Category: Washington

Hank Achieves Real Dog Status – Wednesday March 23, 2011

When we first got Hank four years ago he was a real challenge.   Most of the time he would just as soon take your hand off as not.   He had real resource issues.  This means once he had possession of an item he’d take your hand off if you tried to get it back.  We worked with he for a long time and today he went to a new vet and offically achieved real dog status.  When we got him he didn’t know how to play.  He’d just lay in the corner.  We started by teaching him to sit, than lay down.  We taught him to play ball and now he loves to play fetch.  Last week we went from getting him to drop the ball in my hand to me being able to take his favorite ball out of his mouth.

He visited the vet today with no drugs.  Vet gave him three shots, checked his teeth (by putting her fingers in his month).  We had to change vets because when he was really sick a couple of months ago our previous vet refused to treat him.

Hanks been a family member for four years and is deeply loved Jean and myself.  He’s a joy to have in the house and great fun to be with.   As of today he’s TRULY, “Hank – the Dog”.

 

Silver Springs – Saturday August 28, 2010

At Silver Springs again this weekend, it was 53 inside the motorhome when I got up.
The sun is out and Hank is going to take me for a hike.

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Saturday August 28 Hank and I want on a hike up the original road into the Crystal Mountain ski area.  This was originally called the Old Mine road and was the one I first went up in 1958 with my dad and Jim Hoggin to fish the Henskin Lakes.   I think Road #7176 is the Old Mine road because I remember it going up the east side of the valley and this very old road still has the power lines into Crystal Mountain on it.
This is the sign at Half Camp which is 1/4 mile before the Old Mine road reaches the new(er) road into Crystal Mountain.  This is 3.5 miles from the Silver Springs campground.
This is looking up the valley where the old road reaches the new road.

This is looking down the valley from the same place.   This would be coming into the valley.

Hank is in the lower right hand corner, just a shot of the old road.

View a little farther down the road.

It’s a great trail but not much of a road.  Jeep or small pick-up would do just fine, larger vehicle would get the paint scratched pretty good.  It’s still in good condition and 2-wheel drive is all you’d really need to get up this road.

Here is the ever willing to go for a hike Hank.

This is a happy hiking dog (Hank).

The white line going from the middle towards the bottom of the picture follows this week’s hike.  The line going towards the top of the picture is the first part of last week’s hike.

Silver Springs – Sunday August 22, 2010

Hank and l hiked down to Ranger Creek air field. It’s just over 3 miles from here. Nice day for a walk in the trees, only about 25 feet is out in the sun.  
On the way back Hank decided he’d gone far enough.  He started to slow down and as soon as I stopped he laid down in the trail. We set there for 15 minutes and he was ready to go again.  He didn’t stop again until we got back to camp, a tired puppy.

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Here are some maps and pictures from our hike.

Green Trails map I made to carry in my pocket.

We are camped at Silver Springs Campground.  This week we hiked to Ranger Creek air field trail 1199 and last week we took 1199 and 1196 to Noble Knob.  Last week we got within 1/2 to 3/4’s of a mile from the top, elevation 5340 which is off this map.

The following two maps I made with Google Earth.
Ranger Creek and the sign.

Ranger Creek sign.

Noble Knob trail fork.

The bridge just before the trial heads up hill towards Noble Knob.  It’s at Deep Creek

This is the trail head on the first turn of the Coral Pass Road.

Right above Ranger Creek air strip / Buck Creek.

 

Silver Springs Camping – Saturday August 14, 2010

Great day 80+ degrees
Hank and I headed out towards Noble Knob, left at 10:00 get back at 4:00. Almost made it to the top.  We had stopped at our turn around point to let the GPS get the coordinates and elevation along with a good drink of water when two guys on bikes came by.  They said we were about a half mile from the top.
Starting at 10:00 we reached our high point from two weeks ago at 12:00 noon.  We stopped for a drink and Hank decided we should continue on until 1:00.  At our 1:00 turn around point we were having a drink, bone and candy bar when Tanya called to say they were back in San Diego.
Hank decided we should continue until the trees opened up enough to get a GPS location.  At 1:30 we reached an opening large enough to pick up 4 satellites, 5340 location 47 01 47N and 121 29 99W.  When we get home I’ll see about marking a map.  Home: We started at the tent in the lower left hand corner and turned around at the yellow pin.

When we got back to camp I had a shower and one of me favorite dinners, T-bone steak (1 lbs on SALE at QFC ), rice, soy sauce and a nice glass ( OK, several glasses ) of wine.