Whether a hiking companion is canine or human, their injury or exhaustion could turn a modest day hike into an overnighter -- as was the case here.

Thanks to another ETS member, I carry more First Aid items for my Samoyed now than I used to -- with special emphasis on paw injury. Gidget walks everyday on sidewalks and asphalt and frequently on gravel so her paws are pretty tough. Still, there are many ways to come up lame on a hike. And she's getting older so I have to take that into account these days.

I've occasionally considered how a stretcher might be rigged for her (50 lbs) using daypacks, hiking poles and paracord but I haven't actually tried to rig one or try it out.


http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/07/3...g-out-on-trail/

Dog Gone Tired! Pooch Airlifted From Angeles National Forest After Pooping Out On Trail

July 31, 2011 11:59 PM

SAN DIMAS (CBS) — An afternoon hike turned into an overnight ordeal when a couple whose 80-pound dog joined them for the trek couldn’t make it back down the trail....