Hiking with dog in Spring season - How to reconnect with nature and earth
K2, our Great White Kuvasz boy, in the lead as usual, my nephew, son, and I were hiking on the Bruce Trail in the Bruce Peninsula on a pleasantly cool early spring day that gave us some dusting of snow. The trail was over a rocky ground with forest growing on one side and a deep, almost vertical, slope on the other leading to the talus and then to the rocky beach all the way to the Georgian Bay lake-shore. It was pin drop silence as birds had not yet returned to this region after their winter migration.
All of a sudden, K2 , leaving the trail, made a sharp turn towards his left while looking at something on the ground all the time. When I reached the spot, I noticed it was an 'L' shaped hole in the rock bed that was ultimately opening up at almost right angle on the slope.
Holes in ground are a characteristic of terrain consisting of sedimentary rock. Sedimentary rocks also give us caves and caverns, underground water channels, brooks and streams.
As a family, we love long-distance hiking, and generally, our Kuvasz boy loves it even more. What we have discovered is that with K2 along, we are not exploring for the sake of exploration alone. He has made us connect with nature at a micro level.
I am describing here, in anecdotal terms, our spring season experience with nature at a close range. You can try to have similar connection with the nature and / or peoples and their cultures, history, architecture, etc. during your spring travels.
Know the rock you are hiking on
Sedimentary rocks are formed on the surface of the earth, either in water or on land. They are called secondary rocks, because they often result from the accumulation of small pieces broken off from pre-existing rocks.
The two other major rock types are called Igneous rock and Metamorphic rock.
Igneous rocks get their name from the Latin word ignis, meaning "fire." They form from volcanic magma when a volcano erupts and are also referred to as volcanic rocks.
Metamorphic rocks are formed when sedimentary and igneous rocks are subjected to more intense pressure or heat and as a result underwent a complete change. Metamorphic rocks form deep within the Earth's crust. The process of metamorphism does not melt the rocks, but transforms them into other rocks which are denser and more compact.
Manhattan and roots
Load bearing capacity of soil with igneous rock underneath is high, it is stable, and it hardly settles under heavy loads. High rises are usually constructed on igneous rock at a reasonable depth from the surface. Manhattan, New York has high rises in mid-town and then the down-town only because of the rock being close to the surface at those two locations.
If roots of trees are running all along the surface of the ground, it means that the soil is thin and that the rock is running close to the surface. Rocky surfaces in early spring present treacherous situation for hiking. They are normally wet and slippery. You have to tread carefully. A slip can easily cause severe injury.
Know the soil type you are walking on
Hiking in early spring season is tricky also because we have intermittent patches of slippery dirt mixed ice that has been left over by melting snow above, clay and organic clay. The melting snow water tends to stay on the surface of clay, because the soil is still semi-frozen and already waterlogged from whatever quantity of water it can absorb. Organic clay originates from dying vegetation and results in muck that sticks to dogs’ paws and your shoes making it even more difficult to walk. Clay soil settles extremely slowly – over a period of 25 to 100 years.
Remember Leaning Tower of Pisa? The Tower was leaning because it was built on clay soil, which settled slowly under its weight.
Know that water bodies may change their character
Melting snows in spring can turn a minor creek to a flooding giant within the course of one long hike and you can get trapped on one side. It happened to K2 and us during an adventurous hike at Rouge Park. I did remember Les Stroud’s advice from his book ‘The will to live’. Follow a river upstream in a situation like this. Every swollen river will ultimately become friendly enough to cross easily some distance upstream.
Remember features of the land you tread on
On one occasion on a section of Bruce Peninsula National Park, we decided to follow a deer trail in the forest and regretted doing it. Deer trails notoriously begin and end abruptly. When the trail ended, we wanted to return, only to find that we had lost our bearings because there were many other deer trails joining the one we were on that we had not noticed while following it.
We should have remembered Ed Viesturs advice in his book ‘K2: Life and death on world’s most dangerous mountain’ on looking back and memorizing the landscape features every now and then for making return journey easier.
beware of bears in spring season
Early spring to mid-spring, depending upon the region, in the bear country can also be life threatening. Both grizzlies and black bears are reported to initiate predatory attacks during this time of the year. The reason is that they have just come out of hibernation and they need to fill in their depleted energy resources quickly.
The book 'The Black Grizzly of Whiskey Creek' by Sid Marty provides a tragic account of a grizzly bear who fatally mauled one of its victims and brutally injured two others after coming out of its hibernation.
Related articles by the author
- Observing winter birds of Southern Ontario, western NY, and Michigan while hiking with our dog
Do birds winter in southern Ontario, western NY, and Michigan? Why would they stay in chilling weather conditions? Is there a way we could help our feathered friends? - Hiking with dog in summer season - - How to reconnect with nature
I am describing here, in anecdotal terms, our experience with nature at a close range. You can try to have similar connection with cultures, history, architecture, etc. during your summer travels. - Hiking with dog in Fall season - How to reconnect with nature and colours
I am describing here our experience with nature at a close range during fall season. You can try to have similar connection with cultures, history, architecture, etc. during your travels. - Hiking with dog in bear country: How to protect yourself from a bear attack
More and more people are hiking with their dogs in bear country. From personal experience, this article outlines tips that should protect yourself and your dog from an unwanted bear encounter. - Summer wildflowers of Southern Ontario and Western New York that our dog and us observed while hikin
Wildflowers of eastern USA and Canada that one could see while hiking with their dog(s).
Remember the primal fear
I read it somewhere that at the beginning, the first humans (Homo Sapiens and Homo Neanderthalensis) were a frightened bunch, scared of falling prey to a carnivorous beast. Researchers say that the reason why we are afraid of the dark and of terra incognita is because of this primal fear. It was not until our ancestors found a strategic friend in first dog like wolves (or wolf like dogs) that they gained confidence to step out of their caves boldly. With the presence of the ‘dog to be’ at their sides, they had protection available while resting in their shelters during the dark and help available during the hunt during the day.
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Comments
It has been a while since I visited your hubs. Last time I was in Montana and doing a good deal of hiking in bear country. Now I am back in that same area looking forward to spring hikes and camping in the wilderness areas. I will be getting a dog this spring. It will be with me as I hike in the canyons of the Bitterroot mountains as well as other wilderness areas of Montana. Spring is a dangerous time when considering bears, as you have pointed out in this hub. Five years ago, I was camping in the wilds of Idaho. I awoke to something sniffing my ear through the side of the tent. I never saw it, but before it left, it gave a blood curdling cry. I have since decided it was a grizzly, but who knows? In such a situation, would a dog be an advantage or a liability? Your hubs about dogs are always helpful.
It was a pleasure reading this blog piece again. I admire your writing style, dear Suhail. The reader stays glued to each word you write.
Great article and pictures. I really enjoyed it. Thanks
A day with man's best friend and nature. There just isn't anything better.
Wonderful hub.
What great thing to do in the spring. Walking at this time of year offers such freshness.
SuHail thanks for the info about facebook. I just got back from a hike last week. Stella
Hiking with my dogs each spring is a wonderful experience. Your hub was very interesting and you bring up some good tips. Stella
It impresses me that you do so much reading regarding your hikes. You are most likely ready for any situation, and are a safe traveler.
You have certainly included all of your loves and mine! I am totally in love with K2, he is beautiful and obviously well trained. I'd love to run my hand through his beautiful white hair.
I appreciated the lesson on rocks. Something I learned once but had forgotten until reading it here.
I love your journeys and so appreciate you taking us with you and including your wonderful photographs!
Voted all but funny.
Suhail, I always enjoy your articles. I love nature, and your words and photos always take me there…on a learning vacation and respite. You have also offered some sage advice. For example, the spring bears, and encountering a brook which melting snow has turned into a “flooding giant.” “Follow a river upstream in a situation like this. Every swollen river will ultimately become friendly enough to cross easily some distance upstream.” Absolutely! :-) Voted up and shared.
Fascinating - I love your adventures as you and your family and K2 step out, this time in the Springtime. Your descriptions and love of nature come shining through. Enjoyed this so much. Thank you.
What a beautiful adventure you and your dog shared. Tanks for taking us along.
Beautiful photos! Our dogs are going crazy with the spring, as usual. :) All the animals are coming back after a tough, long winter and the dogs are really getting into high tracking mode. So much interesting stuff to sniff in the spring! Thanks for sharing your spring experience and trail tips with us. Voted up, beautiful, interesting and sharing!
This piece I will easily label as the best one on Travels I have read in many years. It combined learning with fun trekking. Now I know a bit about rocks formation, tall buildings foundations, trees' roots, getting caught in a high flow downstreams, and returning back from a long unknown tracks. Excellent piece.
Thanks for an enjoyable and interesting account of your travels with K2, Suhail. Your hub is educational, too!
It's always a fun adventure following along with you and your dog on one of your hikes. Thanks for taking us along.
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