Making her way through the throng, Misty looks ahead for Nellie and Archie who were setting the pace!
Misty did have a lot of carrying but it is a long way up and down and she did a fair whack of it - missing out only the very bouldery sections, big steps up or down, or where there were edges....
She just copied what my two did, met lots of people and some other dogs and had a great time. I have put these pictures on here so her owners can see she actually did go up Snowdon...
Not once, but twice..
Playing with a dog called Freddie:
Nellie had her picture taken several times and was told how beautiful she is more than is good for her ;) People become quite mesmerised by her lovely face, her glossy coat and her obvious athleticism when we are out and about and are thrilled when she sidles up for a lean and a chat...She always looks at me as if to say 'these humans are a pushover!' She does good PR for border collies but I try always to point out that they are lovely dogs though you need to put in the work/time/thought/give them things to do to make them truly happy....
There was very low cloud on Saturday as we went up the Pyg track and the top was thickly covered. Of course the sun came out as we descended via the Miner's track... I think I have only been up Snowdon twice over the last twenty years to find it clear up there. One of those times we needed crampons to get to the top the snow was so thick. So when Sunday was even brighter and more sunny and the top was actually clear we decided to go up again. This time we took the Rhyd Ddu route up and down.
So Nellie had a great 4th birthday weekend. She ran up and down the mountain about three times, I suspect, each day. She, like Pop, loves the physicality of it. Hopping from rock to rock and skittering over loose stone at speed is her idea of living life to the max! She, as Pop did, always looks like she is in her element. Archie ran like crazy up and then paced himself down like a little mountain goat. Misty, well, she drank from little streams, chased Nellie (when it was safe for her to do so) and really enjoyed the great outdoors. She made friends everywhere - from big butch looking blokes to teenage boys who wanted to fuss her in either my or Iain's arms at different points. Or talk to her as she headed determindely past them up and down.
Between all three of them they did a lot of socialising. Nellie and Archie were always up ahead mingling with others on their way to or from the summit. Hands were always reaching to stroke them as they trotted past groups of people and I would hear cries of 'hello'- and Archie even got a lift down one little bit from a complete stranger who he was near just up ahead!
We did meet someone we knew! Linda Smith was walking with family and her brood up as we were coming down, which was a nice surprise. Small world.
It was Easter hols and we were doing one of the busiest mountains in the country so it was going to be packed. Usually Iain and I avoid it to go and explore quieter ones but for some reason we decided to go with the flow and it was really enjoyable. There was a strong sense of camaraderie and cheefulness along the way. Some of us were more experienced and fitter, some were clearly struggling. But we all felt good when we got to the top!
I heard one mother tell her two boys (age 10/11?)'remember this feeling and how good it is! Just so you can think about how it feels when we go up another mountain'. A good plan for just about any endeavour I reckon.
At the top - Saturday. We invited Freda - an old friend of Peter and Jessie, Iain's late parents - as she likes the hills too, as they did.
More Saturday pics:
Misty develops her ability to kip anywhere...
And even a rucsac makes a good napping spot! On it...
Or in it....;-)
Sunday
On the way up from Rhyd Ddhu. You can see the top..
On the top - with some of the views (no low cloud!!!)
Misty isn't wearing her harness because it is a bit too loose for her now. The one bought for her fits her with a full coat but I had to get permission to have her coat cut right back as such a long coat was not coping with the walks she has been having here. So now she needs a smaller harness - oops.
Nells and Misty catch some zzzz in the sun while we eat some lunch:
Misty continues to develop her skills of being able to sleep on anything or anywhere...
More socialising!
Misty was being carried in these sections of the route!
On the way down - the girls still have energy for a game!
More views on the way down and yes, that edge is straight down several hundred feet so Misty was being carried all along that section too.......
We didn't come across anyone who didn't like dogs or who didn't at least smile at them. Both days. Considering how many people we met that's quite something.
What else did we do?
We'd driven up through Thursday night and so after some sleep we did a low level walk all afternoon to warm up for the high level walking that we were planning for the other two days- Newborough Warren on Anglesea which is one of our favourite places. Don't know if Misty has been to the sea but she certainly loved it this time!
Hope she has enjoyed her nearly three weeks with us! She goes home tonight.
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