Light & Fluffy, and a new friend!

Today was glorious powder! Billie Jean joined us again from WAG and she Ever and I had a great morning hike. We stayed at valley elevation today, the snow was so deep and with Billie on leash a tramp into higher forests would have pulled off my arms today! We had a good couple of hours frolicking  in it, throwing snowballs and taking turns to break trail...awesome!

Skipper ask politely: Woooooo this is deep! Will you break trail please...?!

 

Billie-Jean and her custom expression and Ever mid-mouthful below!

After rolling around and snorting/snuffling in it, we then got onto the business of hiking, and the trails were so beautiful - the trees were heavy with snow and although the temperature warmed up (tree-bombs on our heads again) it was still awesome conditions, and no down jackets or doubled up Gore-tex needed, just a regular soft shell at last!

Skipper leads the way, you may have to click the photo to enlarge it to see him against the snow, and I think the flash must have dazzled Billie-one-eye! We did have some time to play though, I love the below shot, I took out the camera and they thought it was a another snowball! Ever was like, "Hey, are ya gonna throw that thing or what!..."

Then for the afternoon, I met the lovely Julia, a Siberian Husky. We went for a hike one-on-one to get to know each other, and boy she is funny, and soooo beautiful! I have always had a soft spot for Siberian Husky's, ever since I met Mika of Kathleens Tailwagggrs. I love how aloof they can seem compared to other breeds, their little pointy ears, and how they suddenly get animated and dance around, completely at random! They almost seem cat-like to me (I am a huge cat fan, and proud owner of Gandalf, who's coloring is similar to Julias) by the way they almost look down on you and have a superior air, and yet when they play or come in for cuddles they are so warm and lovely...ahhh I could go on, anyway....here she is!

Lets go shall we!

So we played by Alta Lake in the park, and dove through deep powder before taking the groomers along the Valley Trail

Julia is very graceful as she trots along, then...what's that noise?! Sudden animation and a less than lady-like leap into the snow! She is AWESOME! I love the way she forages with her face, as if a squirrel is literally running under the snowpack! Then it was stop drop and roll...ahhh lovely

We sniffed about and ran into some interesting characters including a bunch of Aussie lads railsliding a stairway and a small terrier X type dog - Julia was very interested in both parties, cocking her head at the former and after looking initially like she wanted a small-dog chew toy, gently sniffing noses with the latter...good girl! No pix of these events though, I was eagerly watching her and beginning to learn her ways. It's so great getting to know new dogs :)

  

We dug a hole together after the next spontaneous powder dive, and I managed to get a 'post dig' picture...Julia is already looking to leap again here, I had to call her in for treats to get us both back on the road and en route! Then it was time for home...

What a beautiful girl! Julia poses in a demure way before the ride home :)

What a great day, see you all tomorrow!