Pahrump Valley Gazette, Thursday, August 21, 1997 27
q00)utdoors /
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Lake Mead's Boulder
by Ed Tomchin
According to Karen Whitney, Lake Mead National
Recreation Area spokeswoman, Boulder Campground at
Lake Mead NRA has been reopened after being closed for
ehabilitation work on the restrooms.
Of the seven campground loops at Boulder Camp-
ground, four are currently open and the remaining three
are being cleared of hazardous tree limbs broken and
down from windstorms.
The campground was closed on January 27. 1997,
while five of the restrooms which were built in the 1950s
and 1960s were retrofitted and rehabilitated to meet
modern standards and codes for outdoor utilities and
handicapped accessibility. The remaining
ing funding for rehabilitation.
Most restrooms and utilities are in constant need of
repair and rehabilitation due to vandalism, including
malicious breaking of fixtures and grafitti. Visitor's are
encouraged to report any vandalism they witness to park
rangers.
Funding for the work was made available through a
cooperative effort with the National Park Service, Bureau
of Reclamation and the State of Nevada.
At the present time. approximately 120 camping sites
are available for use. Each siteincludes a picnic table, fire
pit and access to restrooms and water.
The cost per site is $10 per night. A trailer dump
station is also available at the Campground.
For additional information, visitors may
Fishing Report
by Geoff Schneider
Nevada Division of Wildlife
LAKE MEAD - Boaters report finding good ac-
tion for striped bass while shore anglers are still having
difficulty locating fish, according to the Nevada Divi-
sion of Wildlife.
Stripers are beingseen in the Boulder Basin as they
feed on threadfin shad. Some of the better action is
being found from Pyramid Island to the Hemenway
Wall.
Boaters continue to catch stripers at night near the
intake tower at Lake Mead Marina. Stripers are also
being caught at Government Wash and Black Island.
Largemouth bass fishing has generally been slow
as the fish are being found in deep water. Catfish are
being caught at night in shallow coves.
LAKE MOItAVE - Small striped bass are being
caught by trolling anchovies around Owl's Point. The
narrows above Cottonwood Cove have also been
producing a few small stripers for boaters.
Trout fishing has been fair above Willow Beach.
Drifting and casting spinners close to shore has been
productive for fish up to 14 inches.
WAYNE E, KIRCIt WILDLIFE MANAGE-
MENT AREA - Anglers returning from the Nye
County refuge report the fishing has been fair to good
for largemouth bass and rainbow trout.
The better bass fishing is now taking place at
Adams-McGill Reservoir. A variety of lures are catch-
ing the fish, including small spinners, artificial worms
and crank baits.
Trout fishing has been fair from the dam at
Haymeadow Reservoir.
EAGLE VALLEY RESERVOIR - The water
continues to be murky because of recent flooding in
the area. Trout fishing is poor due to the water condi-
tions.
ECHO CANYON RESERVOIR - Fishing is
slow because of murky water conditions.
SCHROEDER RESERVOIR - The lake is con-
tinuing its pattern of slow summer fishing. Some trout
are coming from pools in the stream above the lake.
Hiking and camping your dog
by Ed Tomchin
Backpacking or merely day hiking with your faithful canine
companion can be a great experience and an excellent opportunity
to get away from the drudgery of daily life with a good friend who
dearly loves the outdoors and likely seldom gets the opportunity
to enjoy it to the fullest.
Most dogs are ecstatic when given the opportunity to enjoy the
scents and sights of the open trail, be it the mountains or the desert.
Owners will find themselves enjoying the hike even more as they
see the outdoors from their
dog' s perspective.
There are two important
guidelines to making your
hiking and camping experi-
ence enjoyable for your dog,
yourselL and others.
First, you must be able to
restrain your dog in the pres-
ence of distractions such as a
runnin deer or mustang,
small ground animals or other
desert denizens. This can be
accomplished through train-
ing, and discipline, or by use
of a leash.
Secondly, and perhaps
most important, you must be
sufficiently responsible to
prevent the dog from being a
nuisance to other people or
animals. 'This includes pick-
ing up after your pet.
From a dog' s perspective,
if it is a healthy, fit ammal and
well-behaved around other
people and animals, there is
no problem in accompanying
theowneronoutings. Agood
place to start is with a visit to
the vet to evaluate your dog' s
general health, particularly if you choose to have your dog carry
it's own weight, so to speak, by carrying a pack.
If you are planning on saddling your animal with a pack, you
should also consider having your dog's ps X-rayed to for hip
dysplasia and other bone deformities before asking the animal to
carry a full pack over long distances.
It is also important to note that dogs, like people, need to build
up strength and endurance gradually before taking on a full
fledged hike with a pack.
Equipment
An absolute must is a collar with identification and a leash. It's
a good idea to use a rolled leather buckle collar which can be fitted
with information regarding vaccinations, license, identification
tags and your own name, address and phone. Make certain that the
animal's vaccinations and license are current.
A good choice of leash is a six foot, round synthetic leash, with
a handloop and a sturdy snap. Leashes often end up getting wet and
synthetics dry more quickly than leather. Before setting out, make
sure the leash, snap, collar and buckle are in good condition and
will not break if your dog suddenly lunges after that rabbit that's
been unmercifully teasing him on the trail ahead.
Depending on the terrain, pack weight, and your dog's ten-
dency to tear its footpads, you might consider buying booties to
protect your dog's feet. Desert hiking requires protecting your
dog's footpads from sharp shale, rough sandstone, cactus and
other hazards which may tear or wear your animal' s footpads raw
and bleeding.
Many types of booties are available, each suited to a different
terrain and different size animal. Some dogs only need booties on
their front feet, but covering all four feet is recommended. Carry
extra booties in case one gets lost on the trail.
Dogs packs generally have two parts: a pad that is attached to
the dog by means of three straps, and the pack which is usually
attached to the pad by various means. Pay careful attention to
mounting the pack. Do not over-tighten the straps. They can
interfere with your dogs ability to breathe and move. It is vitally
important to make sure all the weight of the pack is placed on your
dog's shoulders, NOT its back.
The two part pack is best because it allows you to remove and
replace the pack during rest stops, and also to leave the underlying
pad on until your animal rests at night. You also might consider
choosing a pack that is bright orange in color. It makes your
animal easier to spot at a distance.
If yon have difficulty locating any of these items at your local
pet store, call New England Serum Co. at (800) 637-3786 and ask
for their free catalog, which is chock full of paraphernalia for your
dog.
Aecustomizing your dog to the pack
Some dogs adjust to carrying a pack easier than others. To get
your animal accustomed to the pack, start out with something
light, such as a towel, to get the animal used to feeling something
riding on his back. This is a particularly useful technique to use
with puppies which are too young to carry a pack of any weight.
Do not put anything other than an empty pack stuffed with
newspaper on a dog under a year old. There is risk of doing
structural damage by putting a weighty load on developing bones.
In larger breeds you might need to wait until 18 months or older.
After the animal.becomes accustomed to carrying something
on its back, take him for short walks with a paper-stuffed pack. He
should associate going out with putting on the pack, and will
quickly start to look forward to wearing it. Once he's comfortable
with the pack, fill it with odd things that will feel and sound like the
pack will when it's actually used for an outing.
Crumpled newspaper, half
filled water-bottles (sloshing), tin
cups or pots that bump one an-
other, etc. As you start filling the
pack more (volume, not weight),
you may notice that your dog
misjudges walking through doors,
around trees, and even your legs,
bumping them with the pack.
Another problem is misjudging
jumps, falling short because of
the additional weight. These prob-
lems will disappear with experi-
ence, although if you hike infre-
quently, there may be a brief re-
adjustment period at the start of
each hike.
Most working breeds and ath-
letic mid-sized dogs can cany
about 33 percent of their body
weight. Start the dog off with 25
percent of their weight for a short
hike and see how they do. Gradu-
ally work up to 33 percent and
progressively longer hikes. Keep
the maximum weight and vol-
ume within what your dog, re-
gardless of its size, seems com-
fortable carrying.
Do not put anything in the
pack which you cannot afford to
lose, as the dog will often scramble though tight spots with less
grace than his human counterparts, banging the pack against rocks
or trees in the process.
Recommended items to put in the dog's pack include extra
water, rain gear, 314 length sleelfing pad, dog food (sealed in plastic
bags), dog comb, dog frisbee, extra bags for cleanup, the camp
stove inside of cooking pots (so it was protected from banging),
camp soap and sponge, and other like items.
Weather
Hot desert temperatures call for additional precautions to guard
your dog against heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Always make sure
you carry enough water for your hike and give your dog frequent
drinks.
A plastic cup hooked to the outside of Lhe pack makes it easier to
get to. Some people teach their dogs to drink directly from a war
bottle but the use of a cup will prevent water loss spilled onto the
ground.
Watch your dog for signs of heat exhaustion or stroke. Signs
include unusually rapid panting, and/or a bright red tongue and
mucous membranes. A dog's primary mechanism forcooling offis
through panting. Since this cooling process usesevaporation the dog
will require more water when he is panting heavily.
If your dog is beginning to overheat, sto immediately and get
into the shade. Put cool water on your animal's belly and groin area
were there is a large blood supply. s will allow evaporation to
provide heat exchange. If you' re near running water you might put
the dog into it. The main idea is that heat stroke is a life threatening
condition and your should be able to recognize the warning signs and
know how to prevent it. Even on a cooler day, if it is very sunny, and
your dog is working hard and is a dark coated breed, it can get
overheated.
Obstacles on the trail
Generally your animal will be far more sure-footed than you are,
so there will be little to worry about. However, with all obstacles, the
key to assisting yourdog over them is to make sure it is very confident
and trusting of your commands in such situations.
Crossing narrow bridges such as logs or arches, is be.st accom-
plished by having a companion go first and stand at the other side to
call the dog. Then send your dog across, and then yourself. If there
is a risk of falling, remove the animal' s pack, then attach the leash and
tighten the collar one notch so that it won't slip off. Remove the
dog's booties to give its feet a better purchase,
Where to hike
Hiking with your dog on BLM land is usually no problem.
Unfortunately, however, uncontrolled dogs and irresponsible pet
owners have caused the closing of trails in many places. The only
way to not be surprised is to call in advance and check to be certaia
that dogs are allowed.
Generally, dogs are not allowed on National Park or National
Monument trails. However, National Forests gey allow dogs
on their trails with responsible handling, but check first.
Start including your dog on your camping trips and overnight
hikes and you'll gain a faithful companion who can do more than
carry its own weight on the trip.
