In this world, there are two kinds of pugs: couch pugs and sport pugs. And I am definitely the sports model. Not that I don't like taking six hour naps on our couch, but I'm really built for speed.OK, maybe not speed. How about... adventure?
Anyway. It's been so long since my last adventure, I'm starting to feel more couch-y than sporty. When I mentioned this to my human yesterday, she grabbed the car keys and said OK, Puglet, let's go climb a mountain.
And that's exactly what we did.
The top of Montara Mountain is about 1800 feet above sea level. That's like 1800 pugs tall! And since we parked right next to the ocean, we walked every single pug's worth. The sign said the mountain climb was 3.4 miles each way and something called "rigorous". Whatever that means.Climbing the mountain took awhile, but wasn't hard or anything. It got sorta hot about halfway to the top because the fog went away and there isn't much shade on Montara Mtn. It was only about 60 degrees out, but I start to melt in direct sun if it's over 59, so my human thought we might have to turn back, defeated.
I really really wanted to make it to the mountain top though, so instead of calling it quits, my human soaked me with water and forced me into the bushes to cool off (thank dog I don't get that poison ivy stuff because I spent half the day standing in it). This crazy keep-pug-cool strategy worked, because I made it to the top without overheating.
I wasn't sure what would happen when we got to the top of Montara Mountain, or how I'd even know when we got there. But when I saw the ocean (lots and lots of ocean, far far away) and a bench - I knew we'd made it.
PS: If you've never climbed a mountain before, there are a few things you should know: the going up part is waaay harder than the going down (I practically ran back to the car and got there before Dutch and my human), you get to eat LOTS of cookies, and someone should remember to bring a real camera and not just a cell phone so you can take nice pictures of the view to show your friends (I won't name names, but..).
Posts
25 comments:
How fun for you and Dutch, Puglet! You always get to go on the most amazing adventures! You are One Lucky Pug!
What a wonderful photo of you and Dutch at the top, Puglet. Did you notice the park sign says "home to mountain lions,coyotes.."?
Next time, maybe wear your speedy sneakers just in case you need to run really fast to avoid a close encounter with someone who might consider you a tasty snack.
What a fun day! I'm glad you're built for adventure because I don't think too many couch potato model pugs could have made the climb.
Aww congrats you guys,
On Reek Sunday (last sunday of July) me and Oisín are going on the pilgrimage and climbing Croagh Patrick.
I wasnt sure about bringing Oisín but if you can do it Im sure Oisín can and I'll make sure to use the keep-pug-cool strategy! :D
Love
Manda and Oisín
x
Congratulations on a fun adventure, Puglet! Looks like you had a grand old time :)
Hugs & Licks,
Molly
Wow, what a beautiful view. I can't believe your little pug legs made it all that way! Good thing you didn't run into any of those mountain lions or coyotes, that would have been scary.
Ann & Frodo
Wow, what a great adventure, Puglet! I've climbed up mountains and saw other pups (non pugs) who went along with their pawrents. I'm off tomorrow for some more mountains (Acadia) and maybe I'll see more then. I'll tell them there's this little puggie in California that can do it all and he's just a pug's body tall! :)
We didn't see any lions or coyotes, but we did see:
2 bunnies
6 lizards
1 deer
and a whole bunch of giant birds
OH! And at least 2 icky TICKS!! My human freaked out in the middle of the night because something was crawling on her leg (tick #1). And THEN she TOTALLY lost it because tick #2 was stuck to her arm.
Poison ivy doesn't bother her, but having a bug stuck to her is totally cause for a freak out.
Wow that was so much exercise for a pug! I really hope your mom gave you a ton of cookies and special treats. I got tired just reading this blog Puglet! You and Brother Dutch are so brave and go on so many adventures. Thanks for sharing the cool pictures. I'm going back to sleep now...
Manda and Oisín ~
I say go for it! Just bring lots of water (enough for drinking and soaking) and take shade breaks whenever the panting gets a little heavy. The trick is to stay cool - once a pug gets TOO hot, it's hard to cool us back down.
I'm pretty sure our cow hike is about the same length as the mountain hike - except the mountain is straight up and down.
Dutch says he used to run it with my human a few times a week. I have NO idea why she waited so long to take me there!?!
Woof! Woof! How FUN great adventure. LOVE your photos. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar
Thanks Puglet for the tips! :D!
Your defo a top adventure puggie! Indiana Jones would be proud! :D hehe
Love
Manda and Oisín
x
Wow!! You leads the most exciting life, Puglet! Thanks for sharing your adventure!
We are flat-landers, ourselves, so we are even more impressed with your trip up the mountain. We can walk all day on flat land but up a mountain; no way! Good tips on keeping pugs cool. It's even harder for our little black pugs, to stay cool, so a cool, light-colored shirt always helps & of course lots of H2O. It's nice to live vicariously through all of your adventures
Zoey & Phoebe
My mom has a kool coat for me when it is hot out. here is a link for one http://www.pettemp.com/05koolkoatmain/05koolkoatmain6-06.htm You just put it in cold water, she keeps it in the refrig at home.
You can buy the Chamois thing at walmart.
Miley
Wow, you made it all the way up the mountain? that's so great. zoe and I never get that far, once we start panting my mom freaks out and we have to stand in the shade and cool off. We'd never make it at that slow pace. Mom says she's heard way to many stories of smooshy-faced dogs (frenchies, bulldogs, pugs, etc.) dying from heat exhaustion. 5 minutes of heavy panting can lead to....
http://bullmarketfrogs.com/blog/2010/05/frenchies-and-heat-stroke/
We do have cool coats, and they help a little bit, but anything over 60 degrees and we have to take it easy.
-Tobee
Hi Tobee ~
You linked to some really good info that everyone should read (hint, hint EVERYONE!).
60 degrees is my cut off too. And my human always keeps me soaked on walks - before the panting even starts. We also do this "panting check" thing to keep on top of my cooling/heating > our vet said to take frequent breaks *as soon* as the panting starts - NOT to wait til it gets heavy. As you know, once things get heavy, it's hard for us smooshies to regain control.
If we stop walking and the panting doesn't stop (or greatly decrease) within a minute, I'm not allowed to keep walking. And I don't get to walk again until the panting is totally, 100% gone.
I don't know what dogs who live in normal-weather places do when summer comes. I mean, San Francisco summers aren't exactly warm!
WOW! I can't believe you made it all the way to the top. I, Edward the pug, am more of a snore all day couch pug kind of pug.
Thanks for making the trip for all of us pugs that can't and won't ever attempt it! :)
Edward the pug.
Hi! I, Floris-the-Mutt, congratulate you on your walk, but I totally got your other comment too! We went for a walk in the woods yesterday and when we got home, my person found FIVE ticks on me! Al off them wandering around still, but she found three on herself also, yuck yuck. My friend Manu is not as beautiful beige as I am, he is more darkish brownish, and because he seeeeemed to be tick-free, at least none were found, he was eyed suspiciously all evening, can you imagine?
Keep up the adventures and tell us all about them!!
Floris and Manu, Dutch Mutts :-)
What a gorgeous view from the top, Puglet! Your mom obviously has a decent camera and doesn't rely on just a camera phone (like I do)! I wonder what kind of camera you have and how many zillions of dollars it costs beclaws my mom needs to get a better camera and FAST! Could you give us a CAMERA LESSON on your bloggie sometime? Hey, if THE PIONEER WOMAN can give photography lessons (and get herself famous) then so can you! Think about it and get back to me! Love, Daisy the Coonhound
Hiya Daisy Coonhound ~
Yeah, my human only uses the phone when she forgets to bring a camera. Like the other day when I climbed an entire mountain.
The rest of the pictures on here were either taken with a cheapie baby Casio EX-S600 (a few years old, $100 new on eBay) or a not-so-cheapie Nikon d700.
We love The Pioneer Woman! And I don't know if this will make me (or my human) famous, but here are a few posts we did about taking better pictures:
http://dailypuglet.blogspot.com/2009/06/rule-1-fill-frame.html
http://dailypuglet.blogspot.com/2009/06/rule-2-get-down.html
http://dailypuglet.blogspot.com/2010/01/saving-faces.html
Puglet - What is the weather like during an average San Francisco summer? After, I read your post about hiking the mountain, I was thinking that San Francisco might have very friendly pug weather. No matter what, though, it has to be better than FL summers.
Our weather is suuuuper pug friendly! It rarely gets much above 70 and 50 degrees is considered freezing.
San Francisco summer is like winter in other places: cold. It's because of the fog. Our neighborhood doesn't get the fog, but the beach and pretty much everywhere else does.
Thanks, Puglet. Sounds like the perfect pug weather!
Post a Comment