Anyone a hiker/backpacker?. - Chihuahua Forum : Chihuahua Breed Dog Forums

Eclipsica · #1 12-08-2010, 01:36 AM

I'm training for what I hope will be a more successful backpacking season here. I'm going swimming about every other day at the rec center ( like a YMCA).
Hoping to be more active with the hiking club and finish the Long Trail.
I'm probably going to continue to be a "trail wuss" with limiting my trips to a week at most.

Things were very problematic for my feet/ankles last summer so I was forced to quit. I ended up with open sores on my foot and I was limping along in pain. I have some issues with my ankles being bent inwards.
It was a group hiking trip so some people got mad at me

.
I bought some expensive foot support thingees, so I hope it solves that now.

I'm fairly well equipped, as in I'm prepared. As some of you may know, you can keep on buying more and more better and lighter gear.
Naturally if you can share any experiences of hiking with a chi, that'd be nice as I'd love to be going out with my new trail dog that I don't have yet.

pigeonsheep · #2 12-08-2010, 02:21 AM

oh wow! that sounds awesome! i hope everything works out for you! sorry about ur ankles, i got not perfect feet myself, my feet hurt when i standup too long or even go walking for a long period of time...
anywho,
i only been hiking once and that was on a school field trip yearsssss ago lol

we reached the part we wanted to reach at Bear Mountain and ate our lunch up there haha

Brodysmom · #3 12-08-2010, 11:36 AM

My hubby trained a couple years back for a hiking trip to several fourteeners in CO. He did general conditioning, but most of his training was walking up and down the stairs at a stadium. Stair climbing is GREAT for that kind of conditioning. After he was conditioned pretty well, he started wearing his backpack and loading it down. Eventually he was walking up and down the stadium stairs with a fully loaded 50 pound pack every other day up until the time he left for CO. He had a great trip.

Ivy's mom · #4 12-08-2010, 03:51 PM

Been there done that lol! My hubbie, then bf hiked/backpacked in Big Sur here in Cali. Beautiful! But that was some time ago before kids

jan896 · #5 12-08-2010, 04:40 PM

I live very close to the Appalachian Trail... been hiking with my son on short 2-4 trips but learned very quickly that I don't have the legs for that anymore... there isnt' much level walking...LOL.... the stair conditioning would be a great way to get ready for hiking...
I also do/did GeoCaching.... its ALOT of fun.... google it if you never heard of it....

Eclipsica · #6 12-08-2010, 11:26 PM

Actually part of the Appalachian trail does run along the same trail as the Long trail here in VT.

rubia · #7 01-11-2011, 12:24 PM

I have done a bit of the presidential range in nh....I'd go for about 3 days time sleeping out, carrying everything9 actually not all that much..). It was good fun . In Ireland the mountains are beautiful and not as intimidating...wicklow mountains for a hike is nice. I love to hike Acadia national park too just gorgeous.

Not much hiking as of late. short ones....I take Rico to the blue hills in massachusetts sometimes...for a few hours.

Mijo · #8 06-23-2011, 04:57 PM

my wife and i are avid hikers and we try and take our three chis with us whenever possible. our three pound chi had LP surgery on both back knees (the vet said one of her knees was the worst case he's ever seen) a couple of years ago and she tends to tire out early.

I picked up the Mutt Mover backpack from Timbuk2 a couple of months ago and it's now an essential part of our hiking gear. The Mutt Mover is specifically designed to carry one small dog (< 15 lbs) and we ussually put our three pound chi in it when she starts to tire out. The Mutt Mover also has a single outer pocket for other items (i.e. water bottle, travel bowl, etc.), but I wish it had more pockets.

If your chi gets tired before you do on hikes than something to carry them in is a great benifit, IMHO.