Exploring Jackson: Doggy-Style

When Wes and I first started dating one of the things we enjoyed most was taking Duke to the rock beach in Auburn to let him go swimming. We would drink beer and entertain ourselves for hours watching him dive down to get a rock and bring it to us.


We would throw a rock and Duke would swim out to the exact spot it landed, dive down till all we saw was his tail wagging back and forth, and bring back a rock with so much confidence because he truly thought it was the exact same rock we threw. It didn't matter to him that the rock was twice the size or black (when we threw white), or covered in algea. He knew deep in his doggy heart that he was a retriever and he retrieved exactly what we threw.


Duke has a lot of memories in or around this creek. He was on his way to swim here when he jumped out of the back of the truck bed and got ran over at only 6 months old and he was also here when he caught a rock mid air and chipped his bottom canine at 1 1/2 years. Wes, still to this day says, "I bet he could catch a bigger rock, though, if he had his tooth." Duke has never been a very good bird dog (through lack of training) but he will always be a great rock  (stick, ball, food, water bottle, etc.) retriever. We don't need to spend money on dog toys because he's easily entertained with what nature has to offer.


A couple of Sundays ago we decided to take the dogs to the creek. When we got to the spot we initially intended on going it was crowded so we went to explore elsewhere and we found the perfect secluded spot to be able to take them off their leash and swim a bit in the cold Snake River runoff Flat Creek. It didn't take them long to hop on in.

With Duke leading the way, Kahlua and him swam on the natural treadmill created by the current of the creek. We had to call them out of the water a couple of times to get them out for rest since we were afraid of them cramping up and drowning in the cold water and neither one of us wanted to get in after them. It didn't take long for Duke to come and stand at our feet with a big smile and tail waggin', nudging the rocks our way indicating it was time for him to 'really play'.

Duke may be 11 years old now, but when it comes to swimming and fetching he's still on the ball like a pup. Kahlua had no chance of catching up. One thing has changed since those days in Auburn. He now likes to collect his prizes and put them in pile rather than bring them back to us. I guess he's tired of fetching the same rock over and over again. Wes and I find this so entertaining so we taped it for you. It's much better to see his pride in person but for now this will do.

After their long workout, being the nice parents we are, we unintentionally decided to also take them on a 6 mile hike around Snow King. At least on the hike they were able to be leash free. It was a pretty sight to see and our first time to venture out on the many hiking/mountain bike trails that Jackson has to offer.

This place is definitely in it's own world with not a whole lot of superficial, pretentious things to offer but everywhere you look, you see beauty. I'm not a super religious person, but it's hard for me to look around this area and not see God in all of it.


Needless to say, after the dogs big adventure swimming in the creek and hiking around Snow King they were very pooped. When we got home neither one even had enough energy to beg for their supper. For those of you that truly know Duke, you know that a huge deal; especially since he is king of the ultimate 'poor me, nobody every feeds me' stare down. This was the aftermath...

Aren't they beautiful here? Little do they know that this was just the first of their many outdoor excursions in Jackson. This place was made to be spent outside. Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall- outside is where you'll find us all!

If it's gonna happen sometime...

    Then why not now?