On Walkies yesterday, the Girl and I reached a bit higher than we have the last few outings. I wanted some elevation; she just wants to hike and hunt. With the time change, we’re out earlier (sidereal time) and the light is better. I like this. I think my morning routine needs some change with less indoor time early and more outdoor time early. The improving weather is a boost as well.

We had a string of wet, gray, windy, cold days. Those conditions make hiking more difficult. It’s not impossible, just more difficult. The light was not as pretty and the views not as nice, so the photographer wasn’t as motivated to get out.

Yesterday was cold, but not really cold. The sun makes so much difference. The Girl, who is nearly naked (a friend once said “Girl, you should know better than to go out in a sheer neglige!”), has to keep moving to generate the heat to keep warm. She does, never complains (well, rarely), and is the consummate lizard-hunter. Alas, we’re a little early in the season for her favorite prey to be active. (But she finds one once in awhile.)

The air felt good, with little wind and plentiful sun. The trails out at the Hidden Valley Regional Park are good, mostly. Some are quite challenging and I have yet to get to the top of the range. But with the higher path, we got farther back into the mountains than we have before.

While on the trail, we crossed a ridgeline and I saw this little pine, struggling against rock, wind, and lack of water. With the Eastern Sierra in the background, the scene was appealing. So, I made a few captures while the Girl searched for critters.

Unfortunately, I had a conference call to make, so I cut my hike short and headed back down the hill. I really wanted to keep going. Hiking out like that does something good for me and the mountains bring a peace that I love.

One the way down, I called Older Son to chat. I looked over my shoulder to check on the Girl and saw her “bounce” on a bit of brush. She was in full hunting mode, having jumped something she could chase. I laughed at her and called her to go. She’s such a hoot to watch.

Neither of us is perfect. I have my moments. She has hers. Most of the time they are at different points in time and they add out. Sometimes there is a nexus of conflicting desires and emotions and we squabble. I suppose that is the nature of relationships.

But we make up, apologize for our wrongs, and move on. The relationship grows.

Legally, dogs are considered property. “How long have you had your dog?” is a question I sometimes get. “She’s lived with me for five years,” is often the reply (if I give one). She is not property; she is friend, companion, helper.

We returned from our hike, tired, sweaty, and ready to get on with the day. I stripped off my wet base layer, cleaned up a bit, and prepared myself for my conference call. Then my day got started for real.

I am greatly enjoying our hikes at Hidden Valley Regional Park. When the weather is anywhere near OK, the Girl and I drive out there in the morning after breakfast and get as much hiking in as we can. The day is coming (soon) when we’ll have to leave here and move along. I will miss this park, as well as the many other areas we’ve been hiking here.

I love Nevada. The open space, the dry air, the mountains… these are some of my favorite things.

I am enjoying my time outdoors here in Reno. We often drive over the to Hidden Valley Regional Park. At first we spent time in the fenced doggie area. But later we began walking the trails, of which there are many. This suits me much better as I don’t feel compelled to watch the other dogs for aggression and I’m not required to interact with other humans (dogs are always OK).

On this particular morning and this particular trail, we came across this fallen-over pine. The texture and colors caught my, so we paused. I had the chase the Girl out of my frame several times. I laugh at her all the time because no matter which direction I face, she will run ahead in that direction. Either she thinks she’s the dominant dog, or she is so driven to check out what I’m looking at that she can’t help but run ahead.

Sometimes when we’re walking, I’ll change direction abruptly to see what she will do. I can hear her running up from behind. She’ll blow past me, often peppering me with sand and gravel, then slow up to start sniffing about again, looking over her shoulder (ostensibly for permission). Furthermore, it never fails that wherever I point my camera there will be a dog butt in the frame.

This makes me laugh, then I’ll scold her “Get out of my frame!”

The hike last Sunday remains memorable. Although the wind was brutal in the saddle between Prison Hill and Stegosaurus Ridge, once out of the wind the day was very pleasant. The hike down was both easier and more difficult, of course. Easier in the sense that I was not climbing; more difficult on the tendons that pass the knee to connect the quadriceps to the bones. After a few hundred steps, those tendons complained a bit. But it was good because I am uninjured but the system was stressed. Stress causes adaptation, in muscles and connective tissue.

I’ll process and post a couple of captures of the dead truck from the trip up sometime. Maybe I’ll do it tomorrow. But, the one that captured my eye this morning was the view of the Dead Truck I saw on the way down the hill. The bed is full of sediment from the canyon. The light was not bad, too.

The hike will remain memorable to me. I had a great day and a great hike.

While standing a couple hundred feet from the gazebo on the hill near Deadman’s Creek, the Girl and I saw this wonderful view of Slide Mountain and Washoe Lake. There is a little water in the lake now. It was just enough to provide some reflection of the mountains and the sky. The beauty of the place astounded me.

It was well worth the hike to get this view. I’m grateful for it.