Daddy says I’m an Alaskan Malamute, a breed of dogs that’s meant to pull a sled through snow. I don’t know about that, I think he’s just too lazy to walk, but I always wanted to see snow. Too bad it doesn’t snow where we live.
One day, daddy had this brilliant idea to take me to Haba Snow Mountain, a day’s drive from where we are. He says there will be snow on top of the mountain, and as a bonus maybe we can climb to the summit. I think it sounds like a lot of fun.
I’ve been hiking and running with daddy since he adopted me, so I think I’m in pretty good shape. I’m in better shape than him anyway, he always gets tired way before I do when we go hiking. But he put me on a training plan anyway. We would go running one day, rest for a day, then repeat. Or sometimes we’d go running one day, go hiking the next, and then rest for a day. I don’t think I really need the rest day, I’m still full of energy on these days, but daddy may need them to rest his old bones. After all, he’s more than 4 times my age, even in dog years!
A week before our planned trip to Haba Mountain, we were doing uphill run for 40 minutes, then downhill run for 30 minutes. The longest distance we hiked in a day was 35 km (21 miles). Daddy thought we were ready in terms of our fitness.
There’s also the question of high altitude sickness, something daddy wasn’t sure if I would get it. Since I can’t use the Internet very well (they don’t make paw-friendly mouse yet!), daddy did all the research for me. It turns out that doggies can get high altitude sickness too, just like the humans! Symptoms for high altitude sickness in dogs can include:
- Lethargy
- Fatigue
- Headache (but my humans won’t know this!)
- Excessive panting
- Pale tongue and gum
- Lost of appetite
- Lost of coordination
- Vomiting
Since daddy is a professional climbing guide, I think he will keep an eye on me for any signs of high altitude sickness, so I’m not too worried. He says if he suspect I have high altitude sickness we will immediately go down the mountain, I hope I don’t get sick.
My Gear List:
- Metal chain (for use when traveling)
- Metal bowl (for use when traveling)
- Ruff Wear Flat Out leash
- 2 meters long 7-mm climbing rope and locking carabiner
- Howling Dog reflective collar plus dog tag
- Howling Dog Distance harness
- Ruff Wear Sun Shower raincoat
- Ruff Wear Skyliner boots (1 set)
- Ruff Wear Bivy bowl
- A small cotton towel
- My fleece sleeping bag/sleeping pad
