What’s In Desert Dawg’s Pack?
Back in the 1980s, the poster boy for adventurous canines was Zudnick, who appeared in Greg Stump and Warren Miller ski flicks, but the archetype has changed and today’s dog hero is more low-key, exploratory, and bloggy: Genghis, a.k.a. Desert Dawg, the companion of photographer Ace Kvale.
When man starts packing I don’t really like it all that much. When he starts measuring out my food I start napping by the door. If he has to measure my food more than once I know we’re going out for a big trip. He used to make me carry a pack but I trained him on that. I mean wearing a pack sucks. Totally. Why? That’s why I have man. He carries everything and he likes it too!
He used to make me carry a pack with my food and some other stuff but I trashed that pack pretty quickly. And I couldn’t chase rabbits or fit between rocks or do anything fun besides plod along feeling miserable. And the places man likes to go? Well, they’re not regular trails. Oh, no. Backcountry, cross country. They’re fraught with peril the places we go.
So, man would take pity on me and carry my pack through the tough spots. Or our friends would.
Well, that happened more and more until eventually he wised up and now he just carries everything. So I can be free! And scout ahead for the way and chase rabbits and be myself without some stupid pack getting in the way. You know humans with their skinny legs can fit through rocks and around cactus. But us dawgs are a bit lower and wider so if you put a pack on us we can’t fit. Not where we go out in the wild nature that is.
But yeah, packing. So it begins. Maps, gear, food. Man has it down to a science. He has a list on the wall cause he’s gotten forgetful in his advanced age. He’s tough, though. He can get all this stuff in his pack. All my food and my bag, and my pad, and my vest and the dawg house, everything. It’s amazing really. That’s my man. He says he used to be really awesome but I think he’s awesome now. Trainable, too.
My Stuff
Down vest. Mine’s from a company called Mascot . It’s reversible too – blue and red so I can switch it up.
Harness for scary places like cliffs and slots. Ruffwear makes the best dawg stuff.
Rope. Man needs this too
Big food bag (most important)
Sleeping bag 40�F. Not as warm as man’s but he zips them together so it’s pretty cozy. Marmot Plasma weighs only 1 lb.
Food bowl
Sleeping pad, this is important too cause we usually sleep on rock. I like this Therm-A-Rest Z Rest so we can throw it down anywhere and it never fails, ever.
Man’s Stuff
Bunch of clothes
Couple of hats. Tilley Hats are the best.
Official Desert Dawg T shirt
Watch. Suunto with altimeter and compass .
Camera
My favorite book: Australian Cattle Dogs for nighttime reading in the tent.
Sunglasses
Water bags. Platypus Platy Water Tank bags save weight and space.
First aid kits
Headlamp
Toiletries with tooth brush sawed in half
Knife
Spork
Compass
Snow Peak titanium mug
Coffee filter
Flask
Water filter. Platypus Gravity filter is simply the best filter ever.
Sleeping bag 15F. Marmot Plasma . Super light.
Sleeping pad. Therm-A-Rest NeoAir Xlite .
Tent. The two-person, four-season Black Diamond HiLight is the best tent ever for the canyons. Freestanding, bomber in wind, 2.5 lbs.
Pack. Osprey Atmos 65 AG . Great pack carries up to 60 lbs.
Shoes, Whatever you can get, something you can cross rivers with.
Camp slippers. Sanuks rock .
Ton of food (Not pictured)
For more from Desert Dawg, read AJ’s 10 Questions interview with him .
Photos by Ace Kvale
Camp Notes is a big high five to the fun of sleeping outdoors and all that comes along with it. You know, camping and stuff.
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