The Washington Cascades didn't have a winter in 2014-2015 (warmest Dec. and Feb. on record).  This was February 2015, conditions more like June (no exaggeration).  It's about 6 miles to the little peak at left in this photo, with 4600' of gain.  The first mile was bare trail (usually it would be many feet of snow, and I wouldn't even be able to drive to the trailhead). We'll snowshoe to that little snowy notch (Surprise Gap), then walk left up the ridge crest:…

We once quickly returned 2 lost pointers because the owner's cell phone# was on the collars.  Test your microchip when you visit the vet -- Gwynnie's gave no signal!

chillybuddy cooling vest    keep in plastic bag, so you can add water to wet it (crtitical; much of the cooling is evaporative).  They wilt in sun above treeline and this thing really does help.  Size Medium with a Small girth strap.

Carry…

Al makes Buzzfeed

There are others of us in there, too.  Al is there twice; he is also #18.  Snickmom's #15.

She has climbed 7 mountains this year, and we failed on an 8th.  She gets to go more often lately because Al is recuperating from last September's injury.  She's maybe a bit slower than she used to be, but I don't have to wait for her unless it's icy or really steep.  She gets the occasional "corgi toss" past certain obstacles, and seems to like snowshoe hiking.  She…

Especially at this festive time of year, want is keenly felt, and abundance rejoices.  So we wish continued prosperity to our comfortable friends, and patience while the wheel of fortune turns for those in difficulty.  Health to all of our smaller friends who reliably remind us to watch the doughnut, not the hole.…

Our breeder Carrie Hale (Haley PWC) offered to kennel Al & Gwynn for 5 days, and there's nobody better.  She's a font of information and advice about all things corgi, generous with her time.

We got to meet Dante, Gwynnie's sire, Al's gradsire, and Autumn Rain, and Twyla.  Superb friendly beautiful adorable dogs.  I could've cuddled corgis all night.

We learned that Al is a bit underweight, so his rations get increased,  Most important, she said he's favoring his left rear…

Al claims the first failure on Glacier Peak's South Ridge by a Pembroke Welsh corgi without supplemental oxygen.  We could have done it easily had we been willing to walk the glacier unroped -- as many do -- but Al doesn't do glaciers unroped.  As he points out, "Nobody falls into a crevasse that they can see."  So 9200' is his high point.  Al is inspired by Sirowan's Goro,…

http://www.mycorgi.com/forum/topics/food-bags-kill

http://cascadeclimbers.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1035449#Post1035449

This is our 5-day Labor Day trip.  Buck Mt. is 8570', not difficult technically, but one of the Washington Cascades' larger peaks, and fairly remote.  It had been a goal for a long time (30…

If you click on these photos, you'll get a clearer, higher-resolution view.

Seven-Fingered-Jack (9077') and four-fingered Al.  Our objective, Mt. Maude, is just to the right, and 5' higher.

Al saved this trip right at the start by passing…

Al doesn't even have his C.D. or C.G.C., but he did me proud Saturday and passed his PP.T.!

I'd been waiting, worrying, and preparing for the Porcupine Test for years.  By passing it, he saved our most notable exploit to date (more on that elsewhere).  I'm told porcupine quills are air-filled, so if you cut them, they become easier to extract.

The…

L>R:  Summit Chief, Chimney Rock, Overcoat Peak.  These are the highest peaks in the Snoqualmie Pass area of Washington's central Cascades.  We're on a little peak called Otter Point, 6360':…

Fortunately, a Welsh corgi counts as 2 dogs on a Two-Dog Night because it fits inside your sleeping bag. Ordinarily, I like to sleep with the dogs for companionship and the peaceful vibes that emanate from a snoozing animal. This time, it was for something more primal: body heat. Dummy here brought a goose down sleeping bag on a 9-day backpacking trip in normal…

[Last year, Bunny Butts solicited ideas for an article in the Pem-Welsh Corgi Assoc of Canada magazine.  Sam suggested "crossing the Canadian border with your corgi".  This is the final rewrite of Al's contribution.  He's been reading too much Raymond Chandler.]

Border Corgi

Yes.  Crossing the Canadian border with your…

Easter, schmeaster. We only do this 'cuz we get fed triple. Didn't even find any Easter eggs. Gwynnie found a WHOLE CLIFF BAR in the snow, and our "master" [what a disgusting concept] took it away from her!!!

Beats walkin' the 'hood though...