Allen Riedel - Best Hikes with Dogs: Southern California

For my beautiful daughters, Sierra Monet and Makaila Ann.

___________________

THE MOUNTAINEERS BOOKS
is the nonprofit publishing arm of The Mountaineers Club, an organization founded in 1906 and dedicated to the exploration, preservation, and enjoyment of outdoor and wilderness areas.

1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98134

2006 by Allen Riedel

All rights reserved

First edition: first printing 2006, second printing 2009

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Manufactured in the United States of America

Acquiring Editor: Laura Drury

Project Editor: Christine Hosler

Copy Editor: John Burbidge

Cover and Book Design: The Mountaineers Books

Layout: Mayumi Thompson

Cartographer: Moore Creative Design

All photographs by the author unless otherwise noted.

Cover photograph: Socrates poses for the camera.
Frontispiece: Socrates cools off after a refreshing dip in Cedar Creek.

Maps shown in this book were produced using National Geographics TOPO! software. For more information, go to www.nationalgeographic.com/topo.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Riedel, Allen.

Best hikes with dogs. Southern California / Allen Riedel.1st ed.

p. cm.

ISBN 0-89886-691-X

1. Hiking with dogsCalifornia, SouthernGuidebooks. 2. TrailsCalifornia, SouthernGuidebooks. 3. California, SouthernGuidebooks. I. Title.

SF427.455.R55 2006

796.5109794'9dc22

2006012637

Printed on recycled paper

ISBN 13: 978-0-89886-691-9

CONTENTS

I would like to thank all of my friends and family who have hiked and shared with me adventuring in the great outdoors. Thanks to my beautiful wife and soul mate, Monique; I love you. I am grateful for everything we have and for every minute we share. Thanks to my incredible children, whom I adore and cherish: Michael, Sierra, and Makailayou are the very best! Special thanks go out to all the federal and state employees of the Forest Service, county parks, state parks, national parks, and recreation areas who cross-checked the information in this book to ensure the legality of transportation and trespassing issues, along with current trail information and accuracy. My family has always supported me in every venture I have ever undertaken, and I will forever appreciate that. Thank you to the wonderful people at The Mountaineers Booksespecially Laura, Cassandra, Christine, Kathleen, John, and Jowho have been cordial and understanding throughout this entire process. I would also like to thank the people who allowed me to randomly photograph their dogs for inclusion within this book. Lastly, I would like to send a heartfelt show of support to all the organizations that have fought and continue to fight for protection of our forest areas and wild places. These resources are constantly being encroached upon; nowhere can that be seen more plainly than in Southern California. I hope that everyone reading this can take up or continue the fight to ensure that these wild places exist for our childrens children and beyond.

Hiking is an activity that almost anyone can engage in. People at varying stages of fitness and ability can take pleasure in different trails and experience nature on an intrinsic level, sharing and exploring their own inner selves while enjoying the natural world. In fact, most people forget that hiking is also a great way to exercise; doing it consistently not only helps to keep you in shape but also conditions your body for longer and harder hikes, assuring you a life of health and fitness.

Exploring the trail with friends of a four-legged variety can ultimately be more rewarding than almost any other adventure in the wild. Walking and sniffing is what your dog loves to do most. There is no other activity he would rather take part in, except maybe having a bite of food fed directly from your hand into his mouth. Your pet loves the outdoors, and is guaranteed excitement every time you reach for the leash, hiking boots, backpack, and doggie supplies. A hiking dog is a healthy dog, a happy dog, and a well-cared-for pet.

Owning a pet is an incredible responsibility. Raising a puppy is obviously more difficult than adopting a full grown dog. Either way, your dog has needs that must be constantly taken care of. There are general health and training needs that must be addressed before ever attempting to get a dog on the trail. Dogs must also be socially ready to be around other people and other dogs. It is important that you train your dog with at least basic voice commands before you endeavor to take your pet off leash and into a forested area.

Basic health needs are pretty simple to meet by always ensuring your dog has ample amounts of water and the appropriate amount of food for his or her size and age. Active dogs are relatively well-suited for satisfying their basic dietary needs if you leave food out for them. Sedentary dogs, like humans, may tend to overeat, but a little activity will change that and make your dog happier, healthier and more responsive to everything you want him to do.

A rough guideline to follow is thirty minutes of activity a day. If you take dogs on a walk for that short amount of time, their stamina, and most importantly their paws, will be able to handle almost any hike you throw at them. Even small dogs can handle big-time hikes if they are conditioned for it. Dogs as light as twenty pounds can easily walk over 25 miles in a day. They may still have the energy to run and play at the trailhead before getting back into the car, but they have to be ready for something like that. Like humans, dogs cannot just leap into vigorous exercise without some consequences. Dogs get tired and can also suffer from sore muscles and tendons. Their pads can crack and bleed if you are not watchful and careful.