It’s the heart of summer, so temperatures have finally started warming up our lakes and most weekend forecasts are offering clear skies without a chance for rain. My point: it's the best time to go camping!
My friends and I spend the last weekend camping at Lake Crescent, along Highway 101 roughly 25 miles past Port Angeles, Washington.
I’m not a camping novice, but I'm definitely no expert. But this trip was my first since adopting Pepper, my six-month-old Catahoula Leopard puppy, from the Seattle Humane Society.
We had a few bumps along the way, but overall bringing Pepper along made for a great weekend. Here are just a couple lessons I learned from camping with a puppy:
- Take a long leash. A reminder that Pepper is only six months old, so naturally she wanted to sniff and explore pretty much everything in sight. The leash I packed for the weekend was only 5 or 6 feet long. The Fairholme Campground at Lake Crescent requires dogs to be leashed at all times. The second day we had to drive back into Port Angeles to buy an extended leash that was 16 feet long. Pepper ended up chewing through the leash… but for eight glorious hours, she got the freedom to move around most of our campsite freely.
- Pack plenty of bones and treats. A huge part of camping is relaxing, spending time around the fire, swimming at the lake or napping in a hammock. Pepper demanded a lot of attention throughout the weekend that regularly broke up our relaxation. Next time, I’ll definitely pack some of her favorite bones to keep her occupied.
- Sleep is a challenge. Pepper rose with the sun each morning, hours before we were ready to get up and face the day. One morning she was ready to play by 6:30 a.m. I had to leave the tent and play with her outside until everyone else woke up. Afternoon naps are great equalizers.
- Camp with dog-friendly friends/family. Dogs can be a handful, especially puppies, so make sure there are plenty of people in your group that can help watch and play with your pup. A special shoutout to Abby, Maddie and Mallory for their patience and help watching Pepper this past weekend!
Do you get out and explore the best of the Pacific Northwest? Make sure and post your photos with #k5explore and you might see them used on TV or online!
