Hiking the Cougar Crest Trail

Jim and Trooper hiked the Cougar Crest trail a few weeks ago. The trail is approximately 5 miles round trip and is classified as moderate to difficult. (The trail is located near the center of this map, north of the lake and adjacent to the Big Bear Discovery Center.)

Here's Trooper posing like Rin Tin Tin...

Now he's licking his lips after having a drink of water.


The blue bag holds his food and water.

You can see his bowl of water nestled inside of the bag.

At the top of the trail you have a view of the entire valley and lake. This is one of Jim and Trooper's favorite hikes.

Delamar Mountain, September 13, 2008

Today my dad finished up his work early and when he came home he said that we could go on a short hike together! We went to a place called Delamar Mountain... here's a brief description of it from localhikes.com... "This is a great hike. The Cougar Crest trail to the PCT is very easy. Anyone should be able to undertake it, especially if you are out for relaxation and resting along the way. The area itself is beautiful loaded with Fir, Pinyon and Lodgepole Pines. Once the views open up of Big Bear Lake and the San Gorgonio Wilderness, you might think you are in heaven." Here I am hiding in the tree branches... can you see me?

Now we're looking down at Holcomb Valley. From bigbearcountry.com... "Holcomb Valley, a short drive north of Big Bear Lake, is located in the historic gold country of the San Bernardino National Forest. More gold was taken out of Holcomb Valley per square mile than anywhere else in Southern California!"

My dad says that I look like a wolf in this picture! Do you think I look like a wolf? GRRRR! Did I scare you? hee hee!

In this picture you can see Big Bear Lake in the foreground through the trees and Mt. San Gorgonio rising in the distance. My dad and I are going to climb all the way to the top of San Gorgonio someday... I can't wait!

Do you see that big bell on my collar? My dad made me wear it after I ran off and he couldn't find me. I usually stay close to my dad but sometimes I get excited when there's so many things to see and smells to sniff! When we got home my mom called me "Bossy the Cow". Ha Ha Ha... sometimes my mom thinks she's so funny but she really isn't very funny at all.

Can you blame me for running off and exploring on my own? Look at all of the trees and rocks and bushes... I just had to check everything out!

Here I am resting in the shade (as usual). After we returned from our hike my dad drove our car though a tunnel with brushes and things that squirted soap out of nozzles. It was sure noisy in that tunnel! After the soap was rinsed off we drove past these gigantic blower thingies that blew hot air all over the car. I'm not sure if I liked that place or not... I was happy to get back home so I could eat dinner and tell Ollie about our hike!

Meet Trooper's Buddies...

Trooper Puppy Video!

My mom was going to keep this a "hiking with my dad" blog but she couldn't resist posting this video of me as a little pup. Samantha was a doggy that was up for adoption when my mom and dad visited the shelter the first time. I guess her new owners couldn't keep her because she's up for adoption again. Anyway, my mom was viewing Samantha's video and lo and behold! About half way through is a segment showing me and my siblings playing with Samantha! I'm the little black and tan guy with the BLUE collar. My mom isn't sure but she thinks the other black and tan pup with the pink collar must be my sister... (she must have been adopted before my mom and dad adopted me.) All of the other pups are my siblings as well... my mom sure had fun watching this video. I hope you enjoy it too! (If you turn up the sound you can hear the music that goes along with the video.)

Fish Creek Trail, September 9, 2008

Today my dad woke me up early and we went on a hike along the Fish Creek Trail. You can take the Fish Creek Trail all the way to the top of San Gorgonio mountain. At 11,499 ft., San Gorgonio is the highest peak in Southern California. Here's a sign post that we passed on the trail. My dad would love to hike to the summit of San Gorgonio with me but we'll have to make that an all day or two-day trip. (You can click on the photos to make them bigger.)

Here's what a reviewer wrote about Fish Creek Trail at LocalHikes.com. "One of the best aspects of this hike is that although it is quite long - the terrain is not difficult and the trail is not too steep. The views are unmatched by any I have seen in SoCal! You get a great view of Dry Lake, Big Bear Lake and a stunning view of San Jacinto and the Indio Valley. For more experienced hikers, I recommend to take a map and compass and do some off trail exploring, it is well worth it - especially the view of San Gorgonio from Lake Peak!" Here's a picture that my dad took of San Gorgonio peak.

Whew! Time for a little breather along the trail... I love to lie down in the shade.

This is a view of Dry Lake. Can you tell why it's named Dry Lake? hehe... Actually the lake is greener than that in person. My dad thought it was quite pretty!

I love going on these hikes with my dad. I'm not sure where we're going next week... I'll keep you posted!

Sugarloaf Mountain, August 19, 2008

Here are some photos from our hike to Sugarloaf Mountain. We didn't go all the way to the summit of the mountain because it was getting late and my dad was worried about making it back down the mountain before dark. We saw a rattlesnake on the trail as we were hiking back to our car... I wanted to say hi to it but my dad wouldn't let me off of my leash. Darn! My dad tossed some sticks at the snake and it slithered off into the brush. Here's a picture of me lying down next to a tree trunk. Can you see me? I'm hidden in the shadows.


This is a description of Sugarloaf Mountain from Trails.com... This challenging trip leads to the only subalpine summit in the San Bernardino Mountains outside the San Gorgonio Wilderness; from this mountain, inspiring vistas unfold. Hikers who are looking for solitude in subalpine surroundings but are tired of encountering the typical hordes of hikers in the San Gorgonio Wilderness will find that Sugarloaf Mountain is just what they have been searching for. (You can see Big Bear Lake from this vantage point.)

Now that I'm bigger I have no trouble climbing over the rocks and fallen trees.

Here I am taking a rest. Tomorrow my dad is taking me to a place called Fish Creek! My mom will post pictures of that hike when we get back.