A Successful Backpacking Trip with My Dog on the Shaft House via Goose Creek Trail
Day 1: We started our backpacking trip around middle of the day. The weather was cool and crisp, perfect for a hike. I had packed everything I needed for the overnight stay and also for my furry friend Willa, an 1 year old English Springer Spaniel. The drive to the trailhead is on a long and winding Forest Service road, but we were soon on our way. The Goose Creek trail is a bit steep in the first couple miles, but it gradually leveled out. The trail is well-marked, and Willa and I made good progress. Willa was excited and sniffed everything along the way. She was doing great and didn't seem to tire easily.
This was Willa’s first backpacking trip. We have been training for the last couple months doing short hikes around the house and slowly introducing her to wearing her own backpack. During these training hikes we worked on basic commands that would be beneficial to her on the trail, such as Come, Stay, With Me, and Go. I learned quickly that she had a tendency to stop and smell everything, and that if she quickly stopped in front of me on the trail when I had a backpack on, then it could cause injury to both of us, so I started teaching her “go”, which meant to continue up the trail. I was surprised that she picked this up pretty quickly.
We reached the Shaft House in the mid afternoon. It is a historic mining site, and the ruins were fascinating to explore. We then settled in to a nearby campsite just up the trail. It was a beautiful spot, surrounded by tall trees, large boulders and a nearby creek. We set up our camp and took a short break. We then went on a hike of the surrounding mountains without packs and then settled in for dinner. Willa was getting a bit anxious sitting around camp after dinner so I decided to all it an early night, as I knew she would need some time to get used to being in a tent. She kept moving around and didn't settle down for at least an hour or so. I tried to reassure her and cuddled with her. Eventually, she calmed down and fell asleep. The nights in the mountains of Colorado can still get a bit cool in April, and Willa was not used to sleeping under the down blanket I brought for her, so I would wake up with a shivering and would have to put the blanket over her again. After a couple hours she settled in under the blanket and the rest of the night was a peaceful night, and we were both happy to be out in nature.
Day 2: We woke up early and had breakfast. Willa doesn’t do well with sitting around camp right now, so I went ahead and broke camp down early and we got on the trail. The second day of our hike was less challenging than the first, as there was more downhill than up. As this was an out and back training trip we had similar views going out as we did coming in, but there was a lot less uphill today, we both seemed to take more time to enjoy the views. Willa was doing great for the second day in a row, and I could see that she was enjoying the hike as much as I was.
After a couple hours of hiking, we finally made it back to the truck in no time. Overall, the hike was a great experience. Willa did amazingly well, especially for her first overnight stay in a tent. She was a bit anxious at first, but she eventually settled down. I'm proud of her, and I'm looking forward to our next backpacking trip together.
The Shaft House in a great beginner backpacking trail for anyone looking to get a night out on the trail, I would highly recommend it to anyone. I’ve actually taken my two boys there a couple times in the past. What is your favorite Lost Creek Wilderness backpacking trail?
