Day 77: Spirit Animal

(Carson Pass, 1079 to Echo Lake, 1094.5 = 15.5 miles)

It is remarkable how these dead-looking trees can still grow!

Today wound up flying by.  It did not start that way, however.  We were turned around first thing and spent fifteen minutes going nowhere.  Trotted along once we found the trail -- the terrain was easy -- but the mosquitoes were maddening.  

 I had an "iced coffee" (cold Via -- they work!) at second breakfast and turned into a chatterbox.  I was just going on about the great kitten debate (I'll most likely be living alone once I get home and want a kitten, desperately.   However, I have had a couple of tragic losses ... but a friend's cat is pregnant!  And they should be just over 8 weeks when I get home.) ... when a huge husky appeared.  Backpackers at the lake asked if it was ours, we said no.  But in an instant he had run by us and was looking back to make sure we followed.  Maybe we had a pet for the day!  We became his pack.  I told Gumby that maybe he was our spirit dog (like in the movies) since we could see him, but he wouldn't let us touch him.  We should probably follow and do what he says.

Eventually, our spirit dog added Green Machine and Caveman to his pack.  But then we breaked for too long, and he ran back down the trail.  "Dakota" said his tags when Green Machine finally got a hold of him (guess he wasn't a spirit, after all.)  Green Machine took down his parents' phone number in case we got service. 

Say hello to Dakota, the Spirit Dog.

This was not, however, the last we would see of Dakota.  He ran up at lunch, this time with saddlebags!  He must have found his family.  He was hiking with a family.  It was not his family, and they did not like him hounding their pup.  We held him while that family passed.  He was well over 100 pounds.  Neither of us is much over that anymore.  It took two of us.  And then dad arrived!  We handed him over, a bit regretfully.  Dakota spiced up our day.  Gumby loves dogs, and I love huskies.  We didn't get a pet for a full day, but it was enough.  After lunch, we took off and were to Echo Lake drinking pops, eating Oreos, and munching on Pringles (from Buckeye and Swift -- trail angels -- thanks!) by 3:30. 

We followed Yogi's lead and found a platform tent to stay in at Berkley-Echo Lake Camp.  $15 for the night.  And we located hot showers and laundry.  We bought food at the small grocery store and brought it back for dinner.  A nice meal with Gumby, 3G, phone service, outlets, and lots of space to repack.  We were content.  Special thanks to Dakota for turning our day around.  We didn't get to follow you, but perhaps you were a spirit dog after all.