Oregon Woods Sense

I am from Oregon. The west of the state is lush North American rainforest. It begins along the sea, and further dips into the richly forested valley where I grew up. On the coast and in the valley, months can go by without a break from the rain, thick fog, and mists that blanket the area. The further east you travel, the dryer the forests become. The flora and fauna do not lessen, but the east is more of a desert of dry pines and dusty hard ground, with clear lakes and beautiful sunsets. The smell of both types of Oregon woods are siren songs to those who love the outdoors. As a kid when I wasn’t in school (even during breaks), I was outside. Hiking trails began everywhere in Oregon, and to me were merely reference points to greater adventures. I spent long days exploring with my dog Cinnamon.

These days, I still go hiking but I am now further North, and the forest isn’t as wet. I plan a bit more before I set out, and getting to a trail does require a car, which thankfully I have. Miles loves to be in the woods. He is like me. He feels at home in the city and the woods alike. Neither of us are much for large bodies of water, or for city buses, but in the woods, we relax. Since I picked up Miles, I’ve always been on the lookout for cool gear. As far as hiking with a dog goes, I like Ruffwear. Ruffwear is a company from Oregon that designs outdoor gear for dogs. Due to the experience their location has provided, they really know their stuff. My pick of their gear is their Web Master Harness, which Miles takes in an XS. It is a excellently designed, perfect fitting dog handle. If Miles is faced with an impediment while hiking, I can easily grab the handle on his back, lift him up and over the obstacle. When other hikers come around with less friendly dogs, I can elevate Miles to safety as if he is a furry briefcase, and we move on. When Miles is old and has trouble getting into the car or up stairs, I know this will come in handy. But for now, we are all about heading into the wilderness of the west coast and exploring until we can go to bed satisfied, the scent of trees and moss and ferns still fresh in our noses…