What You Missed
Spring 2025
Spring 2025
On Thursday, March 20th I wanted to get out for our first spring hike as the temperatures were forecast to be in the mid 60's. I also thought a walk with Sheena would help her work off some of her seemingly endless supply of energy. The ambulance calls are still coming frequently and so I needed some time outside. I covered two morning calls and then was ready to hike. The skies were sunny with only a few clouds and plenty of sun making it ideal for hiking. At 2:15 PM I started to get ready to hike. Sheena is a Feist-Cur cross which are actual types of dogs used on farms and for hunting in the south. The temperature was 62 degrees and I knew several days of those temperatures had eliminated all the snow on the trails. I got dressed in my Mammut long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and seemed to be living up to their claims. I put on my Mammut hoody which has plenty of zippers to dump heat but blocks the wind. I decided against a hat and gloves as it was just too warm. I also decided not to take any poles as the walk would be short and I would be holding Sheena's leash. I did put on my OR BugOut gaiters as I thought the ticks might be out. I put Sheena's harness on her and also put on an electronic training. I hoped that the electronic collar would allow me to hike with Sheena off her leash. We walked out the backdoor with Sheena on her leash to start the hike. The harness prevents Sheena from choking herself but I still have to control her pull on the leash. We headed down the driveway and toward the street at 2:20 PM. Sheena has gotten used to walking on her leash to the end of the drive. She also has become accustomed to waiting for cars to pass by and then crossing when I say "OK". This time she looked both ways and then looked at me and I said "OK" because there were no cars. She readily crossed the street and headed across the field by the church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. All of the snow was gone leaving a cover of wet leaves behind. Sheena had no problem walking up the hill except for the fact that she likes to stop and sniff very frequently. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Not having poles made it more of a challenge for me. We did stop twice on the way to the top of the hill as Sheena set a fast pace. Sheena is getting bigger every day and her pull on the leash is signficant. At the top we did not bother to pause as Sheena hopped up the steps to start out on the trail. My plan was to walk two figure 8's depending on how the electronic collar worked out.
We started on the trail but I immediately asked Sheena to sit as I activated and checked the collar. Everything seemed in order so I told her "Up trail" and away she went. Sheena did not immediately take off but stayed on the trail just ahead of me. When she got too far ahead I told her "Not too far" and she came back toward me. I tried the "With" command to get her to walk next to me and she did so without a problem. It was certainly more pleasant walking this way than with Sheena pulling on the leash and me yanking to keep her in check. At the first trail junction, Sheena turned right and I followed her as she started up the woods road. I had been hiking straight up the hill to the lookout for the last few hikes and thought this might be a nice change. Along the woods road there were some branches on the trail from the recent winds and I took a moment to remove them. Sheena shies away from me every time I pick up a sick. I am not in the habit of hitting her with sticks and I finally figured out that she wants e to throw them so she can chase after them! When the woods road ended, we turned left and started up the trail to the junction with the blue trail. Sheena turned left at the junction as she apparently knew the turns for a figure 8. We walked along the flat trail at the base of Round Top. Sheena was ranging ahead and then zooming back toward me on her own or when I called. I used the beeps and vibration a couple of times on the collar. Sheena seems puzzled but learned that they meant I wanted her. When we came to the next junction with the blue trail to the summit, Sheena turned left but I went right. It took a minute but she quickly caught up and we both headed up toward the summit. At the switchback in the blue trail, Sheena turned right and we walked out to where the trail made an almost 180 degree turn to bring us back to the main blue trail. We turned right and started for the summit bypassing the white crossover trail. As we passed over the summit, Sheena picked up a scent and followed it off trail. I called her but she was intent on following the track. I had the collar set for 9/18 and decided I would test that setting. I pushed the button with no effect. I changed the setting to 12 with no effect. Finally, I set it to the maximum and pressed the button. I could see Sheena's muscles react but she hardly noticed it. This is one tough little dog! Eventually, she recognized that I was calling her a trotted over to me. We started down the other side of the hill again bypassing the white crossover trail. At the bottom of the hill, we turned right to again pass along the trail at the base of Round Top. When we reached the trail junction this time, we turned left and started downhill toward the lookout. We descended the short but steep little hill and came to the "Sitting Rock". Sheena jumped up on the rocks to look around before jumping down and continuing on the trail. Soon we were at the viewpoint. Sheena walked to the edge of the upper lookout to look around while I followed the trail as it turned left and headed down to the first trail junction. Sheena came roaring down the hill after me.
To start the next figure 8, we turned around and headed back up the hill to the viewpoint. This time we followed the yellow trail as it turned right and headed up toward the junction with the blue trail. We passed by the "sitting Rocks" and climbed the small hill. At the junction with the blue trail we turned right and walked along the yellow rail at the base of Round Top. At the next junction, we turned left on the blue trail and started towrd the summit. I was dragging a little by this point but Sheena was still full of energy. She was ahead of me and turned left on the white crossover trail just to explore a little. I continued on the blue trail to the summit and Sheena soon caught up. We walked across the highest point of Round Top of public land and then started down the other side. The weather was really very Pleasanton seemed almost too warm after some of the frigid temperatures we had during the winter. We bypassed the white crossover trail and turned left on the switchback. We turned 180 degrees and headed back to the main trail where we turned left and walked down to the junction with the yellow trail. Here we turned left and again waked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. Sheena showed what she ahd left by running ahead and then coming back at top speed. When we reached the jucntion with the yellow trail we turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road. A right on the woods road had us heading downhill toward the first trail junction. I am always impressed by the cliffs and ledges along this section of the trail. At the first trail junction we turned left and walked out to the trailhead. I put Sheena back on her leash and found she still was not tired as she pulled me down the hill to the church parking lot. We crossed the church parking lot to the street. After a few cars passed, we crossed the road and walked to the driveway. We were back at the house by 3:35 PM. We had hiked for 1 hour and 15 minutes covering about 2 miles.