Hiking with dogs in deep snow

Last weekend was very snowy with a storm that kept me inside until Sunday when my friend Allie invited me for a hike. The snow was very deep around the dredge lakes area and the moraine ecology trail we hiked. Maple the golden retriever and Bob the black lab were having a great time busting through chest deep snow for several hours while I huffed it on my snow shoes and Allie cross country skiied. The snow was so deep that it took quite a bit of energy to break trail in some places and the dogs soon figured out that they could have an easier time of things by following in our tracks. After a while they followed so close that I kept feeling a very heavy weight on my snow shoes and would have to catch my balance. I was amazed at how much engergy the dogs have and surprised we didn't see the "romeo" the local black wolf that Juneau Residents have been feeding and allowing their dogs to play with. This is quite a problem and has caused the wolf to become very brave around people especially when they bring their dogs along. I've been keeping my fingers crossed that the wolf doesn't harm a human or eat any more dogs(than it has already). In the mean time it seem seems to really like Maple and has surprised my friend with close encounters on several occasions. This whole doesn't seem to have a pack and often acts like it prefers the company of dogs which some folks gladly encourage despite the fact that it has killed at least a couple of dogs already and last winter it picked up a pug and tossed it much to the chagrine of it's panicked owner. Luckily the pug played possum and wasn't killed. It's fascinating and frustrating to see the types of problems that occur when people don't use common sense with wildlife. Oh well at least we had a fun day in the snow before the rain came back the next days:)