The Wave slopes are pretty sturdy actually, and the humans pose on them all the time, and put tripods on, and generally stay for hours. So we wouldn't think a 15-pounder pooch will be any worse. And the ranger didn't have a problem with it either.
This said, when and if the BLM works out the quirks of its permit lottery, and really starts letting people in by the dozen as they officially intend to do, we all would need to become even more cognizant about preventing damage to the sandstone.
Correct about the main part of The Wave, but not so about The Wave 2 and some of the other formations in the area. Yes, people walk on the formations, but they can also purposely place their feet away from fragile areas. At the very least, I hope that you would leash your dogs if they were damaging the formations. Sorry if I sound harsh, it's just such a wonderfully unique area, and I'd hate to see it damaged.
Oh. In the first message you said that the dogs actually climbed over the fragile formations. Now you are saying that they might have climbed there, and that the owners might have neglected to have leashes just in case. And even that we don't care if this great area sustains damage!
Of course what you said before was incorrect, and what you are saying now isn't correct either.
We understand that the question of dogs in the mountains is controversial, and some SPers hate the idea. It's OK to have strong opinion about stuff on SP, but please do not twist the facts, and please try to accept others' freedom of the hills.
No, we wondered too. Maybe because it's got a good chunk of 4th class scrambling? Or maybe because of some beta on a really cool spot? Hard to say if we really earned the honor ... but it isn't absurd, that's for sure.
Or maybe the elves were wrong to put something as controversial as "dog-walking" right on the front page ... just judging from the votes, the SP community considers it to be a mediocre TR. In fact two out of three TRs score better than ours!
We really enjoyed your site and the waypoints were very helpful. Thought to stop at Carmel Jct on the way back to see if we get a chance to thank you personally, but we got sidetracked into Cottonwood Canyon Road.
The only thing we missed up on Top Rock was an up-close view of Melody Arch. Kind of ran out of time and power to routefind over the steep drops around the Dune Grotto, but in hindsight I see that Melody should not be missed. I mean we saw it, but from the less picturesque side.
Yeah and the last thing ... Jeff who?? Not one of our crew ;)
Melody Arch is spectacular! I understand now. Jeff posted this link elsewhere so I thought this was his trip report. I wish you had stopped by. I always like to meet new people. :)
Mark Doiron - Nov 19, 2007 7:42 am - Voted 10/10
Someday ...Someday I must go there. Thanks so much for reminding me why! --mark d.
WalksWithBlackflies - Nov 19, 2007 8:20 am - Hasn't voted
Take a LeashI can't believe you let your dogs climb over the fragile Wave formations.
GeoPooch Sobachka - Nov 19, 2007 9:04 am - Hasn't voted
Re: fragile Wave formationsThe Wave slopes are pretty sturdy actually, and the humans pose on them all the time, and put tripods on, and generally stay for hours. So we wouldn't think a 15-pounder pooch will be any worse. And the ranger didn't have a problem with it either.
This said, when and if the BLM works out the quirks of its permit lottery, and really starts letting people in by the dozen as they officially intend to do, we all would need to become even more cognizant about preventing damage to the sandstone.
WalksWithBlackflies - Nov 20, 2007 10:45 am - Hasn't voted
Re: fragile Wave formationsCorrect about the main part of The Wave, but not so about The Wave 2 and some of the other formations in the area. Yes, people walk on the formations, but they can also purposely place their feet away from fragile areas. At the very least, I hope that you would leash your dogs if they were damaging the formations. Sorry if I sound harsh, it's just such a wonderfully unique area, and I'd hate to see it damaged.
GeoPooch Sobachka - Nov 20, 2007 11:38 am - Hasn't voted
Re: fragile Wave formationsOh. In the first message you said that the dogs actually climbed over the fragile formations. Now you are saying that they might have climbed there, and that the owners might have neglected to have leashes just in case. And even that we don't care if this great area sustains damage!
Of course what you said before was incorrect, and what you are saying now isn't correct either.
We understand that the question of dogs in the mountains is controversial, and some SPers hate the idea. It's OK to have strong opinion about stuff on SP, but please do not twist the facts, and please try to accept others' freedom of the hills.
supermarmot - Nov 19, 2007 6:55 pm - Voted 5/10
am i the only onewho wonders why a dog-walk report made the front page? this is absurd.
-david
GeoPooch Sobachka - Nov 19, 2007 8:00 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: am i the only oneNo, we wondered too. Maybe because it's got a good chunk of 4th class scrambling? Or maybe because of some beta on a really cool spot? Hard to say if we really earned the honor ... but it isn't absurd, that's for sure.
supermarmot - Nov 19, 2007 11:15 pm - Voted 5/10
Re: am i the only onei'm sorry, you're right. 'absurd' was more in reference to the talking dogs (or deranged owners--you decide.)
david
Zac Finley - Nov 19, 2007 11:01 pm - Voted 10/10
WOWSome people can be pretty brutal with comments. I enjoyed reading the report. It's a beautiful area. I was there about a month ago.
GeoPooch Sobachka - Nov 20, 2007 12:29 am - Hasn't voted
Re: WOWOr maybe the elves were wrong to put something as controversial as "dog-walking" right on the front page ... just judging from the votes, the SP community considers it to be a mediocre TR. In fact two out of three TRs score better than ours!
tanya - Nov 21, 2007 12:13 pm - Voted 10/10
PhotosBeautiful photos! I hope the trail report was accurate and you found everything you were looking for.
~tanya
GeoPooch Sobachka - Nov 21, 2007 12:57 pm - Hasn't voted
Thanks Tanya!We really enjoyed your site and the waypoints were very helpful. Thought to stop at Carmel Jct on the way back to see if we get a chance to thank you personally, but we got sidetracked into Cottonwood Canyon Road.
The only thing we missed up on Top Rock was an up-close view of Melody Arch. Kind of ran out of time and power to routefind over the steep drops around the Dune Grotto, but in hindsight I see that Melody should not be missed. I mean we saw it, but from the less picturesque side.
Yeah and the last thing ... Jeff who?? Not one of our crew ;)
tanya - Nov 21, 2007 2:27 pm - Voted 10/10
Melody ArchMelody Arch is spectacular! I understand now. Jeff posted this link elsewhere so I thought this was his trip report. I wish you had stopped by. I always like to meet new people. :)
GeoPooch Sobachka - Nov 21, 2007 5:08 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Melody ArchOh, I see. In Yahoo groups, right?
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zion_National_Park_Hiking/
Thank both of you for the plug :)
GeoPooch Sobachka - Nov 26, 2007 4:51 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: to meet new peopleBut this Best Western ... is it Best Western at Carmel Jct or I am making stuff up? Anyway, it isn't a place the dogs are allowed, is it?
tanya - Nov 24, 2007 2:27 pm - Voted 10/10
Yep!That's were I saw the link.