Day 46: Playing fetch with our fears…

On this day the temperatures down in the valley were to easily exceed 95 degrees and I was presented with an impromptu opportunity to either spend the day indoors or head up the mountain and do some exploring.   I chose the latter and that made all the difference.

Being a bit of a city girl growing up in Chicago, moving west has led a slow transition to a country girl and embracing the Great Outdoors.  Sure, I have read up on what to do and what not to do in the wilderness, but when you are out in the middle of nowhere, sometimes you just want a best friend by your side to share in the adventure.  Enter my faithful and always willing travel companion, Jet.   I had made the choice to hike in the Tahoe area and I have been told there are bears up there and so I made sure that Jet was to accompany me on this grand hike.

I briefly took a look at the Marlette Lake trail online and it listed the hike as mild to moderate.  I was so enamored with the pictures of the trail on the state website that I failed to find out that the hike is mostly uphill… a dreadful fact I would come to find out soon enough.  I made sure to pack several large bottles of ice cold water, I had my phone charged, sunscreen applied, hiking shoes ready and my spirit anxious to find Marlette Lake high up in the mountains.  With that, I opened the hatch to the SUV and despite Jet’s aging state; he jumped up eager to find out where our adventures would take us.

The drive was approximately 45 minutes up the mountain. When we arrived, I stepped out and realized I was “not” feeling pain in my left knee.  I couldn’t help to grin and think, “This is the way it is supposed to be!”  I had my trail map in hand, my pack slung over my shoulder, and as I let Jet out of the car, it was hard not to detect Jet’s excitement with his tail fanning my legs!

We immediately saw the trailhead and we enthusiastically started our hike.  The trail took us past a meadow and I quickly noticed that the flat trail began a constant upward ascent.  My mind was occupied with visions of wildflowers and groves of aspen trees that quaked when the breeze came through.  The occasional horse fly would try to make a deliberate landing on my glistening skin, but my reflexes very much like Jet’s tail and made sure to swat them away.

 

Jet and I made a couple stops along the way to take a drink or two of the thirst quenching cold water.  It was but 2.5 miles in on the trail when I had that unmistakable urge…I wasn’t sure what to do.  I stopped, unsure of what to do next… I have never been out on an activity that had me such a state… Right then I realized my only option… YES, I had to be one with nature and make my bladder happy… really?  But what if a bear decides to visit midstream?  What if a spider crawls up my leg?  What if someone sees me?  What if……  As I contemplated my fluid situation, the pressure and intensity increased and the decision was made… Make it quick, let it flow and go!!!

And so, there behind two trees sharing one trunk, this city girl peed in the woods for the first time all by herself!  As I continued along the trail I noticed a small outhouse about a quarter mile up from where I baptized the forest floor… at first my heart sank as I realized that if had waited just a little while longer I could have used a proper restroom.  I decided to have no regrets, new things are always scary, but the things I feared were overcome and I wouldn’t change a thing!

With this little victory to carry with me like a Girl Scout badge, Jet and I continued upward knowing that at the 4.5 mile mark, the lake should appear as a hidden gem well worth the travels.  Or so I thought.  We hiked upward… we drank water and made stops to take in the view and catch our breath.  The sun was getting hotter and Jet and I were anxious to get to the lake.  My knee was starting to remind me that it is no longer in hiking condition.  Water resources were running low and shade was as sparse as the creeks and streams.

It was at the 3 mile mark that we arrived at a small aspen grove that provided a little shade.  We stopped and Jet and I indulged in the last drops of precious water.  I stood and caught my breath while Jet lay down with no intention of getting up.

 

 

 

 

As we rested, I noticed fluttering about in my peripheral vision.  I swiftly looked left and saw the flutter to the right.  I then looked right and left and across again… There dancing in the grove were black and white butterflies flying in and out of the tree branches… they were so delicate that the breeze would blow them occasionally off course and they would regain control and land gently wherever they could.  I was spellbound by their beauty making sure to stay still in hopes one would rest on my arm.  After a couple minutes and no butterfly landings, I had to coax Jet to a standing position and encourage him to follow my lead up the mountain knowing that we were out of water and the lake should be within reach.

Indeed after a tough and steep climb, there it was.  It was a beautiful emerald gem glistening high in the mountains where the brave could earn the right to see such a sight!  At this point, Jet and I rushed to get to the lake.  I knew that the hike back would be downhill and water would not be needed for me, but I was desperate at this point to get Jet cooled off and hydrated as he was close to overheating.

We arrived at the lake and Jet cautiously stepped in the water as is his usual style.  He drank the lake water as if it were his last drink.  Within minutes he was out of the lake and back to his renewed and chipper self.  I rested my warm and tired body on a granite boulder perfectly positioned at the head of the lake as if it were a sign from the heavens of the sight to behold.  The breeze was cooler at the 8,000 ft. altitude and the sun was now in a low position reflecting off the lake and highlighting the ripple in the water.  I couldn’t help but feel rewarded by the treasure that lay in front of me.

  

 

 

 

 

 

It was 3:30 by now and I decided to let Jet “step” into the water one last time before we left.   We made one last walk to the water’s edge.  Jet surprised me by bringing me a large stick. He normally doesn’t bring me anything but his leash when it’s time for a walk. I stood for a moment wondering, “Why?”  You see, Jet doesn’t swim… a little odd for a Golden Retriever.  He has always been afraid to swim and instead will wade in the water never going too deep.  I had hoped to get him over his fear, but I have long since given up. I just accepted that my water dog is a land lover.  But something inspiring was brewing in that canine mind of his and I could see it in his eyes.  That look of “I’m ready…. Let’s do it!”  So, with my pitching arm back in motion, I reached back and threw the stick as far as the wind would allow.  It landed in the deep part of the lake.  Jet stood there and paced several times contemplating his fear and trying to balance it with his desire.  I could feel my pulse increase with anticipation as I thought, “Could this be it?”  “Will he go out and swim?”

It took about 1 minute and he gingerly started to walk deeper into the water and he stopped… I could feel my tightened shoulders relax and a heavy sigh escape my mouth.  And then I had the idea that maybe he just needed a little encouragement.  A couple of sentences of “Go get it… Go get your toy!” and just like that, paw-after-paw, his fears cast aside, he made his way into the deep water!

His clumsy retriever legs worked in full doggy paddle mode as he retrieved the stick and returned to shore.  I gasped as I could hardly believe what I was seeing.  Once on shore, he made sure to shake the water off right next to me.  I was in awe… thrilled at the courage it took for him to swim at the ripe old age of 9… proving you are never too old to learn.

My plans to return down the mountain were delayed as Jet was in absolute heaven with his new found talent.  After a little time, I had signaled to leave and Jet carried that stick all the way down the mountain as a badge of courage for his well-earned accomplishment.  The hike down the mountain was effortless and went much quicker than our trek up.  We made it to the car with one big stick, a camera full of pictures and an appetite as big as the mountain!

Today, a girl and her dog were one with nature, climbing mountains, peeing in the woods, learning to swim in a lake at 8000 ft… facing their fears of bears, spiders and swimming…  proving at last that you can teach an old dog new tricks and that a dog is a girl’s best friend…. Wondering what tomorrow will bring…