[dogswearhalos]

Hello, I would like to start hiking in the Snohomish County Area. I have two dogs and not much hiking experience.

[Slugman]

You have our permission. My advice is to start off by going with a more-experienced person. They can give you important tips about what to wear, how to recognize areas that are safe in the winter, find the right kind of hike for your fitness level and experience, etc. At this time of year, I don't want to make any specific recommendations for mountain hikes, because conditions can be dangerous, and can change rapidly with new snow fall, or some melt/freeze cycles, etc. But you might want to visit some places like Wallace Falls State Park (Discover pass needed), the Lime Kiln trail, or maybe hike the closed Suiattle river road.

[dogswearhalos]

Thank you - I have heard of the Lime Kiln trail. Maybe I'll check it out tomorrow. Thanks!

[dibsandme]

I hike with an 11 1/2yo dachshund/chihuahua mix every weekend. Head to the Washington Trails Association website (www.wta.org). They have some great recommendations. Personal favorites this time of year include Wallace Falls, Lime Kiln, Old Sauk River, Boulder River, Iron Goat, and Middle Fork of Snoqualmie River. Keep your dogs leashed unless it is posted otherwise. Have fun.

[meandering Wa]

Another fine place is Lord Hill Park , outside Snohomish http://www.co.snohomish.wa.us/documents/Departments/Parks/maps/lordhill12_10.pdf Close by and has a lot of varied trails. If your dog ( and your dogs ) are not in regular work, they need conditioning. This park is close by and easy to get to for long or short trips. A good place to develop map reading skills and to get comfortable in the environment. Consider a class at REI or other such place in hiking basics and routefinding. I find the Day Hiking series produced by The Mountaineers to be very helpful in getting me to trails where I feel safe and can have an enjoyable experience.

[dogswearhalos]

Thanks everyone! I will check these links out ... I wasn't able to get out this weekend because my dog was sick (ate a stick, my fault I know). Anyway, I had to stay home and make sure she recovered ok. Thanks!! And cute Dachshund btw. My boy is a long, short mix and he turned 12 this year!!

[Slugman]

Here's my pup in action:

Here she is almost ten years ago!

[treeswarper]

Demonstrating the dual purpose hat.

Had to stop at the bottom of the rocks to wiggle toes on the way back. Problem toes can be a problem. The Used Dog soon moved into the shade.

The Used Dog is packed, lopsided, and ready for our non stealth work.

We're done!

I had to throw a stick.

We just go. He packs his own water, if there is none to be had, or my water. When we do trail work, I load him up with wedges, files, chains and miscellaneous small stuff. He is well behaved, but packing stuff makes him more so. Just a little bit of weight will slow him down, and that is not a bad thing.