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28 April ~2008
Me and Ben and Maggie found a ridge outcropping with a level spot behind, where I put up the tent and us three enjoyed a hidden weekend, from our high point.At dusk me and Ben sat at the edge of the cliff and watched the mountain across and the valley below get taken in by the night. More than once Ben turned his head to sounds that were beyond my hearing.
If you want to experience real mystery climb off trail up to a unknown spot and spend a night alone in the wilderness. It is very powerful and spiritual. The serene presence of God is clearly felt.
Which doesnt mean there arent things out there that will eat you. After a good eight hours sleep, at around 4 in the morning, me and Ben left the tent to stretch, etc., I turned to the west, and he went over to drink out of our water bucket, which I always try to set somewhere in front of the tent. When I was done I scanned where Ben had gone with my headlamp, and saw his eyeshine in the light. Then I saw a second set of eyes behind him, coming towards him. My first thought was mountain lion, because we had found some scat just up the hill that afternoon, next to a boulder. I yelled to Ben to "come, now," and started over to him. He looked at me wondering what was up.
It was Maggie. I hadnt noticed her leave the tent and follow Ben out there, being sleepy and all. I realized it was her because her blue eye shines red instead of yellow.
It got my heart beating fast though, and woke me up pretty good.
I keep a close watch on them, for their safety. Some people camping up north once heard a pack of coyotes begin yipping and howling after dark, close by. Their husky who had been sitting by the fire ran off into the darkness in the direction of the coyotes. He didn't survive the night.
It was good I immersed myself in earth song - the wind in the Ponderosa, the stream far below, the scattered birds at dusk, and the holy silence. I may not be going up as much as I had planned this summer.
Maggie has been gimpy on and off for about a month now. At times she would walk fine, but usually when getting up from a rest she would favor her back left paw. I had put some dog boots on her back feet this trip, but she was still sore in the evening.
So first thing today after driving back to town I stopped at her vet, and they scheduled me for a 3:15 appointment.
It turns out she has a torn ACL. Read more about it and the recovery for dogs here. It is something that is quite common with very athletic animals, like agility dogs. The wierd thing was that she didn't get it doing agility or even on the trail with me - it happened in the backyard. (I remember the night she came in gimpy). I figure it must have been some excitement over the Raccoons that come into our yard pretty regular that caused her injury.
Ben broke a bone in his foot last fall - again in the backyard. Darn Raccoons.
My sweet girl is scheduled for surgery next Monday morning. Then she will have a long recovery - at least two months. I think I will have to keep her in a dog kennel for part of that time, to ensure that she stays immobile, and doesnt reinjure it.
I don't think this is a severe ACL tear - or she wouldn't have walked normally on it occasionally. After a month though it doesnt seem like it is getting better on its own, so surgery is the best option. Thank goodness I have pet insurance for both her and Ben, because it is an expensive operation.
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