People who own Dachshunds, or small dogs, often have to deal with Wet Belly Syndrome. Chester has it really bad. We have been on hikes in the past where he has gotten so wet and cold that he refuses to go on and we had to carry him. As you can imagine, he is particularly susceptible to this on fall and winter hikes.
This last weekend we wanted to get off the couch and go see the fall colors in all their glory before they were gone. We decided to hike to Snow Lake which is up by the summit of Snoqualmie Pass in the Cascade Mountains. We were lazy and didn’t get out of bed until noon so this trail was going to deliver the most bang for our buck in the amount of time we had.
I had never been up there and didn’t expect that the trail would be wet. Well, actually, it was a creek close to half the time…..and that was aside from having to navigate all of the streams dumping down the side of the mountain and crossing the trail.
Gretel doesn’t mind the water so much. If she can’t easily hop over it then she will just jump right in and wade through it. However, Chester usually avoids water at all costs.
On this hike we did have to carry him over some of the deepest streams that he couldn’t hop or pick through using dry rocks to step on. But it was on the rest of the trail where he really impressed me.
Make no mistake – this hike was wet and cold. You could wring water out of both of the dogs.
Chester didn’t start dragging ass on this hike though, despite his discomfort. Maybe it was his new, super cool, super warm jacket from The Cozy Hound or maybe he was so relieved to be out the trail again he didn’t mind getting wet. Either way, he continued to plod along.
The hike was amazing. I love the color of the bright oranges and reds of fall against the blue skies and gray rocks.
Snow Lake was beautiful. It was the kind of lake that inspires you to sweat all the way up a mountain.
We got a two-for-one because on the way back down we took the side trail to the Source Lake overlook.
We talked with a couple on the trail and apparently you can hike past Source Lake and explore a bunch of loop trails higher up. We didn’t have the time to check them out. Besides, we like to leave something so that we have a reason to go back again.
Bruce Sherman says
October 25, 2011 at 6:41 AMGreat pictures! I see those new coats are coming in handy. Good Dogs!
AdventureJess says
October 25, 2011 at 5:26 PMYes, yes they are 🙂
Chancy, Mumsy and Crew says
October 25, 2011 at 7:56 AMYou look so sweet in your coats and we love those paw pictures. You all have the most beautiful scenery around your area. Wonderful pictures. We like your new blog look…cool!! We thank you for all your visits to our blog. We love it when you drop by. Hugs and nose kisses
Rose says
October 25, 2011 at 9:26 AMI like the new layout, nice job! The pics of the paws on the logs are my favorites, great angle. Living in the PNW one can get a bit tired of looking at other people’s hiking photos but the weenies make everything new and interesting!!
AdventureJess says
October 25, 2011 at 5:25 PMThanks…on the layout and the photos. I took the photos of their paws on a whim. I usually focus on scenery. I really liked them too so I might try to focus more on the little details of the dogs.
Renee E. D'Aoust says
October 25, 2011 at 9:37 AMHi, Chester & Gretel,
You are both great doxies! I’ve always wondered what to call my wet belly, and now I know: Wet Belly Syndrome. I suffered from WBS this past weekend, too. Your photographs are beautiful; it makes us homesick for the Pacific Northwest.
Yours in WBS — keep on wagging,
Tootsie
AdventureJess says
October 25, 2011 at 5:23 PMI do have to say that off all the places I have been, the northwest is one of the most beautiful. Too bad it is so wet though 🙁
Thanks for stopping by and checking us out.
Mary and Roxy says
October 25, 2011 at 10:37 AMWow, that looks gorgeous! Our leaves have been great too this year. I love those Cozy hound jackets you have for them. Roxy would love one, she gets cold easy. Thanks for the great pictures.
AdventureJess says
October 25, 2011 at 5:22 PMSometimes around here it is hard to find an abundance of fall colors in one place because of all of our evergreens. We sure go lucky on this hike.
If you sent Cozy Hound Roxy’s measurements they would custom make one for you.
Tammy says
October 25, 2011 at 12:42 PMBeautiful photos!! Poor little wet feet and bellies. I never would have thought about the wet belly issue for a “low to the ground” doggie!
AdventureJess says
October 25, 2011 at 5:20 PMAnd they are very low to the ground 🙂 Big doggies get lucky because they only have to get their paws wet.
Kari says
October 25, 2011 at 6:47 PMSo far Big Carl has been quite the trooper
Stop on by for a visit
Kari
dogisgodinreverse.com
Elizabeth says
October 25, 2011 at 9:15 PMBeautiful photos!! Love the Doxie whiskers showing. Penny gets wet belly a lot as she has the loner hair, but I don’t think it has really affected her yet.
Tisha says
October 26, 2011 at 8:35 AMAwesome hike! We love to hike and travel with our wieners too. Love the beautiful fall colors.
snoopy@snoopysdogblog says
October 26, 2011 at 11:37 AMFrom those pics it seems like it was well worth the effort Chester put in!! What awesome views you all had!
They look very cool in their coats!
Have a fun day,
Your pal Snoopy 🙂
AdventureJess says
October 26, 2011 at 4:47 PMIt was one of the most beautiful hikes I have been on for a while 🙂
2browndawgs says
October 26, 2011 at 3:35 PMThose picture are spectacular. Love the warm jacket. When our dogs hunt in the Fall we have them in vests to maintain their core temps.
AdventureJess says
October 26, 2011 at 4:46 PMYeah, I think the extra thick Cozy Hound jacket kept his core warmer than usual. That is probably why he complained about the we less. I know when I go running if my core is extra warm my joints don’t hurt as much 🙂
47 says
December 21, 2011 at 7:00 PMOh! I recognize those names! Didn’t realize you lived so near to us!
AdventureJess says
December 21, 2011 at 9:34 PMWhere do you live?