It was a beautiful day for a hike. My wife and I stayed in Welches for the weekend to get a little break from the smoke. The weather was gorgeous. The hike was pretty…but crowded. I wound up doing the Sunrise loop and coming down through the ski area. There were some challenges with having the doggo there that made it a less enjoyable hike. So for any others who might decide to take their furry friends:

• If the dog is at all reactive even if it is sporadic, don't take them. There are many, many people and dogs on this trail unless you go during the week maybe. So you will be exhausted from trying to manage them.
• If the dog likes to chase critters and you don't have absolute trust in them being off leash, don't take them. There is a ridgeline with some large jagged boulders at the top. If you have a leashed dog who likes to chase chipmunks, this is a recipe for frustration and/or possible injury.

Thankfully we made it through unscathed but it was an exhausting hike for the reasons noted above.