Monday, November 19, 2012

SQUAW VALLEY USA: A DOG'S TOUR

After we got done schmoozing at Peaks & Paws, my brother and sister-in-law wanted to head up the gondola and walk around the top of the mountain. So of course, we had to go to too!

You can never be too high up for some love.

This was Kaya and Norman's first time up the gondola, but neither were concerned. The gondola climbs 2000 feet to 8200 feet at high camp!


High Camp!

Then we got to explore! There's something really cool about seeing the chair lifts without all the snow.


Say cheese!...or is it dried liver?

We found a cool tree!

And a cool rock!


Squaw Valley held the 1960 winter Olympics. Kaya had to check out the ice rink and Olympic rings.


I took these pictures last summer...it was much snowier!

We caught one of the last gondola rides on the way down so needless to say, it was a bit more crowded than the way up.

Their version.

My version.

They were so tired, they made themselves comfortable on all the feet:)

It was such a fun day, I can't wait to go back next year!

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

PEAKS & PAWS DOG FESTIVAL

Another fun thing we did in Tahoe was check out the annual Peaks & Paws festival at Squaw Village. It is actually a 2 day festival, but sadly we did not come on the day of the fetch competition or I would have loved to enter Kaya! But there were lots of goodies for sale, complimentary treats at every store and restaurant, and there were plenty of pooches dressed up for the event. Plus, there was beer, wine and bluegrass...how can you go wrong? All proceeds benefited the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe and there were lots of cute adoptables there too. We met one lucky dog who was already heading home with his new family!

I borrowed these photos from the Squaw website, they were too cute!




Much to Kaya's dismay, we stopped for sushi.

Believe it or not Kaya has pretty severe leash allergies. As in...she hates them. She is usually very impatient at events like this and spends the whole time whining. I even contemplated not bringing her, but I couldn't bear to leave her at home and I was so impressed with her manners. She didn't love it, but she tried very hard:)

Being a good girl.

Checkin' out some music.

One thing we always do when we're at Squaw is check out Gallery Keoki. This guy does the most awesome photography, but my favorites are of the search and rescue dogs that work at Squaw in the winter.

Do these dogs have a cool job?

It's amazing how long some of them work for. Many of the dogs are 10+ years old and still loving it!

How's that for a good stay?

My favorite:)

These dogs are incredible! Do you have a favorite?

For some reason we took a break on the mini-golf course.

It was a great event! I would have stayed much longer, but the family got impatient. I hope to go back next year and maybe hit up that fetch competition!

OUR TREK TO EAGLE LAKE...AND BACK

One of the first things we did on our awesome Tahoe trip was go on a huge hike to Eagle Lake. The hike takes a couple hours and the whole first half is uphill, but it's worth the climb.

Half-way point:)

Let's go!

Of course the dogs have no trouble with the climb.


Rock climbers.

But once you're up there, you get to swim in the lake and cool off:)

Norman wasted no time getting in to cool down...he is the tiny thing in the water.

Check it out!

Runners.

Swimmers.

Kaya found a cool rock to stand on.

And Norman thought my brother's leaf was amazing.

The awesome thing about the first half being uphill is that going back is all downhill!




We had to take a pit stop(pardon the pun) to take in the views.

Taking a break with my brother.

Just checking things out.

The falls are at the very bottom of the hike. This is where we decide to call it quits:)




It was a really awesome hike, but there's a reason we don't do it that often, phew!

Sunday, November 11, 2012

KAYA & NORMAN DO LAKE TAHOE

Life's pretty boring around here right now, so I've decided to make a few posts about a trip we took to Lake Tahoe in August. It's pretty much my favorite place on earth and I'm also pretty sure my dogs agree! It was an awesome week because we were joined by my parents, my brother and sister-in-law and my cousin. Plus, my dogs got to bond with my mom's German Shepherd, Zoey. It may not look like it from the pictures, but Zoey has pretty serious dog aggression. Oddly, water acts like a buffer zone for her which blocks out all her issues. She has really gotten used to Kaya & Norman and has grown to enjoy their company...to the shock of everyone who knows her.

In short, here's what we did all week:

Went on a big hike...

 

Swam with my cousin...






Got to know the family...


Watched some pretty sunsets...


Or is it moonrise...


Rode a gondola up a mountain...



Went to a dog festival...


Made a new friend...


Zoey captured a rock...


We took in the sights...



And swam in the river...


What an amazing week! Plenty more pics coming this week in case you've got the winter's coming blues...

Related Posts:
Our Trek to Eagle Lake...and Back
Peaks & Paws Dog Festival
Squaw Valley: A Dog's Tour
Kaya & Norman Take on the Truckee River
Family Luvin'