I put my pack on and then Pongo's. Even though it would be a short hike, I had decided to bring Pongo's pack to build up his endurance for longer ones later in the summer. Sometimes people forget that dogs need to train like any other athlete, gradually building up strength and increasing distance or they risk injury. Owners need to consider factors such as heat and hydration and carefully plan as they would for their own workout. Pongo typically carries his own water and food in his pack, and sometimes a first aid kit.
Pongo held still while I fastened the pack around his belly, I grabbed my hiking poles, and we headed off. It had been a year since we had hiked Tiger Mountain, and things looked unfamiliar to me. I get easily turned around, and am directionally challenged, which can make hiking unsettling for me. Sometimes when the foliage has grown, I can have difficulty finding a familiar path I've traveled many times before.
There are two gravel roads from the parking lot, and I initially took the wrong one. As it turns out, it was the one I had never been on before. After ten or fifteen minutes, I turned around and hiked back to the starting point. Now on the right road, I was able to find the trail marker for the Northwest Timber Trail that juts off to the right of the gravel road. This trail takes you into a forest of maples, alders, hemlocks and firs. It is shaded the entire way as it climbs 2.2 miles - perfect for those hot, summer days. There is a waterfall and a couple wooden bridges to traipse across. Pongo loves to go down to the creek and drink, then bound back up to join me on the bridge.
I had forgotten how much I love this trail. It's an easy hike, peaceful. I didn't feel the weight of my pack, my legs didn't burn. Soon, we were emerging from the treeline and the trail opened up as we headed down a slope. We had reached a gravel road. We stopped for a drink and a snack.
Here at the intersection, we had a decision to make. Go down the hill into the unknown, turn right up the hill where it reportedly loops back to the parking lot (although I have never ventured farther than a mile), or turn around and go back the way we had come, the hike we always do and know.
We decided to play it safe and go back the way we had come. We didn't have time to be adventurous. One of these days, though, I'm going to get a map! Then we'll finally explore other trails on Tiger Mountain.
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