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14 November ~2008
A couple of days ago Mollie was in the back by herself, barking at a squirrel that was beneath the pear tree eating fallen pears. Mollie wouldn't go any closer than 30 feet of the squirrel, not having figured out yet that dogs chase squirrels and squirrels run and climb trees.
Mollie's education continued on our backpack trip last week - climbing off trail up to a new ridge and camping and exploring for a couple of days. She is getting comfortable next to Ben from the rocks and cliffs he likes to look out from.
When I was picking up camp on the last morning Mollie went over to the tree that I had our blue flexible water bucket tied to, where the dogs go to get water. I had already emptied it and put it in the pack, but the little girl didn't know that. She stood right at the spot where the bucket had been, and looked up the tree, then down at the ground, waited a little while, and looked up again, and down again, trying to figure out where it was hiding. She then went around behind the tree - not there, and finally walked to three or four other trees nearby, wondering if she had the wrong one.
In a year she will be old hat at all of this - see a squirrel, chase it, water bucket not there, it's gone. It's awful precious to see her learn though, figuring out how this world works.
One of things I love about backpacking is how strong it makes me feel - not just with 50 pounds strapped hard to my belly, kept upright by my shoulder straps - but also being ok with staying out alone alone on the long winter nights, at ease with the wind blowing in the pines, the frigid air before morning.
From November though February I plan my trips to near the time of the full moon. The days are extended by being able to walk around after dark without a flashlight.
Last week the sun set at a quarter to 5. Because of the light of the moon I didn't go to sleep until 9pm.
The sunrises and sunsets were downright beautiful; the night was holy and sacred. It all make me glad that I follow where my heart takes me, which so often is out in the wilderness alone, just me and my dogs.
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