Just how much hiking does Rocket do? Well, he has been on the trails of, at least, nine National Parks (Cuyahoga, Sand Dunes, Theodore Roosevelt, Badlands, Wind Cave, Glacier, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Shanandoah), 15 State Parks (Lake Milton, Mosquito Lake, Nelson-Kennedy Ledges, West Branch, A.W. Marion, Buckeye Lake, Dillon, Salt Fork, Burr Oak, Blue Rock, Barkcamp, Great Seal, Great Council, John Bryan, Headlands Beach, and 12 local parks/trails or walks through towns and cities. All of these hikes and walks have occurred in just 5 years of his life, and of course, that doesn’t count the return trips to our local parks or multiple hikes in our National and State Parks!
Rocket hikes in all seasons…summer, winter, fall, and spring. He hikes all types of terrain…mountains, hills, valleys, sandy trails, rocky trails, forest, plains, meadows, roads, and sidewalks. No trail, time, nor season is a barrier to Rocket’s willingness and readiness to go for a hike. He has hiked in the hot sun and in the rain; he has hiked in the morning and in the evening; he has hiked on snow-covered trails, thick forest trails, and blazed his own trails at times.
One of the things Rocket loves most about hiking on the trails is the opportunity to explore and find new things. He often stops to “smell the roses” or maybe some other scent that intrigues him. He has seen deer, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, birds, ground hogs, raccoons, armadillos, and more. The wildlife keep a safe distance from Rocket and we are able to control is urge to lunge after the wildlife, but what really causes us to shake our heads in disbelief is his reaction to the bugs and insects that invade his personal space! When this happens, Rocket tucks his tail and looks to us for help. Sometimes, we even have to end the hike (if we are close to base) because he can work himself into a state of panic and begin to freeze up or freak out!
Most of Rocket’s hikes last about 2 hours. We usually try to hit trails that are 2 to 4 miles long. When we are on vacation and visiting National Parks, we often hit longer trails, some of which have been 8 to 10 miles long. For these hikes, and for others that we know water may not be readily available, we bring along a dog water bottle. A quick drink and a short rest helps to refresh both Rocket and Frank so that they can complete the trail strong and happy. Rocket’s love of hiking may stem from what comes at the end of a hike, though, as it is not uncommon for him to get a pup cup from a local ice cream stand on the way home, and that, my friends, is reward enough for any hike, any time, anywhere!!!
Rocket hikes with Frank most of the time, and of course his two human masters. Sometimes, though, other people join in for our hikes, including my daughters and my granddaughter. One of my daughters will even bring her pup, Dash, along for the hike. Rocket is always happy for the company, no matter who comes along.
When the trail is completed and we are in the truck heading back home, Rocket is content and ready to rest. Hiking can be hard work, especially when you are tasked with leading the way and ensuring everyone’s safety (except from bugs). As the day comes to a close, a good night’s rest often seems to include a pleasant dream of chasing butterflies and climbing rocks, at least that’s what we like to think when we see him sleeping on the couch with his eyes fluttering and his legs in motion as if he is running along to sniff out what lies ahead!