North Tahoe

Destination
Although it was a work trip organized by my co-workers, I still managed to fit Clark into the mix. We headed off to Tahoe for the weekend, mostly with the intention of skiing, although I was interested in finding some dog friendly hiking trails as well. I bought a great waterproof jacket for Clark just for the occasion (which he tries his best to get off at every opportunity!). Although the drive from the South Bay is at least four hours, Clark loves taking trips in the car, so I knew it wouldn't be a problem.

Accommodation
The group of us rented two cabins in North Tahoe, one of which was dog friendly. We found the cabins online through Agate Bay Realty. They have handy dog symbols on the website under the amenities section for each cabin, which makes finding a rental that works very easy. Our group stayed in the Dillow house in Carnelian Bay, which was cozy and unique. There was even a small twin bed in our room for Clark to sleep on! There is a pet deposit, but as long as your dog is well-behaved, there is no problem getting the deposit back. Our cabin was also close to the resort where we skied, Northstar, so it was easy to leave Clark for a few hours in the cabin while we hit the slopes.

Recreation
Even though I was eager to try skiing for the first time, I also wanted to make sure Clark had the chance to have some fun. He enjoyed rolling around in the snow near the cabin and searching for squirrels and other small animals, his favorite occupation. For all I know with Clark's rescue dog past, this could have been his first time in the snow, but he seemed to take to it quickly.

Wanting him to get some good weekend exercise, I sought out a dog friendly trail for Sunday. By happenstance, I drove by what looked like a great trail on the way from the ski resort to the cabin. Right off of Highway 267, or North Shore Road, is a small parking lot and a trail across the highway which leads up to a great trail that overlooks Lake Tahoe. Since I found the trail simply by driving by it and spotting several hikers with their dogs on the trail, I still don't know the exact name, but I can pinpoint it within the Lake Tahoe Basin National Forest off Highway 267. Check out the map below for its location. If you want to plan ahead, Pets Love Tahoe has a great list of Lake Tahoe dog friendly hikes.

The hike up to the top, about 2 miles, was great. Although there was a lot of snow on the ground, and the occasional ice, we were careful to keep our footing. Clark seemed made for this type of terrain, easily navigating the snow and pulling the rest of us along. At the top, we enjoyed the amazing view of the lake and scarfed down some welcome snacks. Packing for Clark for a small hike is easy-just water and a treat and he's happy! He was all smiles at the top, enjoying the crisp air and the exercise. And, his jacket proved its worth and kept him snug and dry.

Overall, it was a great trip for humans and dog alike! You couldn't ask for a more beautiful winter setting or a more convenient combination of dog friendly and human friendly activities.


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