Some of you know that I finally lost my beloved Zach, my chocolate lab, to cancer a couple of weeks ago. R.I.P., pal.
A week ago a new pup therefore joined our family, another lab now known as Jake.
Now 12 weeks old, it was time this weekend to introduce Jake to the outdoors. He's not yet old enough for a hike and we hadn't been to Bear Lake yet this year, so we packed up the dogs on Sunday and headed up to the Utah/Idaho border for an overnight car camp.
This was Jake's:
1. First camping trip.
2. First lake that he's ever seen (wow, a giant dog bowl!).
3. First swim.
I was amazed that a 12-week-old puppy would start swimming so readily, even if as a lab he's so predisposed to doing so. This dog is going to be one true water rat.
Also, this location at East Beach, part of Idaho's Bear Lake State Park was perfect. I'm not a car camper and dislike campgrounds even more. But we had enough space from our neighbors, the facilities were quite nice (although still primitive - pit toilets only) and our campsite was waterfront with only a short 20 foot-wide sand dune separating our tent from the beach. I can recommend the place heartily. (Skidog, are you listening?)
The water level at Bear Lake this summer, though, is startling. Our massive snowpack this past winter has filled many lakes and reservoirs this summer. In most places, beaches that used to be 500 feet wide are now totally under water even in September. The beach at our campground was only about 20 feet wide. It's nice to see the lakes full, but it's really changed the character of the recreation at many of our area destinations.
A week ago a new pup therefore joined our family, another lab now known as Jake.
Now 12 weeks old, it was time this weekend to introduce Jake to the outdoors. He's not yet old enough for a hike and we hadn't been to Bear Lake yet this year, so we packed up the dogs on Sunday and headed up to the Utah/Idaho border for an overnight car camp.
This was Jake's:
1. First camping trip.
2. First lake that he's ever seen (wow, a giant dog bowl!).
3. First swim.
I was amazed that a 12-week-old puppy would start swimming so readily, even if as a lab he's so predisposed to doing so. This dog is going to be one true water rat.
Also, this location at East Beach, part of Idaho's Bear Lake State Park was perfect. I'm not a car camper and dislike campgrounds even more. But we had enough space from our neighbors, the facilities were quite nice (although still primitive - pit toilets only) and our campsite was waterfront with only a short 20 foot-wide sand dune separating our tent from the beach. I can recommend the place heartily. (Skidog, are you listening?)
The water level at Bear Lake this summer, though, is startling. Our massive snowpack this past winter has filled many lakes and reservoirs this summer. In most places, beaches that used to be 500 feet wide are now totally under water even in September. The beach at our campground was only about 20 feet wide. It's nice to see the lakes full, but it's really changed the character of the recreation at many of our area destinations.
