Frosty Paws

Fluffy toes!

Although winter is upon us, Roxy's desire for adventure has not subsided. She loves to frolic in the snow just as much as she loves running in grassy fields during the summer. Although the cold temperatures don't appear to bother her in any way, she does have one issue that is not only irksome but leads to injuries as well: her frosty paws. Roxy is not a pure-bred German Shepherd, and as a result she has some unique features including adorable tufted toes. She has 2 inch long puffs of soft fur that jut out between all of her toes.

Despite looking very cute, these tufts are notorious for trapping huge clumps of ice and snow as Roxy plays outside during the winter. When we were in the White Mountains during the winter, golf ball-sized junks of ice would build up between the pads of Roxy's feet. These pieces of ice had sharp edges and often trapped in debris that would then cut Roxy's pads as she walked. Roxy ended up stopping constantly to try to bite the junks of ice off of her paws, but it was no use. No matter how many times we removed the ice, more latched on after a few steps.

Roxy trying to get the ice off her paws in the White Mountains.

Musher's Secret prevents frosty paws.

 Although we are hoping to avoid any snow/ice during our Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike, I do want to be ready for anything. This week I tried out a new product to help protect Roxy's paws during winter adventures. Musher's Secret is a natural wax that was developed to for sled dogs in Canada. I was a little skeptical about such a seemingly simple product having any sort of impact on the snow, but I was pleasantly surprised. I lathered up Roxy's paws today and we headed outside for a winter walk. After about 30 minutes of walking in the deep snow, I checked her paws: no huge ice balls!

Now a 30 minute walk in Indiana is not quite the same as a trek through the mountains, but snow is snow, so I am happy with the results. I also like the fact that the food-grade waxes used for Musher's Secret are 100% non-toxic, so you don't have to worry about your dog getting sick from licking it off their paws. For this first trial run of Musher's Secret, I didn't want to over do it, so I applied a only a very light layer of the wax. As you can see in the picture to the right, there is still some snow on Roxy's paws, but no huge ice junks like she was getting before. Next time I apply Musher's Secret I am going to fully saturated all the fur between her pads with the wax to make the protection even more effective.

Perspective

Warning: This one is about feelings (gross), I'd recommend not reading it. 

I’ve touched on my motivations for hiking the Appalachian Trail before, and this morning I received a message from a current AT hiker that really made me think more about why I’m heading out there. One of the statements he made that really got me thinking was: 

“Sobo is more about self discovery, enjoying your time in nature, and simply existing… while I have been on the trail I have never heard or seen a solo female sobo. Most females look for that support group so what you are doing is very unique in my opinion.” 

This is something that I hadn’t really consciously thought about, but is definitely part of my motivation: I am going out there to prove something to myself and to the world. 

Not something that I like talking about, but it is needed for context, so here is the one and only time I’ll bring it up: I just went through a divorce. I hate talking/writing about it, because I don’t want his departure to be the one thing that defines me as a person. As in “oh Monica, the hiker who is out here because her husband left her.” 

I like to think of last July as a great turning point in my life. I was basically left with a choice: I could be the victim or I could reinvent myself. For the 6 years we were together, I spent all my time trying to make someone else happy, and in return I was constantly hearing “I’m so sorry, I made a mistake, I’ll never do it again.”  Looking back on the number lies, excuses, and apologies I heard and accepted is slightly nauseating, but I have no one to blame but myself. I let myself be the victim by constantly forgiving him and putting his happiness before my own. 

When he let me know he was leaving, I was halfway to the White Mountains. I had a choice of turning around and going back to more of the same nonsense I had dealt with for 6 years, or moving forward in the direction I was already going. I finally made the right choice. In the week I spent hiking in the White Mountains, I felt an intense clarity. Each day the only choice I had was to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward. There was no time for tears, regrets, or thoughts of what I could have done differently. Every morning the sun was going to rise, in the evening it was going to set, and I was surrounded by beauty and peace. The only thing to do was live in the moment. 

For 6 years, I was always looked at as the victim. To my friends and family I was just the pathetic little girl who put up with everything and was always in need of saving. Looking back on the moment when I first learned he was leaving, I think everyone expected me to be completely crushed and destroyed. I know that is not who I am, and I’m ready to set the record straight. There has never been a doubt in my mind that I can thru-hike the Appalachian Trail solo. Although I obviously love and appreciate all the people who support me, I don’t need saving. I can do this, alone, and because I want to.  This is the life I want to lead and the person I want to be. I am not the sad pathetic women whose husband left her, I am the fierce chick who spends her days climbing mountains. 

Groundbird Gear- Trekking Roll-top Dog Pack

Groundbird Gear

As we prepare for our 2,180 mile hike, one of my biggest worries has been how I am going to keep Roxy happy and comfortable. I know she loves being outdoors and hiking in all sorts of weather, but our past experience with carrying packs has been less than ideal. The packs I have bought for her in the past never seemed to fit quite right and the look of resentment I received when I tried to put them on Roxy was almost too much to handle. 

And then thanks to the wonders of Instagram, I discovered Groundbird Gear. After posting a picture of Roxy on one of our trail runs with the hashtag #AdventureDog and #AT2015, Groundbird Gear owner Marie (aka Bobwhite) inquired about our hike. I almost immediately ordered a pack from her. Marie has been great to work with and took the time to help teach me how to get Roxy accustomed to her new pack and make wearing it a positive experience. The results have been phenomenal.

Geared up and ready to go!

Here are some things Roxy and I love most about the Trekking Roll-Top Dog Pack:

• The pack attaches to a custom-made harness. This harness is created based on your dog’s measurements so it is sure to fit like a dream. The harness is soft and comfortable for Roxy and doesn’t cause any chaffing. 
• The pack stays in place. Previous packs I’ve tried were always rolling from one side to another or sliding up over Roxy’s head while we were hiking downhill. No matter the terrain, this pack stays put, and that means Roxy doesn’t even notice she is carrying it. 
• 8oz. That is all this pack weighs! Roxy currently weighs about 65lbs, so with her slender build, she has trouble carrying a lot of excess weight. The lightweight nature of this pack makes it possible to carry more food. 
• Durable construction. This pack is made from polyurethane coated and DWR treated 400 denier packcloth. Roxy tends to be very unaware of her width while wearing a pack and as a result is constantly running into rocks and trees with her pack. Not to mention the fact that rolling around belly-up is always necessary for Roxy, even while wearing the pack. This pack can take it. Despite her rough treatment, I’ve yet to find a single tear. 
• Custom color options! Ok this is something that doesn’t really matter to Roxy, but I thought it was fantastic to pick out colors that I actually like :)

 

Custom fit harness, no rubbing or chafing, pack attaches easily and stays in place.

Overall I can not say enough good things about Groundbird Gear. The Trekking Roll-Top Dog Pack is made with high quality materials and is an outstanding fit for Roxy. Marie also offers a special thru-hiker warranty to make sure the pack stays fitting great and working well for all 2,180 miles of the AT. What more could you ask for? For Roxy, this is the perfect pack.  

Pack sits perfectly on her back and distributes weight evenly, she doesn't even notice when she is wearing it.

  

Getting Outside

Roxy knows the tent is her home.

After spending every weekend of the past 3 months either renovating the house or moving into the new apartment, it felt amazing to finally have a weekend with no responsibilities! Of course Roxy and I used the opportunity to get out and test some of our new gear and see if we were tough enough to handle the 20 degree temperatures. Here are a few things we learned:

1. It would be a good idea to check your batteries before going anywhere. I was super pumped about using my headlamp to read “Southbound” before going to bed… unfortunately the batteries were completely dead.
2.  As long as you’re checking things, you might want to check the lighter fluid level in the lighter you grab. Mine had just enough to light my stove for dinner, but not enough to make coffee in the morning.



Dressing up to stay warm at night.

3. The cold is not that cold when your dog is with you :) Despite the 20 degree low at night, Roxy and I stayed plenty warm. Probably an unnecessary precaution, but I made Roxy wear one of my long-sleeved fleece-lined running shirts for the night. She didn’t show any signs of being cold, but my overprotective mom instincts kicked in and I felt the need to dress her up. She didn’t mind playing dress up and actually looked quite cute in my clothes.
4.  Life is better in the woods. I know this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, but after 3 months of not camping, it was invigorating to get outside again. I can see a marked improvement in both Roxy’s personality and my well-being after even just one night out in the woods. When the only thing you need to worry about is having enough to eat and not freezing, life seems pretty simple. All the stress and anxiety that come with daily life just disappear in the woods.

Near the end of our hike, still bounding joyfully through the woods

Overall we are feeling confident about the AT. We traveled to Morgan-Monroe State Forest and hiked about 3 miles Friday night, camped, and then hiked another 10 miles this morning. Not a huge distance, but for the first time out in 3 months we are both feeling pretty good. Roxy carried her GroundBird Gear pack with 4 cups of dog food, 1 small can of wet dog food, and one light blanket. I used my Gossamer Gear Mariposa pack for the first time and carried the following: MSR Hubba NX Tent, Marmot 20 degree down sleeping bag, z-lite sleeping pad, a huge fleece blanket for Roxy (it will definitely not be coming on the AT with us), pocket rocket stove, 1 liter pot, food for 2 days, 3 liters of water, headlamp, small first aid kit, Southbound book, and various small personal hygiene items. The weight was very manageable and the pack fit great. Roxy didn’t seem to notice her pack at all, and didn’t get tired out by the short trip at all. We stopped at the dog park to run out some extra energy on our way back home, and she still is sitting beside me with her ball wondering why we are not playing. Her endurance is remarkable and I can’t wait to get out on the trail with her.

Roxy is clearly over the constant selfies. Deal with it pup, this is what we will be doing on the AT for 6 months!

Moving Closer

The house has been sold and I'm subletting a room in a college apartment complex in Bloomington until the end of the school year. This was a huge step for me, and the feeling has been bittersweet. I loved my little house, but unfortunately the community it was in was just not for me. As I prepare for the Appalachian Trail, I can't think of a better place to be than Bloomington, Indiana. I'm surrounded by down-to-earth, dog-loving, progressive individuals, and I couldn't be happier. Although I will only be here for 3.5 months, I am thrilled to be back in a town where I don't feel like the one weirdo who wants to eat organic food, drink soy lattes, and make the world a better place. I love it here. Back with my people :)

Our housing situation is not ideal, but spiritual and emotionally we have greatly improved our situation. Instead of having a 3 bedroom home with plenty of room to run and play, Roxy and I now basically live in a dorm room with a college exchange student from China. Side note: I forgot how much college students sleep. We woke up at 7, which is sleeping in for us, went on a 6 mile run, did laundry, showered, ate breakfast, and roommate still hasn't emerged from her room. She also complained last night about having to do homework. College life is weird.

Despite the odd living arrangements, we have been given an amazing opportunity to actually be part of a community again. I am looking forward to joining the Bloomington running club, attending open-air concerts, and of course walking everywhere and having Roxy actually be welcome everywhere we go. Living in a town where Roxy was not welcome anywhere was slowing killing my soul, and now we are free again! Looking forward to growing and exploring in a wonderful city over the next three months as we continue to prepare for trail life.