[Losech]

Hiking is basically my dog sport. It's what Conker and I do. We hike at least once a week, but usually it's closer to two or three times. We can hike as many as seven days a week if I feel like it. Normally we go about 5-7 miles per hike, but they range from just 3 to over 15. We have a short 2 mile trail 2 miles from home (we walk to that one, making it 6 miles round-trip) and the main system I go to is just 5 miles. There are many more trails within 20 miles, hundreds more if you branch out a bit more than that.

These pictures are at the trail system 5 miles from home. It's the one we hike at the most.

Conker wanted to take Hogback, I wanted to take Cloverlawn. There was a standoff. I won, but an hour later, we were on Hogback.

Somewhere on the trails. They were much much greener a few short weeks ago.

Conker rolling, getting burrs stuck in his fur.

This is a small section of my favorite trail. You have to hike a minimum of 3 miles (depending on which connecting trail you take) just to reach it.

Conker sniffing a Ponderosa pine. His tail is down because he had burrs stuck in his buttfluff that I hadn't pulled out yet.

Right after I pull out the burrs, he goes and rolls in the dry grass and gets more stuck in his fur.

Resting on the trail.

This bench overlooks the small city we live in.

Conker and I taking a break in the shade.

I think we did close to 8 miles on this one. I'm not exactly sure, some horses messed up my plans and made me change routes last minute to avoid them.

 

[momtolabs]

Cute pics!! You hike bare foot!!!???? I walk around my yard without shoes but never when I hike.

 

[Losech]

You hike bare foot!!!????

Yeah, I'm one of those crazy barefoot people. Most of them are runners, I'm a hiker. I do have a pair of Vibram Five Fingers (you can barely see them attached to my pack at the far left) that I wear while out and about in-town and when it's too hot or too cold for bare feet. Or if the trail is too rough, but that hardly ever happens. When I run on the trail though, I do wear them, since the friction from the little gravelly rocks in some sections can tear my feet up despite their thick leathery "pads".
It takes a little time to build up the footleather, and you need to maintain it as well (in the winter that can be tough), but once it's there you can walk on just about any surface with no problems.
I really love going barefoot, especially in nature. It's really cool.

 

[KodiBarracuda]

We have a short 2 mile trail 2 miles from home (we walk to that one, making it 6 miles round-trip)

I don't know why this is catching me up so bad. 2 miles there + 2 mile trail + 2 mile back on trail + 2 miles back to home is eight miles not six or am I missing something?

I would love to hike more but we don't have anything close to hiking paths where I am so my jealousy scale is off the chart right now. Oh and your dog is adorable!

 

[Losech]

I don't know why this is catching me up so bad. 2 miles there + 2 mile trail + 2 mile back on trail + 2 miles back to home is eight miles not six or am I missing something?

2 mile trail, as in 1 mile up, 1 mile back. So, it's a 1 mile one way trail, but 2 mile round-trip. Yeah, can seem a bit confusing...

 

[KodiBarracuda]

ahhh thanks