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January Dog Tale of the Month – 2-Day Broken Top Adventure
from: Lindsey, Product Designer and her dog Kaya
location: Broken Top, Central Oregon
On August 24th, 2009, Erik, Kaya and I set out to play for a few days on Broken Top, acomplex stratovolcano exposed by glacial erosion. Broken Top is spectacular, close to Bend, and has a fun jeep road leading directly to the base of the mountain… all good reasons to head out there!
- View of Broken Top from the trailhead
We didn’t really have a plan, but had food and gear for two days and one night out on the mountain. Being the ski junkies that we are, our primary goal was to get better acquainted with the area and scope some ski lines for next winter.
Broken Top doesn’t have any maintained trails, so you are pretty much on your own. We decided to head straight up the West ridge to check out some glaciers and the upper alpine area.
After about 3 hours of steep scree climbing and loose rock scrambling, we reached a saddle and had lunch. At this point, we discussed our options and decided to keep climbing until we found a suitable campsite. Plan B was to return to the saddle if we couldn’t find anything farther up.
- Kaya hanging out at lunch
We climbed for a few more hours, continuing to scramble up the steep scree slope. The humans were sliding back with every step, but Kaya was light on her paws and didn’t seem to mind the terrain.
- Kaya taking a break with South Sister in the background
- Mount Bachelor with Tumalo Mountain off to the left
Erik was climbing about 15 – 20 minutes ahead of Kaya and I. When it looked like he was getting quite close to the summit, he yelled down to us to stop climbing higher. Apparently the climbing got more technical and exposed, and he was worried about having the dog up there. So Kaya and I waited while he downclimbed back to our location. We enjoyed the view while we were waiting.
- The view across the bowl… check out those stripes!
Getting down was fun; now I can add scree sliding to my outdoor repertoire. We were basically in a controlled slide back down to the saddle. It reminded me quite a bit of sluff management, a technique for dealing with moving snow while skiing. We all got the hang of it pretty quickly and got used to the constant movement of the ground beneath our feet. Kaya made the humans look bad while she booked down with confidence and speed…
- Erik and Kaya headed back to the saddle
The handle on Kaya’s Palisades Pack™ was super helpful for getting her down off some of the larger rocks that we encountered on the way down. Kaya is totally fearless in general, but did seem to get a bit worried about hucking off the larger rocks into scree. Smart girl!
- About to pull a suitcase maneuver
Once we got back to the saddle, we set up camp. This was an incredible place to camp! Looking right, you could see South Sister’s East side and some of the Green Lakes. Looking left, you could see the lights of Bend in the distance. Looking up, the summit of Broken Top. It was spectacular!
- Camping up on the ridge, with Sparks lake in the distance
- Erik cooking breakfast, Kaya relaxing on her bed (spoiled dog!)
The next morning, we decided to head back down into the main bowl and cruise around in that area. The only way off the saddle was either to downlimb the way we came (not ideal) or head down the small bowl filled with snow just below our camp. Kaya, being the powder hound she is, ran right down the snow with total confidence. Erik carefully walked down the slope. I slid on my butt. It was the easiest descent of the trip!
Getting down into the main bowl was more crazy scree sliding and downclimbing. I probably dumped out my boots 10 times in about 1,000 vertical feet.
Once we were in the bowl, we got to enjoy the fabulous wildflowers growing along the streams fed from glacial runoff. The water was nice and cold, but not as delicious as I was hoping…
- Glacial stream with Broken Top in the background
- Kaya sniffing the breeze
After resting and rehydrating, we continued to wander along the streams toward Todd Lake. We did a big loop and finally ended up back at the trailhead, exhausted and happy.
Toothbrush? Check. Pajamas? Check. Leash? Where….?
Canines lucky enough to travel along with their family on holiday trips can be easily overlooked, especially with new airline regulations that limit the amount we can bring on board. But not having the appropriate gear can be an inconvenience and add to the holiday stress.
Before you head out the door and on to a plane, train, or automobile, check to make sure you have all the essentials.
Here’s a recommended list of gear you shouldn’t leave home without:
Holidays often mean travel, but canines are not always invited to the festivities, leaving their humans to opt for boarding or leaving them with a pet sitter.
Whether you’ve hired a pet sitter, or are leaving your dog with a friend, here are some tips to make sure your furry friend is comfortable while you’re gone. Read the rest of this entry »
Ruff Wear has a saying around the office, “Better to haul precautionary items with you, than to lug a 60 pound dog back down with you.” We are speaking, of course, in regards to ensuring that all the appropriate gear—including a dog first aid kit—makes it on your gear list for any outdoor adventure.
While many companies, including Ruff Wear, offer a pre-assembled first aid kit, you can make your own just as easily. Here are a few key items that every canine first aid kit should have: Read the rest of this entry »
October Dog Tale of the Month – Jane Trades Snow Skis for Water Skis
from: Ali and Jane - Ruff Wear Ambassadors from the Aspen/Snowmass Avalanche Rescue Team
location: Aspen, CO
Just before her 4th birthday, Jane got to go on her first ever raft trip! Thank goodness for all of the Ruff Wear gear that made her experience so wonderful.
- Jane – River Dog
Jane’s days on the river began with some yummy kibble breakfast out of her Go Between Cinch Top bowl and some fresh water out of her Quencher. Luckily (mostly for me), Jane had her very own Mt. Bachelor Pad bed to sleep on giving her the good night’s sleep she needed for a big day on the river.
After breakfast it was time to get on the raft, but not without her Big Eddy Float Coat to keep her floating through the whitewater, even at day’s end when she was exhausted.
- Ali with Jane on the Raft
Jane had so much fun on her first-ever overnight raft trip thanks to the comfort, safety, fun, and warmth of all of her Ruff Wear gear!
Thanks, Ali
My husband lassos up the runaway troops from the top of the hot springs
Let me start by saying my dogs don’t have the best reputation around town. Adopted “unknown mixes” from a shelter grew up to be “all Husky” runaways.
They have more than a few flaws—they hate water, their fur is a magnet for dirt, I have to force them to eat, and they don’t particularly like people, either.
But by far, their worst trait is that they are excellent escape artists. They have the tendency to run away and never return until I get the call from some vet or humane society asking me to come and pick them up (even though they are micro-chipped, they sure are a pain to find all time).
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