails are less crowded.

  4. Amazing photos! I don’t think I’ve ever seen or heard of a Pika before. Kind of reminds me of a chinchilla in a way.

  5. Gorgeous photos!!! So glad you got to get out and hike! I’m sure Chester and Gretel miss it just as much as you do when you’re just too busy to go.
    I’ll never know how you get them to sit still outdoors for you. I can get mine to sit still in the house, but outside is too full of scents to smell and track. I don’t think I could ever put them on a rock and have them sit still. Back when we just had LittleBear (RIP), yes… he was easy and calm. Not my current two. I don’t know… maybe if I could get them to focus in on a treat… maaaybe…

  6. What an awesome hike. I’d be going for the lake. We don’t have much water around here and when I do get around it I’m in it first thing.

  7. What a super fun hike! Be careful, Gretel – one of those Pika dudes might pop out of the hole and bite your nose!

    Love and licks,
    Cupcake

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