With practice, my dog has learned the command "other way," and he knows to back up and go around the other side of the tree trunk or whatever he just gone past. It helps a lot.

Jeff

Lol. I burn myself every trip, garaunteed. Usually picking up the stove shortly after turning it out. Never used watergel, as the burns were never that severe (I have lots of practice dropping the stove too)

As a frequent burner, I can attest to the watergel.

Hey Andy you know what, this was a great post. No matter how many times each of us have gone out to the back country, your thoughts are spot on.

Great that you are hiking with your pup -- I think they all tap their inner wolf when in the woods.

I started hiking a decade ago with a friend who was preparing for a Himalayan trek. We learned so much the hard way and we laugh about those early hikes now (we were prone to overpack).

I hike or go bikejoring with my dog every weekend in the winter. Both entail carrying a backpack and mostly the same needs -- especially water for the pup.

So I keep my backpack permanently packed with the essentials, including my dog's titanium drinking cup (from REI), dog booties (in case she injures a paw), dog treats, poop bags, pepper spray (to protect her from dogs off leash and me from creeps who belong in jail), emergency whistle, space blanket (Adventure Medical Heatsheets Emergency Bivvy), knife, cash, etc.

All I have to remember to grab for a hike -- besides my backpack -- is water.

Have fun!!

I got a nicely embroidered hat one year, for Christmas. It says "Funny, it didn't LOOK hot." AuntGoo figured if it was written down, I wouldn't have to say it.

Actually, this trip sounds to me like a better test run than the backyard.
Short daytrips check your complete setup better than the backyard.
More of these to work up for overnighters and longer.

That is my plan. Use a series of short day trips to work out the kinks of what I carry and how. Get the dog out to new and different places. The goal is to do some weekend trips when it's a wee bit warmer.

Comms, thanks. I can always count on the folks here for good, practical advice.

Dagny, I have a daypack that I carry when we do our daily walks around town. Mostly things I might need in case I come across a MVA or fall down and scrape a knee, etc. I do keep a flashlight, whistle, ResQMe tool and pepper spray on it as well as Camelbak and water bottle for the dog. What I'm working on now is a separate bag for longer hikes which has more in the way of shelter, food and food prep.

MDinana, you know I thought about that when I finished boiling up my water. "Don't be stupid and pick up the stove until it cools off" did run through my mind.

Thanks everyone for your comments!

ditto

You are doing a Hudson Bay Company start.
Back in the fur trade days the HBC's courier de bois would leave a Hudson Bay Factory (Factory was what they called a trading post back then) but only travel a few miles, unpack their gear and set up camp. They would do their inventory again at this time too.
It was kind of like a shakedown cruise.
If they had forgotten anything they were still close enough to send somebody back to get it.

Your plan is wise.

Hey Andy, I haven't hit that park yet. How is it? I'm in Ardmore myself.

I used to do a lot of hiking at Rickett's Glenn up north. Steep trails, but beautiful waterfalls.

Ever do any geocaching?