My Best Friend Nanuk Dog

My dog nanuk is the world's best dog and my best friend. She has thru hiked the Colorado Trail with me twice, climbed countless number of peaks, backpacked and hiked all over with me and been there for me through the best and worst times in my life, she is my greatest teacher. She has always suffered from skin and food allergies and a handful of other health issues. Yesterday, I found out that she has been deaf in her left ear for years, due to a ruptured ear drum, I had no idea. I had been told that all of her ear infections in that ear were related to her skin allergy issues. On top of that she has arthritis in her spine. It makes me feel so bad that I had no idea that she was hurtting until now, right before I am leaving for a five month hike. How can I leave her? What will she think? Is it okay to leave her? I love that dog more than anything, she has made me a better person, she has given me a chance to remember the simple, beautiful things in life. I owe her more than I could ever repay. All of my best qualities are a reflection of her friendship, faith in me, loyalty, and love she has given me. There has been days when I did not want to play with her, I ignored her, forgot to do this or that for me, days when my life was more important than her.

But I am reminded again now that she is vital for my happiness, she is a wonderful furry critter that has loved me no matter what for 8 years, since she was 8 weeks old. She never cared if I forgot to play with her or ignored her, she loved me just the same. All the times when I was mad that I could summit a peak, or the weather ruined a hike, or I took a wrong turn, she never cared, she was just happy to be outside in the mountains with me. She loved me more than anything when I failed at a goal or fell short, she never thought any less of me. That is a true blessing! Here is to NANUK dog, the best dog in the world.

I pray that while I am hiking the pct, she will be okay, that she will be happy. I don't know if it is selfish to hike right now, but I look at it this way. I will always come home to her and its better I leave this year than in the next few years when she gets older. I hope that I am not making the wrong choice. Nanuk, I love you so much, I will surely miss you out on the Trail, for this is the first big hike of my life when you won't be there. It would do people good, to learn a few things from dogs. I love you Nanuk!!