3 Dog Days: Big Bear Day 3

On our third day we did a hike to the Gunsight. We drove for a while on a dirt road. My non-off road car was a little confused as to what it was doing on a rocky, unpaved road, but mostly we had no trouble. We made it within about a 1/4 mile of the trail head to be blocked by a large puddle. I did not want to risk driving the car through it, so we got out and walked. The first part of the walk was the Champion Lodgepole Pine, a very big tree. Then it was onto the Gunsight. Not to sure what that is. We looked it up online later and found out it is a rock formation, but we are not sure which one it was. The walk started off flat and shady with lots of ferns, water plants and water. Then we had lunch at a rock formation and after that the trail went down hill, the water dried up and it got hot and dusty. Some of the dogs began to get tired so we turned around and headed for home. This was probably my most favorite hike.

The walk was good and long and afterward we had ice cream. We had the repair man come to fix the DVD player and we watched a movie, but I don't remember which one.

The puddle that I did not drive through at the beginning of the hike.

While we were still driving ffluffy spotted this plant and she jumped out to take a picture.

We started off on leash since we didn't know how many other people would be about. I'm not sure how this happened to the leashes, but it took me some time to get them untangled.

At the Champion Lodgepole Pine.

Starting off down the trail to the Gunsight.

At the same stump chair I sat in last year.

All dogs on the walk posing except Bacon.

Fancy in the water plants.

Pie checking in while in the water plants. Very green!

These marks were on a few of the trees. The strange part is the mark is also on the other side of the tree.

It is a great trail.

A pretty flower that I used the extra zoom to get a picture of since it was down a hill and off the trail.

The dogs always wanted to stop to play but it was disruptive and dangerous for the human bystanders so they were not allowed to play for long.

Dottie found this swimming hole and jumped in and began paddling around. She is quite the swimmer now!

Fancy on a log above Dottie's swimming hole.

Fancy and Bacon checking out the trail. Bacon was very good off leash.

A rock formation were we ate lunch that might or might not be the Gunsight.

Dottie hoping I will give her some of my lunch. I see Pie's tongue snuck into the picture.

Bacon lay on my Camel Bac during lunch. I think he figured I couldn't leave without it and therefore he would not get left behind either. He is very much one for laying down and having a nap as soon as we come to a stop.

Pie and Bacon resting in the shade while waiting for us to catch up.

Seems ominous. The trail got hot and dusty after this point.

There was still some shade, but not enough. Notice the trees are now oak instead of pine.

A huge tail.

Navigating the rocks.

Dottie leads the way.

This was a tree that fell on the rocks and is now decomposing. Science at work!

Pie thinks I should walk faster.

Bacon was getting tired at the end. But he kept trotting along. Mostly.

Now we are turned around and are heading back up the hill. It was a long way up. My 3 dogs. And Bacon who is not really mine. Anyone want a nice, small, pet?

On the way back when we hit the watering hole, this is as far as Bacon went in.

Pie of course jumped in and swam around. She also grabbed the branch in front of her face and tried to pull it with her, but is was attached to a tree. I think it is funny how both Fancy and Dottie clearly want to join her, but haven't committed to jumping in yet.

Now Dottie is in but Fancy does not want to jump off of the rock. Most likely she is too polite to land on Pie's head. Too bad for her both Pie and Dottie would not hesitate to land on her head.